Luís Valente

Uses of the internet in portugal

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SQUEAK, AN INVISIBLE LABORATORY FOR TEACHERS AS LEARNERS

In this paper, we highlight the empowerment of fresh developers challenged to create their own virtual laboratories of learning in the Squeaks World. We suggested to a large group of teachers, from all school levels in Portugal, the use of Squeak, as a multimedia system, an interface development environment, or simply as a programming language, in order to create new virtual worlds or simulated environments. They were challenged to exploit such a tool, knowing that school and schooling are fine, assuming that we aim to make it better, even if we do not always know what that means.

What if You Created Your Own Digital Adventurers' Park?

In the ambit of a summer school, we have proposed to a group of nearly 40 students between 10 and 15 years old to create a digital adventures’ park with Squeak. None of them knew the software nor had previous had programming knowledge and many little over the basic competences for the use of a computer, though they showed a special interest in computers. In this text we intend to approach some of the attitudes demonstrated by the students in the face of the challenge proposed at the course and their imaginary’s transposition to Squeak’s environment, in an ecologic perspective of the media. We will pay special attention to creativity’s emergency which seems to us anchor the development of object-oriented programming competences in inexperienced programmers. In addition we will also refer to the self-learning and collaborative learning aspects resulting from the interaction between “creators” and “programmers”, in light of their importance in learning environments without a teacher.