I am currently reading "Mindstorms," by Seymour Papert, which is the namesake of the LEGO product for building intermediate robotics. The concepts of that product and its language—LEGO/LOGO—are inspired by Mr. Papert's work therein. Read it. Let's compare notes afterward, because I'm afraid that your questions betray your all-too-easy view of "education." To the questions:
"What coding languages should be considered?" All language; specifically (unto each child), the language that child uses—primarily—in communicating outside of that person's self. Around these parts, that's most usually English or American Sign Language (or, perhaps, Signed English). Start out with epistemology: be up-front and honest (if you are willing to do this) that the class is going to be primarily a safe place to—as an undercurrent to the purpose of attendance—think about thinking ("metacognition.") Speaking of that "purpose of attendance": it sounds as if you want to simply check off some tacky ticky boxes on a form to "certify" that the children have "done the work." To each one, ensure that person has a reason for being there, because you owe each a personalized curriculum. If they are required to be there (compulsory attendance), it's spoiled and can't be considered true "learning" (which is *always,* I contend, autodidactic).
I recommend LOGO, particularly because it has a "body-syntonic" application. This ensures you (and others who use it) may surmount the "nerds vs. jocks" stereotyping that could happen, often portrayed in popular media in the LOGO age.
If you must indoctrinate "the class" to a particular language, use LOGO. Use the "get up and walk around and figure out how *you* think about walking a circle, then write it down" type of lesson plan, the subroutine instructions that build up into a palette of useful examples of geometry, and the opportunities for functionalization. It's also a good foundation, I've decided, for having folks think in a slightly less-absurd way about points, lines, curves, and positions, because the Turtle (cursor/caret) has *direction,* as well as position, and is therefore more vector-y (i.e., real-world applicable) than simple point-based systems-"frozen"-in-time.
"Are there are any self-guided coding websites that can be used by children to learn coding using guidance and help online?" With this, you make it known that you're not really willing to develop. Read a book. Or do you want a "teach children to use a self-guided coding website" website to help you? I don't ask it to be rude, but to help you gain an enthusiasm for the position of being entrusted with young learners. If going down that road, instead of having each come up with (a) what learning is, (b) where learning comes from, and (c) when to learn (i.e., a reason for learning) as the first day activities, just know that the children (as a whole and each, individually) aren't stupid (don't label them such, even in your thoughts), and any misconceptions they garner from substandard, non-individually-catered learning materials will be on your head.
As an on-the-outskirts "hipster," I understand this as a glimpse into the future, where we've learned from the mistakes of the digital age. Though digital's "always-on," "always-streaming" (as private electronic storage of music has become passé) form is good for those who want a "quick hit" of a Top 40 "quick hit," we've lost the listening experience of the "art of the album" -- not to mention actual "album art," which represents a hold-in-one's-hands physical artefact: a manifestation of music, made real. It means more to buy a physical album. Some of us have found this to be true with dead-trees-type books, already.
Well, it's not really an Apples-to-Apples comparison, of course. But to answer your question, No, it could not be installed "just as easily." However, once installed, it might be "just as difficult" to remove or detect.:)
Two main points:
It all comes down to default user permissions. On Windows (by default), everyone is an admin, so, with one wrong click, and you really can bring your system to its knees. With OSX, users are just users by default, and you have to authenticate to install something potentially nasty. I've observed that the actual *authentication* (typing in a super-user password, different from your own) is enought to get a user sit back and think "Gee, maybe I shouldn't do this." Contrast this with the Windows equivalent of a popup with 2 buttons, "Run" and "Don't Run." People condition themselves to click the "Run" button automatically. This is because of the inherent differences in the OS.
Windows has a legacy of having its users being administrators; therefore, the vast majority of Windows apps assume that they can write files and registry entries willy-nilly. (If you don't think it's that bad of a problem, talk to a knowledgable and responsible Windows network admin, trying to secure a general-access lab that MUST have Adobe and Macromedia apps on it -- it's a nightmare, I tell you)!
