Viz
I'm working on a new little web app called viz. It's a javascript version of the Turtle Graphics from Seymour Papert's Logo.
The idea is that there's basic blocks which can have inputs and can be dragged around the screen-- probably like Etoys or Scratch, though I haven't spent time with those. They will start off being 2 types -- move and turn. Clicking a go button will run them as a program.
I'm building this for a few reasons:
- the kids' school is doing a robotics unit which involves some basic programming
- this will work on the ipad
- it's javascript, which I'm enjoying a lot, and SVG which I've wanted to learn more about
The really wonderful thing about it is how it scaffolds basic concepts in math and in programming. The basic move and turn are good for solidifying ideas about number, and giving a notation for angles. Sequencing them is basic programming. Putting them into a repeat block is another important concept. At some point using variables rather than constants will be useful. Putting blocks into a howto block is abstraction, and is the important concept; because it's easy to abstract the abstractions.
New functions come about very naturally. Starting off with move, turn, penup,pendown I quickly need a way of changing color, of coming back to where I started, of clearing the screen.
Tags: computing
