Papert, Seymour

Mindstorms: Children, Computers, and Powerful Ideas

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a great book about a revolution in education
Children direct collaborative learning with computers.
A Classic
EIGHT STARS -- A Breakthrough in Natural Learning
Mindstorms is mind-expanding

Mindstorms: Children, Computers, and Powerful Ideas
Seymour Papert
Manufacturer: Basic Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0465046746

Customer Reviews:

a great book about a revolution in education.......2006-09-06

Mindstorms is not just about the programming language called Logo. It is about Turtle Graphics and it's application to education. The author explains Turtle Graphics which is combination of programming and geometry. He then puts Turtle Graphics to use explaining how to do draw complicated shapes with it. Finally the author explains the theory behind his insights which is built on the contributions of Piaget a important researcher into the way children understand the world. I greatly enjoyed this book. Papert explains how to combine the process of programming with the process of learning. He shows how to make what is cerebral into a concrete process that children can understand.

Children direct collaborative learning with computers........2006-07-28

This is a book that anyone interested in present-day education of children everywhere should find time to read. For a few weeks, in the summer of 2001, I introduced teenagers in the W. E. B. DuBois Scholars' Program, held on the campus of Princeton University, to the Logo computer programming language invented by the author of this book, MIT professor, Seymour Papert. A leader in the DuBois program sought me out to congratulate me and quoted the students as having repeated over and over that they were ecstatic about what they were learning in my class and that it alone was worth their live-in participation. Indeed, I saw the glow in their eyes and a strong desire to be explorers with Turtle Graphics. Ditto for when I joined fellow volunteers from the MIT Alumni Club of New York City to employ Lego to guide the learning of robotics at Hunter College Elementary School for gifted students in upper Manhattan.

There is something engaging about the constructivist learning philosophy advocated in Professor Papert's books, beginning with the first edition of this book, [1980]. The open secret was that these students directed their collaboration with the computer in their own journey to discover knowledge and this book explains the confluence of ideas from science, mathematics and modeling that brings about this immersion. When a child can learn, in one week, how recursion works in mathematics, a topic normally taught in graduate courses in computer science, someone has donated a gift!

The challenge to teachers looking for traditional instructions for students in this setting is that this approach is relatively rule-agnostic and that makes some people feel uncomfortable. There is a chapter titled "Instructionism versus Constructionism" in a book, The Children's Machine, Papert's follow-up progress report on learning, after more than three million computers had been employed in American elementary schools, thirteen years after the ideas in Mindstorms were first published. For more adventurous K-12 students, opportunities to use legions of turtles, acting simultaneously, to model and simulate complex, dynamic systems like traffic jams are provided within a related language, StarLogo, and the results are startling and sometimes paradoxical.

At the risk of being immodest, I volunteer that one of my sons started his education in an atmosphere implementing Papert's ideas -- MIT's Tech Child Care Center -- in 1977 and went on to graduate from Stanford University in 1996. This environment galvanizes and sustains the curiosity, creativity and imagination of children - preach it to all who would listen!

A Classic.......2005-04-21

This book provides an introduction to Papert's thinking concerning the learning and teaching of math. Prior to developing the LOGO language described in this book, Papert worked closely with Piaget in Switzerland for 5 years. While in Switzerland, Papert observed many of Piaget's experiments with children and the development of their understanding of mathematical concepts. Following Piaget, Papert believed that the math learning that the child comes to know best and that stays with the child always comes from experience and cognition, not from explicit teaching or rote practice. He noted, however, that there were certain mathematical concepts that children should come to know, but that they wouldn't ordinarily learn from experience alone because they might not come across these ideas in ordinary life. This is why he invented the programming language LOGO--a toy that children could play with, experiment with, manipulate, and through doing so, gradually come to call their own the mathematical concepts needed for their games.

