Applying the logo environment: learning, doing and discovery through computerized learning projects

Abstract

In this paper the Logo environment is applied to several original computerized learning projects, each of a very different nature: one for learning geometry generating numerous instances for verifying the results of a little known theorem of plane geometry, a second for learning the basics of the physical foundations of music through the construction, using the keyboard of the computer, of a little piano, and a third one to learn some aspects of Spanish grammar involving the conjugation of regular and irregular verbs. The projects were carefully selected to illustrate a wide range of possibilities and the flexibility of the Logo language and power of its instruction set and adaptive data structure. After introducing the main ideas of the Logo educational philosophy, a short introduction to the language is given followed by an introduction to the concept of a microworld. Next the idea of a computerized learning project is explained and the three projects mentioned above are presented. Complete listings of simple programs in LogoWriter are included together with some ideas for extending the projects in different directions. The projects presented in the paper are of a slightly more advanced nature than what usually appears in books on Logo. The paper is sprinkled with learning ideas that can be tried with groups of youngsters.