Students’ Learning and Technology: MicroWorldsEX and Robotics

1. Students’ Learning and Technology: MicroWorldsEX andRobotics Davina Pruitt-Mentle Educational Technology Outreach College of Education University of Maryland Susan Einhorn Executive Vice PresidentLCSIwww.MicroWorlds.com

2. Audience Opening Question • What does integrating technology in the curriculum mean to you? • What potential does technology hold for the future of education? MicroWorlds & Robotics Davina Pruitt-Mentle

3. Technology PD Eras • Basic Skills • Word Processing • Email • Gradebooks • More Advanced Skills • Integrating technology skills, applications and activities MicroWorlds & Robotics Davina Pruitt-Mentle

4. "Learning Paradigm" Shift: Constructivism • Technology has the potential to redefine and change teachers’ roles in the classroom. • Under the right conditions, technology can foster a shift in the teacher’s role from one of "sage on the stage" to that of facilitator. • By using technology, "[teachers] can go beyond the traditional information delivery mode where they are presenters of ready-made knowledge, and become facilitators of students’ learning" (OTA, 1988, p. 91). • The potential for technology supported instructional change is significant 1. United States Congress Office of Technology Assessment (OTA, 1988, 1995) and the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI, 1993) MicroWorlds & Robotics Davina Pruitt-Mentle

5. Teach skills Teach the applications but not the underlying understanding Introduce a plethora of resources Are something new, but rarely different Teach “at” rather than “with and through” technology Focus on utilizing technology to teach the same “stuff” in the same or possibly slightly different way Top Ten Teacher Technology Training Dilemmas Many PD activities/courses still: The need is to understand new teaching and learning styles: Learning Paradigm Shift MicroWorlds & Robotics Davina Pruitt-Mentle

6. ETO Efforts • Electronic Tutorials and Resources • After school technology enrichment programs • Young Scholars Program • Workshops • Undergraduate Modules • Graduate Level Courses MicroWorlds & Robotics Davina Pruitt-Mentle

7. Course Overview • Learner centered-constructivist teaching AND learning • Interdisciplinary-crossing boundaries • Workforce skills • College or higher education skills • Along the way….increase the science/math/technology pipeline and teacher pipeline As taken from 2003 SLT-YSP MicroWorlds & Robotics Davina Pruitt-Mentle

8. Syllabus • Objectives • Focus on inquiry and group based methods of learning; • Collaborate with peers to adapt/redesign problem materials; • Experience problem based learning through active engagement in an appropriate activity; • Know the elements of problem solving, including key content identification, scientific literacy, habits of mind, and critical thinking and learning events involved in project development; • Provide and accept feedback gracefully (to and from other participants and instructors); • Be a reflective learner. As taken from 2003 SLT-YSP MicroWorlds & Robotics Davina Pruitt-Mentle

9. Syllabus: Goals • understand, utilize and experience skills needed for the 21st century workforce and/or higher education opportunities • explore and use a variety of technology/computer applications; • use technology to explore and design multimedia presentations; • design Logo environments (games, animated stories, and interactive multimedia presentations); • build and program cybernetic devices to perform a specific task; • keep a journal of reflections and experiences; • design and present an e-portfolio highlighting projects and experiences. As taken from 2003 SLT YSP MicroWorlds & Robotics Davina Pruitt-Mentle

10. Understanding The Learning Paradigm Shift • Background on Constructivism • Scavenger Hunt • WebQuest • Walk the Walk • Microworlds See Scavenger Hunt Handout MicroWorlds & Robotics Davina Pruitt-Mentle

11. MicroWorlds Pro See Handout MicroWorlds & Robotics Davina Pruitt-Mentle

12. MicroWorlds Pro • Files are called Projects • Objects and text are displayed on pages • Can you find: • Menu bar • Toolbar • Page • Command Center • Status Bar • Procedures area • Tabs MicroWorlds & Robotics Davina Pruitt-Mentle

13. fd (forward) rt (right) bk (back) lt (left) pd (pen down) pu (pen up) repeat setc (set color) setpensize cg (clear graphics) Some Basic Commands Handout/Card MicroWorlds & Robotics Davina Pruitt-Mentle

14. Hatch a “turtle” pd fd 50 rt 90 fd 50 rt 90 fd 50 rt 90 fd 50 Some Basic Shapes MicroWorlds & Robotics Davina Pruitt-Mentle

15. What would this create? • pd • fd 50 • rt 120 • fd 50 • rt 120 • fd 50 MicroWorlds & Robotics Davina Pruitt-Mentle

16. Can you draw and program these? Write commands to draw each of these shapes.For each shape, how much does the turtle turn to draw each angle? MicroWorlds & Robotics Davina Pruitt-Mentle

17. In the command center fd 100 rt 90 fd 100 rt 90 fd 100 rt 90 fd 100 rt 90 Is the same as: repeat 4 [fd 100 rt 90] Short Cuts MicroWorlds & Robotics Davina Pruitt-Mentle

18. Once you know the commands you want-convert the command to a procedure (On the Procedures Tab) to square repeat 4 [fd 100 rt 90] end Test it: Create a button Type the procedure in command center On the turtle (object)  edit  command Converting to a Procedure MicroWorlds & Robotics Davina Pruitt-Mentle

19. You can draw the shapes in any size, thickness, or color. to colorsquare setpensize 5 setc 15 repeat 4 [fd 100 rt 90] end MicroWorlds & Robotics Davina Pruitt-Mentle

20. Class Needs More Practice? • For beginning work with animation, try make a face, animate me, race cars, bouncing off walls, or growing spider.For beginning work with a game, try obstacle course.For beginning work with textboxes, try animated story. MicroWorlds & Robotics Davina Pruitt-Mentle

21. MicroWorlds Exercise Turtle Geometry and Teaching Turtles Words MicroWorlds & Robotics Davina Pruitt-Mentle

22. MicroWorld Examples Visit some of the following to see what is possible: • http://www.cattanach.org/microworlds/index.html(go to the bottom icon and click List Sites) • http://www.mathcats.com/microworlds.htmlMathCats Interactive Math games and activities • Tic-Tac-Toehttp://www.thehunters.org/logo/ • http://mia.openworldlearning.org/Open World Learning-go to Project Folders MicroWorlds & Robotics Davina Pruitt-Mentle

23. An Animated Story Walk through the creation of an Animated Story Student Work Examples MicroWorlds & Robotics Davina Pruitt-Mentle

24. More With MicroWorlds Class Time • Experiment and Play • Try the tutorials (http://mia.openworldlearning.org/ ) Resources  Activity Pages • Brainstorm and/or start your animated story • Games, Simulations, Mazes MicroWorlds & Robotics Davina Pruitt-Mentle

25. Robolab MicroWorlds & Robotics Davina Pruitt-Mentle

26. For More Info • Educational Technology Outreach • http://www.edtechoutreach.umd.edu/ • Ed Tech Outreach Young Scholars Program • http://www.edtechoutreach.umd.edu/YSP2004.htm And See Handout MicroWorlds & Robotics Davina Pruitt-Mentle

27. Susan Einhorn Executive Vice PresidentLCSIwww.MicroWorlds.com

28. Educational Technology OutreachCollege of EducationDavina Pruitt-Mentle(301) 405-8202dp151@umail.umd.eduhttp://www.edtechoutreach.umd.edu/