To make LOGO attractive to kids, he included a "turtle" as the central figure of the language. The turtle carried a pen that could be used to trace the turtle's movement through the play area or on a computer screen. The challenge was for kids to write programs in LOGO that would instruct the turtle how to move and when to use the pen so that it would draw shapes in the forms that they wanted. When the turtle didn't make the shapes they wanted, they were instructed to "be the turtle," in order to understand the turtle's perspective, and to figure out how they needed to adjust their programs. According to Papert, even kids who showed no interest in math in the regular classroom began showing dramatic improvements in their math skills when given a chance to play with the turtle. Unfortunately, when turtle math was first introduced, many teachers tried teaching a turtle math class the same way they taught regular math class, with lectures and assignments. In doing so, they lost the playful aspects of the program, and kids didn't relate to it as well as they might have if the teachers had followed Papert's guidelines.

When turtle math was first invented, Papert's team created a small robot turtle that kids could play with and program. In the years that followed, the programmable turtle eventually developed into the Lego Mindstorms programmable brick, which doesn't quite sound as cute and fuzzy, but actually allows even more creative play than the turtle, since kids can choose what kinds of forms the robot should take. One of the more fascinating aspects of this book is the historical documentation it provides of Papert's thinking at the time, and his reasoning behind LOGO and turtle math. When an idea for a revolution in teaching methodology goes from just an idea, to a system that is being used for teaching engineering and science in classrooms around that world, and is even being sold successfully in regular commercial channels as a toy, it's worth getting to know better, as can be done through reading this book. Teachers in classrooms using Lego or other robots could benefit greatly from reading this classic book detailing the early history behind programmable robots and the way Papert envisioned them being used for learning.

EIGHT STARS -- A Breakthrough in Natural Learning.......2000-05-20

This is the best book I have ever read on how to assist people to learn for themselves. Papert began his work by collaborating with Jean Piaget, and then applied those perspectives in a self-programming language designed to help children learn math and physics.

Papert explains Piaget's work and provides case studies of how the programming language, LOGO, can help. He provides a wonderful contrasting explanation of the weaknesses of how math and physics are usually taught in schools.

I learned quite a few things from this that I did not know before. People are very good at developing theories about why things work the way they do. I knew that these theories are almost always wrong. What I did not realize is that if you give the person a way to test their theory, the person will keep devising new theories until they hit on one that works. What is usually missing in education is the means to allow that testing to occur.

An especially imaginative part of this book were the discussions of how to create theory testing solutions that are much simpler and easier to apply than any school problem you ever saw in these subjects. Papert works from a very fundamental and deep understanding of math and physics to reach the heart of the most useful thought processes for applying these subjects. It is thrilling to read about what you have known for many years, and to suddenly see it in a totally different and improved perspective.

Another benefit I got from this book were plenty of ideas for how to help my teenage daughter with her math. She is very verbal, and Papert points out that math seldom teaches a vocabulary for talking about math. As a result, she memorizes a lot and gets dissociated from the subject. I got a lot of ideas for how to encourage her to personalize the concepts and problems by moving her own body. From that I realized that I often solve the same kinds of problems by recalling physical situations I have been in. But I have failed to help her make that connection because I was unaware of it on a conscious level.

If you want to improve as a learner, help others learn better and faster, or simply want to understand more about different ways to think, this is a great book. I hope that all teachers get a chance to read and apply it.

Enjoy learning more!

Mindstorms is mind-expanding.......2000-03-28

If you ever wondered why you didn't "get it" in a hated school subject, even though you seem to "get it" in other parts of your life, read this book. Pappert discusses learning, teaching and the liberating role that technology--if done right--can play in the classroom and out of it.

The Children's Machine: Rethinking School in the Age of the Computer

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Thought Provoking
Anybody interested in education should read this.

The Children's Machine: Rethinking School in the Age of the Computer
Seymour Papert
Manufacturer: Basic Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Mindstorms: Children, Computers, and Powerful Ideas
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ASIN: 0465010636

Book Description

In this sequel to his classic Mindstorms, Papert, the inventor of the programming language LOGO, explains how computers have the potential to revolutionize education.

Customer Reviews:

Thought Provoking.......2000-11-14

This was an interesting book that did a good job of bringing up controversial and thought-provoking subjects relating to education and technology. Although Papert makes some good points about how technology could be better utilized in the classroom, he takes the extreme point of view that it could and should totally revolutionize the way that kids learn and that schools operate. Whether or not you as the reader agree with him or not, it is a good read for anyone interested in either education or technology that is sure to make you at least analyze your own points of view on both topics.

