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Line 1: + − + − + + − Happy 6th Birthday Sugar Labs+ + + + + + + + + + + − 1. I just got back from Turtle Art Day in Kathmandu, Nepal. OLE Nepal helped organize a 2-day workshop with 70+ children from four schools. Many thanks to Martin Dluhos, Basanta Shrestha, Subir Pradhanang, Rabi Karmacharya, Bernie Innocenti, Nick Dorion, and Adam Holt, all of whom contributed to the event.+ − + − It was not a surprise that children in Nepal are like children everywhere else: they take to programming like ducks to water. We began by taking the children in small groups to learn some basics about controlling the turtle: one child plays the role of turtle, one holds the pen (a piece of chalk) and the rest, in a circle, instruct the "turtle" how to draw a square. They need to be very precise with their instructions: if they just say "forward" without saying how far forward, the turtle keeps walking. If they say "right", without saying how far to turn, the turtle keeps spinning. After they draw a square, I ask them to draw a triangle; then they are ready to start with Turtle Art. I've posted a few of the chalk drawings in the wiki: [[:File:Chalk1.jpg|simple ones]] from my session, to [[:File:Chalk1.jpg|more elaborate]], from those working with another one of the mentors.+ − + − After working with chalk, we went to the computers. On a laptop connected to a projector, I introduced Turtle Blocks, and again ask for a square. I show them that they can snap together blocks, e.g., forward 100, right 90; showed them the repeat block; and then I show them how to use the start block to run their program with the rabbit or snail (fast or slow). Over time, I introduced the pen and let them explore colors for awhile. Next, I introduce action blocks: make an action for drawing a square and then call that action inside of a repeat block followed by right 45, and you get a pretty cool pattern. This was followed by more open-ended exploration. I introduced a few more ideas, such as using "set color to heading" (the color is determined by the direction the turtle is heading); "set color = color + 1" to increment the color; and "set color = time" to make the color slowly change over time. I also introduced a few other blocks, such as show, speak, and random. Finally, I introduced boxes. For this, I use a physical box: I ask the children to put a number (written on paper) in the box; then I ask them what number is in the box. I ask them to take the number in the box and add 1 to it. Again I ask them what number is in the box. I repeat this until they get used to it; then I show them the same thing using Turtle. The example program I write with them is to go forward by the amount in the box, turn right, and add 10 to the number in the box. I asked them what they think will happen, and then show them that it makes a spiral. When they run it with the "snail", they can see the number in the box as the program runs. Another block I explicitly introduced was the "show" block. We programmed an animation with "show image", "wait 1", "show image", "wait 1", ... They recorded dance steps using the Sugar Record activity and used those images in their Turtle projects. As often as possible, we tried to have a child show their work to the entire group. At the end of the second day, we had a table set up for an exhibition; we had to keep adding more tables as more and more children wanted to show off their projects. − − We originally planned on break-out sessions on Day Two, but we had a technical glitch on Day One, that slowed things down quite a bit. The children were running Sugar 0.82 on XO-1 laptops, which is nearly six-years old. They had them connected to the mesh network, which cannot scale properly to 70+ machines. The result was a lot of frozen machines. It took most of the day to figure out what was wrong. Once we turned off the radios, everything worked great. I also had to spin a stripped down version of Turtle Art, since a number of dependencies I use, such as some Python 2.7 features, were unavailable on 0.82. − − We did have one break-out session for robotics. I brought a Butia to Nepal and I wrote the typical program with the kids to have the Butia go forward until it got to the edge of the circle (everyone was sitting in a circle on the floor); whomever the Butia approached had to push a button so that the Butia would spin and then go in another direction. We then added a few embellishments: the Butia would say "ouch" or "that tickles" when the button was pushed; and we had it take a picture of the child who pushed the button. We saved the files so we could use them to make an animation in Turtle Art. − − Of note: One child approached