Educational Software
Contents
Introduction
Much of what passes for educational software in the commercial market is dreadful. Nearly always, it is either boring or uneducational. Often it is both boring and uneducational. We need tools, not just textbooks. There is a great deal of decent educational software in Linux distributions which could be Sugarized.
Programming for Kids
Programming is important for many reasons. It helps kids to learn math and logic. It helps them learn to clearly describe something in a structured and unambiguous way. It helps them to understand their computer, showing them that the XO is a non-magical device that functions according to logic. It provides the opportunity to share code with each other, including buggy or hostile code, making obvious the value of source code availability.
Software to create Text Adventures
Also known as Interactive Fiction. However, MOOs are a bit more engaging but they need some sort of central server in which to create "the world". A central server might not be available where these laptops will. See Talk:Educational_Software#MUSEs_or_MOOs discussion.
In that discussion it is argued that a MOO environment wouldn't work because it would require a central server to install "the world". Couldn't this obstacle be surmounted by allowing the creation of "personal worlds" or houses, that one child can share and another child can access when both computers are within WiFi reach? It seems that this kind of application is exactly what the OLPC should be focusing on, consider:
http://anarch.ie.utoronto.ca/publications/mie2002-readingcourse.pdf Constructivist Learning Using Simulation and Programming Environments MIE2002H Readings in Industrial Engineering I Calum Tsang May 5th, 2004 The third, a multiplayer environment called MOOSE Crossing, touches on a previously minimized area of constructionism, that of social relation. Ego syntonicity has already been covered as a required characteristic, however, the social interaction and structure for these activities has not. Papert described the Latin samba school as a constructionist activity with the added benefit that a social environment was also present. MOOSE Crossing, a multiuser game similar to a Multi User Dungeon (MUD) is both programming exercise, creative writing outlet and social scene. Students are invited as an after school project to play and build in this virtual space, programming automated interactions and crafting textual descriptions of people and objects in this microworld. "Knowledge is not passed from teachers to students but is developed by everyone through their activities and interactions with one another" (Resnick et al. 1996b: 48). The environment is a social place, and there is a desire to share creations in it. Many aspects of real-life relation are present in this community context, and manifest themselves as part of creating projects or experiences in the virtual world. In one case, the authors noted the students built social capital by creating objects others liked. Also unique to MOOSE Crossing is its verbal aspect: While other projects highlighted so far have leaned towards mathematics and science, this environment encourages writing. Objects in the virtual world must be described, appealing to students who have strong verbal skills. The authors also suggest this as a way to link verbal skills to developing analytical abilities. One can draw parallels with other constructionist activities: The students in MOOSE Crossing work on projects that are very personal, often driven by personal interests and meanings. At the same time, this is expanded into a social context that goes beyond the individual.
Software to Support Education
This refers to software that does not teach anything directly but is available to facilitate learning. Examples include wireless chat and dictionaries.
A Concept Mapping Tool
http://www.aprendelibre.net/wiki/index.php/Software_Libre_y_Mapas_Conceptuales
Or FreeMind basic MindMapping tool (built in Java) http://freemind.sourceforge.net
Unit Calculator
A calculator that takes into account the units of the numbers. Some tool to be able to make calculations like these.
Dictionary software
synonyms, antonyms, definitions, English/Spanish (or other language) translations, pronunciation
There are lots of dictionary programs available, defined file formats, and dictionaries. One of the formats is SDICT which is used by various client programs including various types of mobile phone. Because they have already done the work to make a small compressed format we should leverage that and use their dictionary files. Alexey Semenoff has a page discussing the work of the sdictionary project.
A Python client for Symbian S60 can be downloaded from this site. It shows how to read the sdict format (conv.py) and how the dictionary can be further compressed to use on a device like a mobile phone or OLPC (src/pydict.py).
In summary, Sdictionary is a dictionary that uses its own dictionary format. Unlike ptkdic or gtkdic, MySQL isn't needed; you can work with dictionary files directly. It uses Unicode, meaning that words and articles all are in UTF-8. There are two index levels, compression, and tools to convert from text files to .dct and vice versa.
Many dictionary databases are already available, some of them in target languages like Hindi, and Brazilian Portuguese. The fact that Python tools are available makes it easier for application and content developers to integrate this into their projects.
Arithmetic training software
RekenTest is a software package to train arithmetic skills, by offering arithmetic problems based on the child's performance, and throws in extra practice if needed. While this is training software, it might be good tool to include, as arithmetic skills are a basic part of a child's education. Currently work is done to create a small size, low memory consumption version to run under WINE. Also an attempt is made to build a Linux binary with Kylix. Spanish and English are available, a Portuguese translation will be available soon.
Software to enable Participatory Simulations
- Participatory Simulations
- http://ccl.northwestern.edu/ps/ps.shtml
Software to create System Dynamics models
Like predator/prey models, scarce resources, snow ball effect (reinforcing feedback), dynamics of drug addiction, growth of human populations, exponential spreading of deseases, conflict escalation, dynamic equilibrium. These are the current software implementations all of them are non-free software http://sysdyn.clexchange.org/links_software.html
Software to create Ecological Simulations
I think this is what we want to emulate Ecological Simulation. Could it be done using Pata Pata?? Can Pata-pata run in the OLPC?