Anybody interested in education should read this........1999-06-29

A stimulating and challenging book. Easy to read and full of interesting anecdotes.

Book Description

Perceptrons - the first systematic study of parallelism in computation - has remained a classical work on threshold automata networks for nearly two decades. It marked a historical turn in artificial intelligence, and it is required reading for anyone who wants to understand the connectionist counterrevolution that is going on today.

Artificial-intelligence research, which for a time concentrated on the programming of ton Neumann computers, is swinging back to the idea that intelligence might emerge from the activity of networks of neuronlike entities. Minsky and Papert's book was the first example of a mathematical analysis carried far enough to show the exact limitations of a class of computing machines that could seriously be considered as models of the brain. Now the new developments in mathematical tools, the recent interest of physicists in the theory of disordered matter, the new insights into and psychological models of how the brain works, and the evolution of fast computers that can simulate networks of automata have given Perceptrons new importance.

Witnessing the swing of the intellectual pendulum, Minsky and Papert have added a new chapter in which they discuss the current state of parallel computers, review developments since the appearance of the 1972 edition, and identify new research directions related to connectionism. They note a central theoretical challenge facing connectionism: the challenge to reach a deeper understanding of how "objects" or "agents" with individuality can emerge in a network. Progress in this area would link connectionism with what the authors have called "society theories of mind."

Marvin L. Minsky is Donner Professor of Science in MIT's Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department. Seymour A. Papert is Professor of Media Technology at MIT.

Customer Reviews:

Deja vu?.......2000-11-27

In 1958, Cornell psychologist Frank Rosenblatt proposed the 'perceptron', one of the first neural networks to become widely known. A retina sensory layer projected to an association layer made up of threshold logic units which in turn connected to the third layer, the response layer. If two groups of patterns are linearly separable then the perceptron network works well in learning to classify them in separate classes. In this reference, Minsky and Papert show that assuming a diameter-limited sensory retina, a perceptron network could not always compute connectedness, ie, determining if a line figure is one connected line or two separate lines. Extrapolating the conclusions of this reference to other sorts of neural networks was a big setback to the field at the time of this reference. However, it was subsequently shown that having an additional 'hidden' layer in the neural network overcame many of the limitations. This reference figures so prominently in the field of neural networks, and is often referred to in modern works. But of even greater significance, the history of the perceptron demonstrates the complexity of analyzing neural networks. Before this reference, artificial neural networks were considered terrific, after this reference limited, and then in the 1980s terrific again. But at the time of this writing, it is realized that despite physiological plausibility, artificial neural networks do not scale well to large or complex problems that brains can easily handle, and artificial neural networks as we know them may actually be not so terrific.

Seminal AI book.......2000-04-03

This is a seminal work in the field of Artificial Intelligence. Following an initial period of enthusiasm, the field encountered a period of frustration and disrepute. Minksy and Papert's 1969 book summed up this general feeling of frustration among researchers by demonstrating the representational limitations of Perceptrons (used in neural networks). Their arguments were very influential in the field and accepted by most without further analysis.

Book Description

At a time when parents wonder how computers are changing their children's lives, the world's foremost expert on how children learn to work with computers speaks out.

Customer Reviews:

How about a Connected *School* ?.......2000-07-01

Seymour Papert's The Connected Family is better suited toteachers than parents, since its chief criticism concerns schools' useof computers. He seems to believe that since schools are doing such a poor job of finding new and innovative uses for computers, he will target families in an attempt to allow children at least some positive experience with computers. While this is not a bad idea, I think his time would be better spent encouraging schools to rethink their use of computers. Certainly families should develop common interests and work together on projects, but children spend so much more time in school that changes there are likely to have a greater impact. I hope that many teachers find the time to read this book and consider making changes in their use of computers.

Teachers of very young students often recognize exploration as legitimate learning, but as the age of the student increases, the tendency is to decrease the time spent on exploration and increase time spent on instruction. This is done in the quest for efficiency in spite of the fact that we all know the most powerful lessons in life come from experience (exploring and experimenting.) It is Papert's idea that computers are best used as alternate universes in which students can continue to explore and experiment.