me to say he is teaching himself to program Python. I showed him how to export Python from his Turtle Art projects. I'll be curious how he uses that feature. I am making a new set to [[Activities/Turtle_Art/Turtle_Cards|Turtle Cards]] to demonstrate the steps we took in explaining Turtle to the children. − − Photos: [https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10151995403127583&id=187845102582] [https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152402311569362&set=a.140818034361.110570.552694361&type=1&theater] [https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10151996917067583&id=187845102582] [https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10151996931477583&id=187845102582] − − 2. While I was in Kathmandu, I had a chance to meet with the Nepali FOSS community, thanks to Shankar Pokharel, Ankur Sharma, and Subir Pradhanang. We had a nice [[File:Kathmandu-FOSS.pdf|talk]] about the challenges and opportunities facing FOSS in Nepal. − − 3. Just before my trip to Nepal, I was in Mexico attending [http://aldeadigitalmx.com/ Aldea Digital]. The central plaza in Centro Historico in DF is turned into the world's largest free Internet cafe for two weeks. I gave a lecture about Sugar and ran an impromptu Turtle Art session. (We installed Sugar in a VM on twenty Windows 8 machines and ran a session.) I also had a chance to meet Ian, the 9-month old baby of Carla Gomez: a future Turtle Artist. − − === In the Community === − − 4. Mike Dawson, formally of OLPC Afghanistan, wrote a nice [http://www.ictworks.org/2014/05/14/keepod-wasting-40000-to-reinvent-linux-on-a-stick/ commentary on the Keepod] in which he mentions Sugar on a Stick. − − 5. Google Summer of Code begins on the 19th of May. We'll be meeting every week in IRC on Fridays at 2PM EST. − − 6. There is still time to enter the [http://contest.sugarlabs.org Sugar Background Image Contest]. − − === Tech Talk === − − 7. Daniel Narvaez has been building [http://shell.sugarlabs.org/~dnarvaez/oob/ F20 images for XO]: The XO-1 image boots into Sugar (latest from git) and wifi works. He has also built XO-4 images. − − 8. Daniel also built tarballs for 0.101.5 ([http://download.sugarlabs.org/sources/sucrose/glucose/sugar/sugar-0.101.7.tar.xz sugar-0.101.7.tar.xz] and [http://download.sugarlabs.org/sources/sucrose/glucose/sugar-toolkit-gtk3/sugar-toolkit-gtk3-0.101.5.tar.xz sugar-toolkit-gtk3-0.101.5.tar.xz]. We are now in string, API and UI freeze. − − 9. Please help us with [[0.102/Testing|testing of Sugar 102]]. − − === Sugar Labs === − − 10. Please visit our [http://planet.sugarlabs.org planet]. + + + + Line 55:
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Line 403: − [http://www.sugarlabs.org/index.php?template=press See our Press Page]+ +
→Sugar in the news
<noinclude>
== What's new ==
== What's new ==
This page is updated each week (usually on Monday morning) with notes from the Sugar Labs community. (The digest is also sent to the community-news at sugarlabs.org list, blogged at [http://walterbender.org/ walterbender.org], and [[Archive/Current Events|archived here]].) If you would like to contribute, please send email to [[User:walter|walter]] at sugarlabs.org by the weekend. (Also visit <span class="plainlinks">[http://planet.sugarlabs.org planet.sugarlabs.org].</span>)
This page is updated every few weeks with notes from the Sugar Labs community. (The digest is also sent to the community-news at sugarlabs.org list, blogged at [http://walterbender.org/ walterbender.org], and [[Archive/Current Events|archived here]].) If you would like to contribute, please send email to [[User:walter|walter]] at sugarlabs.org by the weekend. (Also visit <span class="plainlinks">[http://planet.sugarlabs.org planet.sugarlabs.org].</span>)
==Sugar Digest==
</noinclude>
== Sugar Digest ==
1. Sugar Labs will be participating in Google Code-in again this year. Ignacio
Rodriguez and I are the program administrators and are gathering
suggestions for bite-sized tasks in coding, documentation, research, design,
and outreach. We'll also be scouring the open issues in the various
Sugar-related repos for tasks. Please pass your suggestions our way. Also, if
you are interested in mentoring, please contact me. Finally, it would great if
you could help spread the word about the contest among educators so that we can
reach out to as many potential participants as possible (the contest is open to
13-17 year olds). GCI is a great opportunity to recruit new talent into the
community. Details of the contest are available at [https://developers.google.com/open-source/gci/resources/contest-rules developers.google.com]. The Sugar Labs page
describing our participation is at [[Google Code In 2017]].
