Changes

still failing – and we embarked upon a path to do something about

still failing – and we embarked upon a path to do something about

it. We developed a deployable model of one-to-one computing enabling

it. We developed a deployable model of one-to-one computing enabling

us to advocate for a pedagogy of

us to advocate for a pedagogy of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructionism_%28learning_theory%29 constructionist learning], where "learning can happen most effectively

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructionism_%28learning_theory%29

constructionist learning], where "learning can happen most effectively

when people are also active in making tangible objects in the real

when people are also active in making tangible objects in the real

world."

world."

Over the course of four years, we've put Sugar into the hands of

Over the course of four years, we've put Sugar into the hands of

almost two-million children. Our goal has been to give them a

almost two million children. Our goal has been to give them a

"learning platform" – one that encourages them to be expressive with

"learning platform" – one that encourages them to be expressive with

knowledge, to collaborate, and to reflect.

knowledge, to collaborate, and to reflect.

computer is being allocated at the end of the school day.

computer is being allocated at the end of the school day.

We have not been advocating anything goes; nor have we been anti

We have not been advocating "anything goes"; nor have we been anti

teacher. Rather, we have been encouraging "guided discovery", where

teacher. Rather, we have been encouraging "guided discovery", where

the teacher has an active role in steering the learners towards

the teacher has an active role in steering the learners towards

Our interventions are guided with a goal in mind –

Our interventions are guided with a goal in mind –

[http://davidbrin.blogspot.com/2006/06/allocation-vs-markets-ancient-struggle.html

[http://davidbrin.blogspot.com/2006/06/allocation-vs-markets-ancient-struggle.html the empowerment of individual competitive and cooperative opportunity].

the empowerment of individual competitive and cooperative

opportunity].

:"It would take wit, insight and incredible perspective for many of

:"It would take wit, insight and incredible perspective for many of them to pull back and admit: "Wait... I am prescribing the very thing I should hate. What I really ought to want are genuinely liberal markets, in which the state ensures that all players get to know and negotiate and play the great creative game from a level playing field. Yes, that will mean some "allocating" to raise up poor children to be ABLE to compete well. And yes we must allocate to take into account the needs of generations yet to come. But the thing I am devoted to is not allocation, ''per se''! The thing I am dedicated to is giving all people (including those yet to come) a fair chance to play." —David Brin

them to pull back and admit: "Wait... I am prescribing the very thing

I should hate. What I really ought to want are genuinely liberal

markets, in which the state ensures that all players get to know and

negotiate and play the great creative game from a level playing

field. Yes, that will mean some "allocating" to raise up poor children

to be ABLE to compete well. And yes we must allocate to take into

account the needs of generations yet to come. But the thing I am

devoted to is not allocation, ''per se''! The thing I am dedicated to is

giving all people (including those yet to come) a fair chance to

play." —David Brin

A theme I have taken up repeatedly since we started Sugar Labs is

A theme I have taken up repeatedly since we started Sugar Labs is

collection of tools we use for communicating with the Sugar

collection of tools we use for communicating with the Sugar

community. Please add your suggestions to

community. Please add your suggestions to

[[Blogs#Possible_tools_for_a_new_community_site|possible tools for sa

[[Blogs#Possible_tools_for_a_new_community_site|possible tools for a

new community site.]]

new community site.]]

A few selected highlights (from Simon's release notes):

A few selected highlights (from Simon's release notes):

* We have significantly improved collaboration when XO-1.5 is used

* We have significantly improved collaboration when XO-1.5 is used with no Access Points available ("under a tree"). The Neighborhood View now shows three default Ad-hoc networks (for channels 1, 6, and 11) in user-friendly icons, and XOs will auto-connect without user intervention. This behavior is similar to the "mesh" behavior on XO-1.

with no Access Points available ("under a tree"). The Neighborhood

View now shows three default Ad-hoc networks (for channels 1, 6, and

11) in user-friendly icons, and XOs will auto-connect without user

intervention. This behavior is similar to the "mesh" behavior on

XO-1.

* You may now share Journal entries with another learner using a USB

* You may now share Journal entries with another learner using a USB drive or SD card. The user experience is: Martin wants to give a picture he has been drawing to Simon. He plugs in his USB drive and copies the Journal entry on the drive. Simon plugs in Martin's drive in his laptop. The entry will be shown with Martin's XO color on the drive. Simon copies Martin's entry into his Journal.

drive or SD card. The user experience is: Martin wants to give a

picture he has been drawing to Simon. He plugs in his USB drive and

copies the Journal entry on the drive. Simon plugs in Martin's drive

in his laptop. The entry will be shown with Martin's XO color on the

drive. Simon copies Martin's entry into his Journal.

* We have added support for USB2VGA adapters. You can now connect an

* We have added support for USB2VGA adapters. You can now connect an XO to a projector over a USB2VGA adapter and project what is on your XO screen onto a screen or for many people to see.

XO to a projector over a USB2VGA adapter and project what is on your

XO screen onto a screen or for many people to see.

* In this build certain activities are protected from being deleted by

* In this build certain activities are protected from being deleted by accident. In the activity list in the home view the erase option is disabled for those. Protected activities are: Browse, Terminal, Log, Write, ImageViewer and Record. Note that the user can still install newer versions of these activities.

accident. In the activity list in the home view the erase option is

disabled for those. Protected activities are: Browse, Terminal, Log,

Write, ImageViewer and Record. Nte that the user can still install

newer versions of these activities.

7. Tom Gilliard (satellit) has been making steady progress on Sugar

7. Tom Gilliard (satellit) has been making steady progress on Sugar