It used to be that you could explore a piece of technology and learn how it worked (picture peering into a manual typewriter,) but with increasing reliance on microprocessors this is laregly untrue today (picture peering inside your PC.) Papert's ideal of learning through exploration cannot occur when the working of the world is opaque. His solution for computers is to ignore the hardware (it is hopelessly opaque) and focus instead software. Don't ask children to merely use software but ask them to program a computer. This will reveal the workings of the digital age and remove some of the mystery of computers.

Papert poses some interesting ideas in this teaser of a book. I'd like to see more work done towards developing the type of software he imagines. The book's web site ... may have once had some of this, but it has now been replaced by ... a kid-oriented, but very limited site ...

Positive Points from Seymour A. Papert's Generation Gap book.......2000-05-23

Some of the most important things that I as an educator and parent took away from this book was the involvement of both the parents and teacher in the education of their children. My asessment of the book was that he uses the computer to increase the communication of all family members and show the uses of the computer. The one thing that stayed with me the most was the saying "Not why the computer but how the computer". That means to think of ways to include the computer in your everyday life. This is a book that all educators should have and encourage their students parents to get.

EDC-571 Linda Hermans.......2000-05-23

I didn't have a full understanding of what Papert meant, when he spoke of typical schools and typical homes. He seems to be implying that children coming from these enviorments can't be computer literate.

EDUC571- HERMANS.......2000-05-23

The Connected Family by Seymour Papert is an enlightening approach to helping parents realize the importance of being in touch with technology. Our children are very familiar and his reference to the fact that we must close this generation gap is on target. This book has encouraged and still challenges me to learn all that I can about technology.

My view of Seymour Papert's book.......2000-05-22

Seymour Papert's book was enjoyable to read. In the beginning of the book I felt that he elaborated on the chapters. A lot of the book was redundant. I felt as if he blamed too much of the children's lack of education and exposure on the teachers.I believe that those who read Papert's book with an open mind will truly benefit. The teacher who approaches this book on the defense unfortunately will feel worse for having read it. I don't think that this is the kind of book that the average parent picks up to read.So many of them will never have the opportunity to see what is printed here. I would recommend this book to other educators. I would also encourage them to have an open mind as they read this book.I feel that the computer age calls for all teachers to do all that they can to improve on the computer especially since children are so stimulated today.

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MINDSTORMS-CHILDREN, COMPUTERS AND POWERFUL IDEAS
Seymour Papert
Manufacturer: Basic Books, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HL74LU

Counter-Free Automata (M.I.T. research monograph no. 65)

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Counter-Free Automata (M.I.T. research monograph no. 65)
Robert McNaughton , and Seymour A. Papert
Manufacturer: The MIT Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0262130769

Ed leaders talk tech.(update: Education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(Seymour Papert talks about educational reform ... An article from: District Administration

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Ed leaders talk tech.(update: Education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(Seymour Papert talks about educational reform ... An article from: District Administration
Angela Pascopella
Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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Book Description

This digital document is an article from District Administration, published by Thomson Gale on June 1, 2005. The length of the article is 483 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser. Citation Details
Title: Ed leaders talk tech.(update: Education news from schools, businesses, research and government agencies)(Seymour Papert talks about educational reform (computer based learning) in school districts)
Author: Angela Pascopella
Publication: District Administration (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 1, 2005
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 41 Issue: 6 Page: 16(2) Distributed by Thomson Gale

the connected family bridging the digital generation gap

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the connected family bridging the digital generation gap
Seymour (Nicholas Negroponte, Forword) Papert
Manufacturer: Longstreet Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IG2HAW

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PROBLEMES DE LA CONSRUCTION DU NOMBRE.
Pierre, Jean-Blaise Grize, Seymour Papert et al. Greco
Manufacturer: Presses Universitaires de France
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GZ9G5Y

PERCEPTRONS: An Introduction to Computational Geomety.

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PERCEPTRONS: An Introduction to Computational Geomety.
Marvin Minsky & Seymour Papert.
Manufacturer: MIT Press: 1972 2nd prtg.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000KIH8C0

Computer Pioneers:

Computer Pioneers

Computer Pioneers