[IAEP] Observations and feature requests based on watching a preK class use a computer lab

[Caroline Meeks]

On Fri, Feb 27, 2009 at 5:28 PM, Gary C Martin <gary at garycmartin.com> wrote:

> On 27 Feb 2009, at 20:57, Caroline Meeks wrote:
>
>  Today I visited a computer lab at a school in Boston where 3-5 year olds
>> (the PreK class) were using the computers in the computer lab.
>>
>
> Nice feedback. Just wanted to raise the 'know your audience' scope, isn't
> 3-5yrs out of previous Sugar design scope? I though it was more like
> 6-16yrs? Saying that, I'd be very happy to be able to lower the age barrier
> to entry, but it gets tough not to loose other features (i.e I say 3-5yrs
> would be a non-multitasking user interface, one activity at a time, no
> switching, just stopping, and back to home).



In Boston, the elementary schools seem to have preK classes who get to use
the same computers as the big kids.  It was pretty frustrating for them. The
teacher had to open the applications for them and they had to wait their
turn.  I think we could serve them better with Sugar by making a very small
favorites list. I think they could pretty easily learn to open
paint/tuxpaint and a few other very simple activities.  It certainly will be
better then thier experience on the windows computer.  Diaglog boxes kept
popping up and they had to wait for an adult to come over and click OK.
Overall, there was a lot of kids sitting and squirming in thier chairs
waiting for an adult to help them make thier computer work.  I think the 3-5
year old range is a someplace we can provide value.

The kindergartners and 1st graders will all have used KidPix.  So even at
that age I think if we don't give them a good paint program they will
rebell.



>
>
> --Gary
>
>  The teacher tried to get them to use Kidspirations to look at and stamp
>> bugs but they rebelled. All they wanted to do was use KidPix.
>>
>> We need a paint program that is as cool as KidPix or we will suffer the
>> same fate. They will turn off Sugar and go back to Windows to use KidPix!
>>
>> In Kidpix the students learned that they need to use the mouse and not the
>> keyboard. By the time I left all students had managed to learn to use the
>> mouse to make something on the screen.  I saw some kids make the connection
>> that they had done something with the mouse and it had appeared on the
>> screen.  Some were painting with colors, others were stamping with images.
>>  Some kids had learned how to erase the screen and start over.
>>
>> Clearly learning was going on.  I thought to myself, "what would take this
>> lesson to the next level for these students".  I think, based on the
>> interactions the teachers were having as they spent individual time with the
>> students, that it would be valuable to these students to begin to tell
>> stories about their pictures.  It would be cool if the kids could record a
>> voice note when they saved a picture in the journal.  This could help the
>> teachers move them towards telling stories about thier pictures. I think
>> that would in turn motivate them to want to control what they did with the
>> picture more.
>>
>> Our goal with the journal is to get kids to reflect on thier work.  For
>> many of the students in the age range we serve typing that reflection is
>> going to be a challenge and we might well get more thoughtful reflection if
>> they could speak it.
>>
>> --
>> Caroline Meeks
>> Solution Grove
>> Caroline at SolutionGrove.com
>>
>> 617-500-3488 - Office
>> 505-213-3268 - Fax
>> _______________________________________________
>> IAEP -- It's An Education Project (not a laptop project!)
>> IAEP at lists.sugarlabs.org
>> http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep
>>
>
>


-- 
Caroline Meeks
Solution Grove
Caroline at SolutionGrove.com

617-500-3488 - Office
505-213-3268 - Fax
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