Changes

1. While I am not chasing down Turtle Art bugs, I am catching up with my summer reading. The quote from ''A Fire in the Deep'' seems a nice summary of the discussion about teaching physics on the [http://lists.sugarlabs.org/archive/iaep/2009-August/007722.html IAEP list]. It is worthwhile reading the whole thread.

1. While I am not chasing down Turtle Art bugs, I am catching up with my summer reading. The quote from ''A Fire in the Deep'' seems a nice summary of the discussion about teaching physics on the [http://lists.sugarlabs.org/archive/iaep/2009-August/007722.html IAEP list]. It is worthwhile reading the whole thread.

2. Some other summer reading includes a short article on behavioral economics published by the [http:neweconomics.org New Economics Foundation] that discusses some principles of behavior that we may want to consider as we consider how to maximize the impact of our efforts as a community. (I am unaware of any serious study of Free Software by behavioral economists. This particular summary is more useful in regard to understanding the motivation of teachers whom we'd like to consider adopting Sugar and perhaps become more observant about what they are doing with the platform in their classrooms.

2. Some other summer reading includes a short article on behavioral economics published by the [http://neweconomics.org New Economics Foundation] that discusses some principles of behavior that we may want to consider as we consider how to maximize the impact of our efforts as a community. (I am unaware of any serious study of Free Software by behavioral economists. This particular summary is more useful in regard to understanding the motivation of teachers whom we'd like to consider adopting Sugar and perhaps become more observant about what they are doing with the platform in their classrooms.

I am thinking about each of their principles as a vehicle for asking questions that I am hoping community members may be able to discuss.

I am thinking about each of their principles as a vehicle for asking questions that I am hoping community members may be able to discuss.

* "Habits are important."

* "Habits are important."

:This would suggest that we raise awareness about some of the habits that are part and parcel with the status quo. What incentives can we provide that would encourage change? What actions can we take to sustain and reenforce changes in behavior?

:This would suggest that we raise awareness about some of the habits that are part and parcel with the status quo. What incentives can we provide that would encourage change? What actions can we take to sustain and reinforce changes in behavior?

* "People are motivated to ‘do the right thing’."

* "People are motivated to ‘do the right thing’."

:We need to engage teachers in a discussion about what is "the right thing" and remind them that the right thing is often hard work: "Sire, there is no Royal Road to Geometry" – Euclid.

:We need to engage teachers in a discussion about what is "the right thing" and remind them that the right thing often involves hard work: "Sire, there is no Royal Road to Geometry" – Euclid.

* "People’s self-expectations influence how they behave: they want their actions to be in line with their values and their commitments."

* "People’s self-expectations influence how they behave: they want their actions to be in line with their values and their commitments."