[IAEP] [Sugar-devel] journal criticism

[Eben Eliason]

On Thu, May 28, 2009 at 5:34 AM, Albert Cahalan <acahalan at gmail.com> wrote:
> James Zaki writes:
>
>> Understanding hierarchical file structures use the concepts of containers
>> and recursion with no limits (except for total capacity). It is not
>> naturally intuitive, like a tree where branches get smaller from the trunk
>> with fruit/leaves only at the end nodes.
>>
>> Empirically I've seen many new people approach computers (non-tech
>> elder-relatives included), and hierarchical structures are not initially
>> utilised. It was a secondary focus that had to be learnt out of necessity.
>
> Perhaps the concept is easier to learn as a child. If you've gone
> many decades without it ("non-tech elder relatives") and gotten set
> in your ways, you may be at a disadvantage.
>
> Let's not leave the next generation at a disadvantage too.
>
>> Perhaps an activity/game could be made that teaches the concepts
>> of a hierarchical file structure.
>
> That won't get enough use. Learning to deal with the general features
> of modern computing is much of the reason why the XO even exists, yet

I'm pretty sure most of us agree, and that you already know, that this
is precisely not the case. Sugar was not designed so kids could learn
to use computers. It was designed so kids could learn. Learning about
computers is certainly a subset of that goal, but by no means the
primary one as you suggest.

/me notes the name of the list...

> the children are denied the opportunity to learn about directories.

An activity which presents these topics would provide such an
opportunity for those kids inclined to explore it, would it not? It
seems that you are confusing opportunity with obligation.

Incidentally, I would actually like to see some changes come about to
the underlying data structures of the Journal so that it isn't so
completely alienated from the filesystem itself. I think many others
would too, but I don't think that forcing that on kids is particularly
useful. Still, making underlying changes to provide the opportunity
for kids to dig in deeper — via an activity, or via the command line —
is a worthy goal.

Eben


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