Mac OSX, in contrast, since it didn't have a "legacy" (i.e., it was architected from the ground up, and purposefully did NOT include backward-compatibility), all apps written for OSX simply must be written to the security spec, or they simply won't work. Additionally, with 10.4, Apple has proven that they care more about security and logic in the OS than backward compatibility (whether you think that's good or bad, it's there) -- witness the extreme breakage of pretty much every non-Apple OSX network utility.
OSX has Single User Mode. There is no Windows equivilent. Safe mode is a laughable comparison. With OSX's Single User Mode, you can pretty darn easily clean up our theoretical infected machine.
Third point that doesn't really count: Although I hate to stereotype; Apple users are generally smarter than Windows users. There, I said it.
Disclaimer: I am a Windows network admin (and MCSE:2003 certified), but I lead a double life where I use and administer a small network of Macs.
Here's a story of some peeps from Microsoft Product Support Services who got a call about a weird crash in Exchange; tracked it down with the debugger, and found a pretty well-hidden rootkit. In fact, it would've remained hidden if it didn't have a bug in it!
The Microsoft ScriptCenter has just launched a new monthly column regarding beginning scripting in Windows; it's called Sesame Script. (The scripting guys are a little geeky.)
Also, point your favorite nntp client at msnews.microsoft.com and do a search for wsh, script, etc, and subscribe and ask! The newsgroups are full of helpful folks!
Remember the motto: If it has to be done more than once, script it!
PS, to get a script to emulate a monkey pressing ok, have it loop, watching for a dialog box of whatever name it will be, then activate that dialog (WScript.AppActivate) and then send an "Enter" keystroke (WScript.SendKeys). Good example is here:
Hmm... I've never had the problems you've described, maybe you're using the iTunes + Quicktime combined installer instead of the iTunes-only one? In any case, when the "Register Quicktime" box comes up next time, set your clock forward about 4 years, click "Not Now" and then set your clock back to the real time. No more annoying pop-up.:)
(Don't get me wrong, I still like iTunes, it just seems very unpolished in Windows).
I think that may be by design, to get you to "switch".
Can someone explain why this is a waste of bandwidth and time? Wouldn't a major company with a massive userbase supporting podcasting actually help the genre?
Also, since (presumably) Rob hasn't actually *tried* the software, isn't judging it a little harsh?
The firewall bundled with the service pack upgrade to Server 2003 isn't too bad, but it only does incoming connections. You can exempt ports or executables.
Then you're using Windows 2000, which has horrible HAL support. The sysprep for Windows 2000 only supports cloning to systems with the same HAL. If at all possible, upgrade to Windows XP. We went from having five seperate images to just having ONE image. It rocks. I can get you our image-building instructions if you wish, just drop me a line.
At most Universities (at least in the US), the bookstore, dining services, and (in most places) the housing department and sports teams are what's known as Auxilliary Services. They receive no money from the University, and must make their own profit. The only thing they receive is the right to associate themselves with the name of the institution.
At least here at UWM(.edu), these Auxilliary services don't even get to use the official University logo! They had to create their own.
If you want to talk more about realigning funds back into academia, look no farther than your Student Government Association. In most states, they have the right (responsibility?) to review exactly WHERE their represented students' money is going and have the power to stop it. This is especially true with fees like rec center usage, campus organizations funding, student health center, etc.
Hi. at UWM, we've run into the same problems. If you're not going to be running a domain, use the group policy editor (available on every Windows XP/2000 machine by default).
Start, Run, "gpedit.msc", and hit OK.
This will bring up the group policies for the local computer, which is similar to the domain GPOs. Except, of course, that they won't be over-written by the Domain GPOs because you won't have any.
I must say I disagree with most of the stuff presented in the article. Let's take a look at two examples.
WinZip: I bought WinZip (way back when they were NicoMak Computing) because it was a good product. It was (and I think still is) a solid product with an intuitive interface. Basically, I bought this product because it the developers knew its role. WinZip is a means to an end (unzipping files), not the end itself. Now I'm not sure, but I don't think that WinZip 1.0 had a 200-strong developer team behind it, or even what Mr. Pavlina would call a "Shareware Professional."
mIRC: (Yes, I'm a Windows user.) I purchased a license for mIRC because it's a good product, and, for my purposes, "best in show" for IRC clients.
