Olin university chapter/Projects/Curriculum/Lesson 1

Computer Creations

Lesson 1 - Introduction Feb 24, 2010

An overview

• Brought XOs
• Had kids write up basic (non-legally binding contracts!) of things not to do
  • "No destruction"
  • "No dropping"
  • "No Rain"
  • "I will treat this as well as I treat my DS!"
• Parents received pdf form two weeks ago. (Copy where?)

• Basic what is XO/OLPC intro
• Gave them XOs
  • Ran through powering on
  • Changing colors, names
  • Curious about mesh network -- asked about chat. We eventually let them get there.
  • Made "friends" with each other
  • Moon /sounds/ exciting to them. Can we work anything in?
  • Latched on to Maze really quickly
    • played with Maze for a while

• • Crashed at about kid 5 on the mesh for chat?

• • very quick
    • didn't ask for instruction
    • when kid A learns something, spreads veryveryvery quickly.

• • Some things we wanted to teach them:
    • Journal was tricky for them to pick up
    • Getting back to home

• • When we just let them go, they generally weren't having trouble
    • Still need to be gently prodded to remember to close activities.

• • Give essential knowledge!

Initial thoughts

• No gender balance -- class of 7 boys
• One set of brothers, though. Could be interesting.
  • Will the brothers figure out how to use Distance?
• kids surprisingly enthusiastic about seeing pictures of other kids (nepal, vietnam) using XOs.
  • "Are there ones in China?"
• latched on to concept of internet immediately, chat in particular was something they kept wanting to come back to.
• Prepare and learn what the different parts are of an XO.
• "I'm really good at this!" or "Oh, I don't really no how to use this" -- without any sort of sense of reference at this point. Interesting.

• Potentially circumventing parental control on computer-y things. Probably a non-issue, as it is difficult to get online without parental help

• surprisingly obedient
• Seemingly enthusiastic! (we were a little apprehensive about children being forced into them.)

Next week

• We may want to introduce where we're from.

• idea: include "OLPC Fact of the Week"
• Maze + Turtle Art
  • Open the class with a working example of what we'd like them to accomplish
  • can we get the grid set-up faster?
    • Who can turtle their turtle through the most complex maze?

• 10-15 minutes of free play time
  • Make it clear that this time is free -- such that they can rein it in

• Checkpoint 1: Understand concept of moving turtle x, y, whatever.
• Then allow kids to import new more complex mazes.

• Whenever we have to talk to all of them, make sure they put the screens down.

• Want to squeeze in the concept of saving things.
• Enthusiasm is contagious.

• One table set up
  • Convenient for talking to everyone at once
  • Really easy for a group activity to separate them.

• DEFINITELY BRING EXTENSION CORD AND POWER STRIP