How and with whom young children use Logo Dr. Catherine Wilson Gillespie Drake University Des...

How and with whom young children use Logo

Dr. Catherine Wilson Gillespie

Drake University

Des Moines, Iowa

What is Logo?

• Logo is a child-friendly computer language• Developed by Dr. Seymour Papert (MIT) in 1968• Computer-based software that uses Logo includes:

– Lego-Logo– MicroWorlds

Is Logo Developmentally Appropriate?

• Age• Interest• Culture

How do Young Children use Logo?

• Constructing

• Demonstrating

• Role Playing

• Using Construction

• Talking

Kindergarteners

• One hour of Lego-Logo time three times per week• Lego and MicroWorlds both available• Discovery approach• Nine target children over two years

Kindergarteners

Target Children Average time spent constructing

5 Boys 66%

(range 59-73%)

4 Girls 66%

(range 41-80%)

Head Start students

• MicroWorlds as a choice activity

• During center time

• Discovery approach

• All children observed

• Target children were the frequent users

Head Start students

Target children who were observed constructing

10% or more of the time they used MicroWorlds

Average time spent constructing

Ralph 67%

Rich 59%

With whom do children use Lego?

• Alone

• With a peer

• With a teacher

• With peer(s) and a teacher

With Whom Children Used Logo While Constructing

Kindergarteners Alone With a Peer

Boys 50% 32%

Girls 55% 21%

With Whom Children Used Logo While Constructing

Head Start

Students

Alone With an Adult

Boys 68% 20%

Conclusions

• Age differences

• No gender differences in behavior

• Gender differences in social configurations

• Discovery approach with support can be developmentally appropriate for children ages 3-6

Thank you

• Iowa Early Childhood Papert Partnership– Drake University– Drake University Head Start– Des Moines Public Schools– Norwalk Public Schools– Heartland Area Education Agency