2. There is a new release of Music Blocks available [https://github.com/walterbender/musicblocks/releases/tag/v2.1 3]. Features include a
marked improvement in performance and lots of bug fixes. Tip of the hat to
Devin Ulibarri, Edgar Quispe, and Euan Ong for their contributions to this
release.
3. Congratulations to Lionel, Sameer, and Adam for being re-elected to the Sugar
Labs oversight board. (And thanks to everyone who voted for my return to the
board as well.) Our next meeting is on 3 November at 19UTC in the #sugar-meeting channel of irc.freenode.net.
<noinclude>
== Community News archive ==
== Community News archive ==
==Sugar in the news==
==Sugar in the news==
{|
{|
|-
|align=right valign=top|29 Apr 2019||'''EdTechzine''' – [https://edtechzine.jp/article/detail/1802 Learn programming with an approach from music and mathematics! Model class of "Music Blocks"] (in Japanese)
|-
|align=right valign=top|29 Apr 2019||'''EdTechzine''' – [https://edtechzine.jp/article/detail/1767 What is the relationship between music, mathematics and computer science? Interview with the developer of the programming learning tool "Music Blocks"] (in Japanese)
|-
|align=right valign=top|11 Apr 2019||'''Linux Journal''' – [https://www.linuxjournal.com/content/linuxdo-it-children Linux... Do It Children]
|-
|align=right valign=top|14 Dec 2018||'''PR Times JA''' – [https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001954.000002535.html 2020年必修化のためのプログラミング学習ソフト「Music Blocks」教員向け研究会 参加者募集中 ～経済産業省『「未来の教室」実証事業』] Programming learning software for 2020 compulsory "Music Blocks" Recruiting participants for faculty members ~ Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry "Future classroom" demonstration project
|-
|align=right valign=top|14 Dec 2018||'''PR Times JA''' – [https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000001947.000002535.html 話題のプログラミング教育を体験しよう！] Programming education with Music Blocks
|-
|align=right valign=top|31 Aug 2018||'''GMO''' – [https://coeteco.jp/articles/10307 Fusion of programming and art, mathematics. Gakken × "Music Blocks" プログラミングとアート、数学の融合。学研×「Music Blocks」]
|-
|align=right valign=top|23 May 2018||'''Vida Actual''' – [https://www.elpais.com.uy/vida-actual/adolescente-uruguayo-google-le-pidio-deje-hackearlo.html El adolescente uruguayo al que Google le pidió que deje de hackearlo]
|-
|align=right valign=top|16 April 2018||'''The Verge''' – [https://www.theverge.com/2018/4/16/17233946/olpcs-100-laptop-education-where-is-it-now OLPC's 100 Laptop was Going to change the world – then it all went wrong]
|-
|align=right valign=top|8 Mar 2018||'''Oxford News''' – [http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/16073375.Schoolboy_wins_trip_to_Google_HQ_after_coding_contest_victory/ Schoolboy wins trip to Google HQ after coding contest victory]
|-
|align=right valign=top|9 Nov 2017||'''Open Source''' – [https://opensource.com/article/17/9/linux-kids What's the current state of Linux distros for kids?]