So what's the moral of this post? People (me, my mother, joe user, whomever) buy software because (they percieve that) it's the best in it's particular field.
Not to say that Mr. Pavlina's article doesn't hit on some good points; namely, that developers need to improve their products as a whole and not just improve "what they're good at" (design, programming, what have you). But seriously, something that was lacking in this article was the fact that, if you want to make money on software, you have to actually make software that does its job well, and that the end-user can actually use.
Then again, I could be full of hot air.
Re:Did they ever move anything? And shake it?
on
3DO Files For Bankruptcy
·
· Score: 5, Interesting
Actually, you make a very good point.
I'm reminded of the article a little while ago where the "indy artist" released his album as mp3s on a website and nobody wanted to buy his album (or even download most of the songs)...
It wasn't because of "the big bad market." It was, quite simply, because they sucked.
Imagine -- a game company that doesn't make good games... I chalk this one up to good ol' economics. People don't buy games that suck, company that makes games that suck doesn't get money, company goes under.
Slashdot Mirror
I am currently reading "Mindstorms," by Seymour Papert, which is the namesake of the LEGO product for building intermediate robotics. The concepts of that product and its language—LEGO/LOGO—are inspired by Mr. Papert's work therein. Read it. Let's compare notes afterward, because I'm afraid that your questions betray your all-too-easy view of "education." To the questions:
As an on-the-outskirts "hipster," I understand this as a glimpse into the future, where we've learned from the mistakes of the digital age. Though digital's "always-on," "always-streaming" (as private electronic storage of music has become passé) form is good for those who want a "quick hit" of a Top 40 "quick hit," we've lost the listening experience of the "art of the album" -- not to mention actual "album art," which represents a hold-in-one's-hands physical artefact: a manifestation of music, made real. It means more to buy a physical album. Some of us have found this to be true with dead-trees-type books, already.
Well, it's not really an Apples-to-Apples comparison, of course. But to answer your question, No, it could not be installed "just as easily." However, once installed, it might be "just as difficult" to remove or detect. :)
Two main points:
Disclaimer: I am a Windows network admin (and MCSE:2003 certified), but I lead a double life where I use and administer a small network of Macs.
Here's a story of some peeps from Microsoft Product Support Services who got a call about a weird crash in Exchange; tracked it down with the debugger, and found a pretty well-hidden rootkit. In fact, it would've remained hidden if it didn't have a bug in it!
Don't believe everything the debugger is telling you!!! (aka Rootkit)
Maybe someone's mad they didn't get to host the Olympics?? Sheesh.
Seriously, you can do everything you've hinted to with VBScript.
I recommend:
The Microsoft ScriptCenter has just launched a new monthly column regarding beginning scripting in Windows; it's called Sesame Script. (The scripting guys are a little geeky.)
Also, point your favorite nntp client at msnews.microsoft.com and do a search for wsh, script, etc, and subscribe and ask! The newsgroups are full of helpful folks!
Remember the motto: If it has to be done more than once, script it!
PS, to get a script to emulate a monkey pressing ok, have it loop, watching for a dialog box of whatever name it will be, then activate that dialog (WScript.AppActivate) and then send an "Enter" keystroke (WScript.SendKeys). Good example is here:
Mostly, there is a truce between the Japanese anime companies and the fansubbing groups.
The reasoning is this:
For more, see the Wikipedia entry on Fansub.
I think you mean:
Fryyy me to za muun
An ret me pray amonda staasu.
Ret me see what spling is rike
On Jupitaa an Maazu.
(I won't bore you with the rest of my transcription of the ending song.)
"English" (the language) is a proper noun, and should be capitalized. The intarwebs told me so.
Funny that this is the footnote for Slashdot today:
You can't cheat the phone company.
Hmm... I've never had the problems you've described, maybe you're using the iTunes + Quicktime combined installer instead of the iTunes-only one? In any case, when the "Register Quicktime" box comes up next time, set your clock forward about 4 years, click "Not Now" and then set your clock back to the real time. No more annoying pop-up. :)
(Don't get me wrong, I still like iTunes, it just seems very unpolished in Windows).
I think that may be by design, to get you to "switch".
Also, it's now available on the website: Download iTunes 4.9.
