LOGO-L> Textual/Visual

[Tom & Adele Woods <woods@moose.ncia.net>]

Ken Kahn wrote:

>I agree, text is good. But as I wrote in another branch of this thread
>regarding whether some programming paradigms are superior to others -- there
>is a need to prioritize here. If a teacher is going to teach just one
>language in a course should it be a visual or textual one? 

Part of the key to this issue is the definition of "superior," and that
depends on your priorities.

My priorities:
1. Give students rich and varied opportunities to express their thoughts
verbally, visually, auditorially, and kinesthetically.
2. Give students opportunities to think about how they think.

Because programming languages are among the things that offer possibilities
in these two areas, I'm interested in exploring ways they can be included in
students' learning. If I had to ask a question like you did above, I would
ask, If a teacher is going to teach just one language, what will best meet
the needs of the students?" I like the answer Brian Harvey stated:

>IMHO the best solution to this problem is a hybrid system, in which
>things that are easily expressed graphically can be, but also, anything
>can be expressed textually.

Tom Woods

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