|-
|align=right valign=top|17 Aug 2017||'''ABC News''' – [http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/google-awards-uruguay-high-school-student-10k-finding/story?id=49249604 Google awards Uruguay high school student $10K for finding security bug]
|-
|align=right valogn=top|02 Nov 2016||'''BBVA''' – [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puA2NH2uVQQ&feature=youtu.be Sociedad de la Creatividad - desafíos de hoy para el futuro] (video)
|-
|align=right valign=top|23 Oct 2016||'''ABC Color''' – [http://www.abc.com.py/edicion-impresa/locales/la-computacion-es-una-herramienta-para-promover-agentes-de-cambio-1530653.html La computación es una herramienta para promover agentes de cambio]
|-
|align=right valign=top|23 Jul 2016||'''La Tercera''' – [http://www.latercera.com/noticia/tendencias/2016/07/27-689886-9-walter-bender-cuando-todos-estan-de-acuerdo-con-todos-es-bastante-peligroso.shtml Cuando todos están de acuerdo con todos es bastante peligroso]
|-
|align=right valign=top|02 May 2016||'''Fedora Insider''' – [http://www.linuxinsider.com/story/Fedora-Based-Sugar-on-a-Stick-Is-One-Sweet-Desktop-83446.html Fedora-based Sugar on a Stick is one sweet desktop]
|-
|align=right valign=top|09 Feb 2016||'''www.montevideo.com''' – [http://www.montevideo.com.uy/auc.aspx?299096 DOS URUGUAYOS ENTRE GANADORES DEL CONCURSO GOOGLE CODE-IN]
|-
|align=right valign=top|28 Aug 2015||'''Musson Foundation''' – [https://youtu.be/HZtVv2nlP8Y Jamaica Girls Code] (video)
|-
|align=right valign=top|28 Aug 2015||'''Google Open Source''' – [http://google-opensource.blogspot.com/2015/08/my-sweet-adventures-with-sugar-labs-and.html My sweet adventures with Sugar Labs and Google Code-in]
|-
|align=right valign=top|09 May 2015||'''La Prensa''' – [http://www.laprensa.com.ni/2015/05/09/nacionales/1829026-de-alumnos-a-creadores-de-su-aprendizaje De alumnos a creadores de su aprendizaje]
|-
|align=right valign=top|30 Apr 2015||'''Diario La República''' – [http://www.republica.com.uy/investigador-sueco-visito-uruguay-para-conocer-el-proyecto-butia/514419/ Swedish researcher visited Uruguay to meet the project Butiá]
|-
|align=right valign=top|24 Apr 2015||'''Jamaica Observer''' – [http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/magazines/career/Future-coders_18811152 Future Coders]
|-
|align=right valign=top|24 Apr 2015||'''Jamaica Information Service''' – [http://jis.gov.jm/state-minister-urges-young-women-enter-ict-sector/ State minister urges young women to enter ICT sector]
|-
|align=right valign=top|6 Feb 2015||'''Cromo''' – [http://www.cromo.com.uy/2015/02/el-chico-google/ El chico Google]
|-
|align=right valign=top|5 Feb 2015||'''Capital Noticias Canelones''' – [https://www.google.com/url?q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fvideo.php%3Fv%3D400864146741913%26set%3Dvb.246080195553643%26type%3D2%26theater&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFGeMoL69EHGf4Kudmoxo47duJf_Q El joven de Canelones, Ignacio Rodríguez, ganó nuevamente la competencia de programación de Google.] (video)
|-
|align=right valign=top|3 Feb 2015||'''montevideo.com''' – [http://www.montevideo.com.uy/auc.aspx?261076 Código joven]
|-
|align=right valign=top|1 Dec 2014||'''Google Open Source Blog''' – [http://google-opensource.blogspot.com/2014/12/3-2-1-code-in-inviting-teens-to.html 3, 2, 1 Code-in: Inviting teens to contribute to open source]
|-
|align=right valign=top|7 Oct 2014||'''Kauffman Report''' – [http://www.kauffman.org/blogs/policy-dialogue/2014/august/paraguay-thirsty-for-21st-century-education Paraguay Thirsty for 21st-Century Education]
|-
|align=right valign=top|25 Sep 2014||'''ANEP''' – [http://www.anep.edu.uy/anep/index.php/897-fecundo-intercambio-de-jovenes-de-todo-el-mundo-en-encuentro-de-programadores Fecundo intercambio de jovenes de todo el mundo en encuentro de programadores]
|-
|-
|align=right valign=top|12 Jun 2014||'''Producción Nacional''' – [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YbRCMRpstg Innovando con XO] (video)
|align=right valign=top|12 Jun 2014||'''Producción Nacional''' – [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YbRCMRpstg Innovando con XO] (video)
|-
|-