Ouch!
Can someone explain why this is a waste of bandwidth and time? Wouldn't a major company with a massive userbase supporting podcasting actually help the genre?
Also, since (presumably) Rob hasn't actually *tried* the software, isn't judging it a little harsh?
The firewall bundled with the service pack upgrade to Server 2003 isn't too bad, but it only does incoming connections. You can exempt ports or executables.
Also, it's free.*
*Well, you know what I mean.
Umm...
:(
I hope you realize that Adobe did nothing to stop the bloat of Acrobat 7...
Instead, they created a "quick-launcher" that starts up with your system, and preloads most of acrobat into memory.
Don't believe me? Look in your Startup group on your Start menu.
Then realize that the poster (and author) use the word "all" as a catchphrase to mean "the overwhelmingly vast majority."
Well, seeing as the book was published in 1998, it seems like it's held up to the test of time fairly well.
Also, for added effect, be sure to name your hamster "Beowulf."
The chicks dig it.
Then you're using Windows 2000, which has horrible HAL support. The sysprep for Windows 2000 only supports cloning to systems with the same HAL. If at all possible, upgrade to Windows XP. We went from having five seperate images to just having ONE image. It rocks. I can get you our image-building instructions if you wish, just drop me a line.
Here's a page that we send people to at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee when they have questions about this.
Disabling Windows 2000/XP Messenger Service
Actually, that's not quite right...
At most Universities (at least in the US), the bookstore, dining services, and (in most places) the housing department and sports teams are what's known as Auxilliary Services. They receive no money from the University, and must make their own profit. The only thing they receive is the right to associate themselves with the name of the institution.
At least here at UWM(.edu), these Auxilliary services don't even get to use the official University logo! They had to create their own.
If you want to talk more about realigning funds back into academia, look no farther than your Student Government Association. In most states, they have the right (responsibility?) to review exactly WHERE their represented students' money is going and have the power to stop it. This is especially true with fees like rec center usage, campus organizations funding, student health center, etc.
Hi. at UWM, we've run into the same problems. If you're not going to be running a domain, use the group policy editor (available on every Windows XP/2000 machine by default).
Start, Run, "gpedit.msc", and hit OK.
This will bring up the group policies for the local computer, which is similar to the domain GPOs. Except, of course, that they won't be over-written by the Domain GPOs because you won't have any.
Email me if you need more help...
Well...
I must say I disagree with most of the stuff presented in the article. Let's take a look at two examples.
WinZip: I bought WinZip (way back when they were NicoMak Computing) because it was a good product. It was (and I think still is) a solid product with an intuitive interface. Basically, I bought this product because it the developers knew its role. WinZip is a means to an end (unzipping files), not the end itself. Now I'm not sure, but I don't think that WinZip 1.0 had a 200-strong developer team behind it, or even what Mr. Pavlina would call a "Shareware Professional."
mIRC: (Yes, I'm a Windows user.) I purchased a license for mIRC because it's a good product, and, for my purposes, "best in show" for IRC clients.
So what's the moral of this post? People (me, my mother, joe user, whomever) buy software because (they percieve that) it's the best in it's particular field.
Not to say that Mr. Pavlina's article doesn't hit on some good points; namely, that developers need to improve their products as a whole and not just improve "what they're good at" (design, programming, what have you). But seriously, something that was lacking in this article was the fact that, if you want to make money on software, you have to actually make software that does its job well, and that the end-user can actually use.
Then again, I could be full of hot air.
Actually, you make a very good point.
I'm reminded of the article a little while ago where the "indy artist" released his album as mp3s on a website and nobody wanted to buy his album (or even download most of the songs)...
It wasn't because of "the big bad market." It was, quite simply, because they sucked.
Imagine -- a game company that doesn't make good games... I chalk this one up to good ol' economics. People don't buy games that suck, company that makes games that suck doesn't get money, company goes under.
Any questions?
For a minute, I thought I was in a parallel universe where everyone got to be a subscriber for free and "see it early!"
*sigh* Oh well, here's to wishful thinking.
*sigh*
Sadly, I would have to agree. Common sense is not as common as it should be...
Oh well, work with what you got.
cheers.