Software to create Equipment Simulations
I think this is what we want to emulate: Industrial Equipment Simulators [1]. An example, Lathe Simulators: [2] Could it be done using open free country tools:[3]? Can these tools run in the OLPC? Truly yours: MEXICO/Ags/--Dagoflores 22:37, 7 November 2006 (EST)
Teaching Software
Teaching Software refers to applications whose primary goal is to deliver educational content. In the western world this is often very poorly implemented in CBT (Computer Based Training) modules or tedious drill and practice software. These approaches are not ideally suited to the OLPC environment. Drill and practice would demotivate the kids and CBT does not have the depth of information needed. There are some cases when such software may be useful to OLPC - when it exists with an open license and covers important material and/or has a superficially engaging interface - but effort to develop new software would better be spent elsewhere.
Story Teller
Before my child needs an Ebook reader, she will need to the computer to read interactive stories to her. OLPC can read her a story, and show her the words and pictures all at once to reinforce literacy. My baby won't use the keyboard until the keys have meanings. She might be able to use the touch pad to point first. The keys can gain meaning through stories and eventually letters will join to become words. Those meanings come from seeing the words, and interacting with the story teller.
Ebook Reader
This is teaching software that takes the rich and detailed content of textbooks and encyclopedias into the OLPC. (Book reader feature set).
MIT Sketching
Interactive Assistants
Drill software is based on the idea that the computers has the answers to the questions the kids is asked. The model is: intelligent computers, stupid kids. Clearly the kids are bored or tries to cheat the software - most often with luck... Computers aren't really intelligent!
On the other end of the spectrum is simulation software. Here the kids asks the questions and the computer do the computing. Afterwards the kids has to interpret the results. The model: Computers as computing tools, kids as researchers.
A third model is called interactive assistants. Interactive assistants is assistants to the teacher, because they ask the kids questions in relation to a subject matter or a process the kids has to master: Like performing an interview: Which type of questions to ask, how to focus the questions etc.
In this model the stand alone computers or more often web servers are programmed (preferably by using a user friendly backend, like a CMS) by teachers or text book authors to ask the questions that interactively (hence interacive assistants) leads the kids through the subject matter process in relation to the specific project they have (for example: To do an interview with a certain person). The model: Computers as structuring the kids' learning process (scaffolding), and the kids as the working and thinking part.
olpc and interactive assistants
When teachers and kids around the world have access to computers and (hopefully) to the internet, the vision must be to develop a universal "open source" educational library of interactive assistants to assist kids to develop their competencies.
References
Rupert Wegerif: The value of Artificial Stupidity
Jeppe Bundsgaard: Interactive assistants (part of PhD-thesis in danish - translation coming up hopefully)
Virtual Manipulatives (for math learning)
One argument for the design of virtual manipulatives has been saving money (physical manipulatives can be expensive, can be lost, can come in limited quantities). There is a library of virtual manipulatives available online http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html that provides a variety of activities and manipulatives for learning different math concepts.
(Shameless plug) I am also working on creating a new kind of virtual manipulative - one that attempts to build a bridge between artistic design efforts and mathematical learning. My desire to do this partially stems form the fact that I think some learners are more comfortable in either art or math, and that through this bridge they can step a little bit outside their comfort zones into the realm with which they are less comfortable (but still in a context they like). So, if you are very excited about art, you can try some math through your design activities, and if you like math but don't feel like you are very good at art, you can create some neat patterns that solve challenges posed from the mathematical perspective. I am interested in working with this laptop project.
I think that whatever (virtual) math manipulatives are available should be considered for this project. I would also like to see more of these virtual manipulatives developed for general use, but it seems like instances where money matters so much, this solution does not add any cost and would be useful.
5 April 2006
- Please, let's not forget that the OLPC is for the delivery of content as well as applications. It is not a tech toy. I agree that physical objects that can be manipulated will make it easer to teach maths. But they don't need to be virtual. Include material to teach the children how to make manipulatives out of scrap wood or palm leaves. Include measuring tools so the kids can check their dimensions by holding the objects up to the screen. Integrate the construction of manipulatives into the learning process.
Nelements
Nelements is a generic 3d knowledge representation system that can be used to represent knowledge in a language of thought.
Educational Wikis
GiveThought.com (GT) is a wiki-based social entrepreneurship concept. GT will gather wiki lesson contributions to form coherent customizable learning curricula to be offered for free around the world to
- Those who are unable to access formal education.
- Those who wish to complement their formal educations
- Those who wish to access information about subjective topics from an organized and coherent source.
If you are interested in learning about or participating in the development of project GT, please contact founder Jonathan Schafler
Industry and Shop Education
Low cost machine tools such as the Sieg mini-lathe are readily available, along with instructional materials and a community willing to help.