|align=right valign=top|06 Feb 2013||'''el Observador''' – [http://www.elobservador.com.uy/noticia/242936/joven-uruguayo-gana-la-competencia-google-code/ Joven uruguayo gana la competencia Google Code] (Also see [http://people.sugarlabs.org/aguz/gci-press-interviews.html GCI press interviews])
|align=right valign=top|06 Feb 2013||'''el Observador''' – [http://www.elobservador.com.uy/noticia/242936/joven-uruguayo-gana-la-competencia-google-code/ Joven uruguayo gana la competencia Google Code] (Also see [http://people.sugarlabs.org/aguz/gci-press-interviews.html GCI press interviews])
|-
|align=right valign=top|Jan 2013||'''Raspberry Pi Geek''' – [http://www.raspberry-pi-geek.com/Archive/2013/01/Pi-with-Sugar-and-turtles-as-a-learning-tool/(language)/eng-US Pi with Sugar and turtles as a learning tool]
|-
|-
|align=right valign=top|07 Sep 2012||'''NDTV''' – [http://gadgets.ndtv.com/laptops/news/one-laptop-per-child-initiative-a-hit-in-rural-india-263867 One Laptop Per Child initiative a hit in rural India]
|align=right valign=top|07 Sep 2012||'''NDTV''' – [http://gadgets.ndtv.com/laptops/news/one-laptop-per-child-initiative-a-hit-in-rural-india-263867 One Laptop Per Child initiative a hit in rural India]
|align=right valign=top|14 Apr 2010||'''National Science Foundation''' – [http://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=116638 XO Laptops Inspire Learning In Birmingham, Alabama] ([http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/good-bye?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inxOg-dt6rw video])
|align=right valign=top|14 Apr 2010||'''National Science Foundation''' – [http://www.nsf.gov/discoveries/disc_summ.jsp?cntn_id=116638 XO Laptops Inspire Learning In Birmingham, Alabama] ([http://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/good-bye?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inxOg-dt6rw video])
|-
|-
|align=right valign=top|02 Apr 2010||<div class="NavFrame collapsed"><div class="NavHead">'''Dailymotion''' – [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xct0lp_un-jour-a-paris-ensembles-pour-olpc_tech Un jour... à Paris... ensembles pour OLPC et Sugar...] (video) </div><div class="NavContent">{{#widget:Daily Motion
|align=right valign=top|02 Apr 2010||<div class="NavFrame collapsed"><div class="NavHead">'''Dailymotion''' – [http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xct0lp_un-jour-a-paris-ensembles-pour-olpc_tech Un jour... à Paris... ensembles pour OLPC et Sugar...] (video </div></div>
|-
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|align=right valign=top|15 Mar 2010||'''nbc13.com''' – [http://www2.nbc13.com/vtm/news/local/article/video_birmingham_city_students_opt_to_spend_spring_break_in_class_xo_comput/138224/ Birmingham City students opt to spend spring break in class, XO computer camps] (video)
|align=right valign=top|15 Mar 2010||'''nbc13.com''' – [http://www2.nbc13.com/vtm/news/local/article/video_birmingham_city_students_opt_to_spend_spring_break_in_class_xo_comput/138224/ Birmingham City students opt to spend spring break in class, XO computer camps] (video)
|align=right valign=top|06 Aug 2008||'''OLPC News''' – [http://www.olpcnews.com/people/leadership/23_questions_on_technology_education.html Twenty-three Questions on Technology and Education]
|align=right valign=top|06 Aug 2008||'''OLPC News''' – [http://www.olpcnews.com/people/leadership/23_questions_on_technology_education.html Twenty-three Questions on Technology and Education]
|-
|-
|align=right valign=top|03 Aug 2008||'''Wired''' – [https://www.wired.com/2009/08/inventing-a-new-paradigm-sugarlabs-and-the-sugar-ui/ Inventing a new paradigm: Sugar Labs and Sugar]
|
|align=right valign=top|18 Jul 2008||'''Bill Kerr''' – [http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2008/07/evaluating-sugar-in-developed-world.html evaluating Sugar in the developed world]
|align=right valign=top|18 Jul 2008||'''Bill Kerr''' – [http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/2008/07/evaluating-sugar-in-developed-world.html evaluating Sugar in the developed world]
|-
|-
==Press releases==
==Press releases==
http://www.sugarlabs.org/press
[[Category:General public]]
[[Category:General public]]
</noinclude>