alice-teacher s Digest, Vol 65, Issue 6

Sat Jan 30 09:54:33 EST 2016

I am teaching an intro to programming course and am using Alice 3 with high
school students. They have created some simple animations and don't seem to
find it difficult, but I never started them with Alice 2 so there is no
comparison for them. I am finding that they are using the camera views and
objects well, but get stuck on the if/then statements. I am finding that
they use the "do together" and "do in order"  frequently since they feel
the most comfortable with that.

Dianne

On Fri, Jan 29, 2016 at 4:42 PM, Leonel Morales via alice-teachers <
alice-teachers at lists.andrew.cmu.edu> wrote:

> Nowadays I try to use Alice 3.2 as much as possible mainly because I
> think it is the version that will see most new features in the future
> (I might be wrong!).
>
> The first betas of Alice 3 were really confusing for me. I was
> expecting all the visibility of Alice 2 and the same programming model
> but it changed. The current version of Alice 3 is much better than the
> betas I think.
>
> I have both versions open now and comparing their user interfaces I
> can see where the confusion could have originated:
>
> 1. Alice 2 has 3 tabs in the lower left: properties, methods,
> functions. Alice 3 has only 2: procedures and functions. Properties
> have been assimilated into functions through get and set methods.
> Alice 2's tabs map better (I think) to how we understand things: they
> have properties, are capable of doing actions (methods) and deliver
> something (functions). Alice 3's tabs conform better to a programming
> model (object oriented encapsulation) but that is not all that clear
> for the lay user.
>
> 2. Alice 2 uses a tree-like visual aid to signal the selected object
> while Alice 3 uses a drop down list that is less apparent. I have seen
> students trying to find a method or function with the wrong object
> selected, it has happened to me too.
>
> 3. Events handlers in Alice 2 are always visible and clearly
> distinguishable from the rest of the code. In Alice 3 events and
> "myFirstMethod" seem to have the same hierarchy, both are tabs in the
> same pane. I have found students that end up putting the code intended
> for the "myFirstMethod" in an event handler, somehow they selected the
> wrong tab and didn't notice.
>
> 4. The gallery seems simpler and better organized in Alice 2, although
> it might be just because I have worked with Alice 2's gallery for more
> time. I understand the advantages of the new model format in Alice 3
> but I miss some of the functionality implemented in the old objects.
>
> All these points are subjective but I wanted to share them just in
> case someone else noticed the same.
>
> Best wishes,
>
> Leonel
>
> 2016-01-20 14:47 GMT-06:00, Donald Slater via alice-teachers
> <alice-teachers at lists.andrew.cmu.edu>:
> > I would be very interested, and it would be helpful to hear specifically,
> > how the teacher finds that Alice 3 adds confusion. They may contact me
> > off-line, if they would be willing.
> >
> > Thank you,
> > Don Slater
> >
> >> On Jan 20, 2016, at 3:18 PM, Tamara Mazza via alice-teachers
> >> <alice-teachers at lists.andrew.cmu.edu> wrote:
> >>
> >> Actually, it would be my High School Teacher who teaches Alice and
> >> computer science that thinks that Alice 3 adds confusion.  I do truly
> like
> >> Alice 2.2 as it breaks down a lot of the programing needed and I think
> it
> >> is perfect for Middle School students both boys and girls.
> >>
> >> Thank You,
> >>
> >> Tamara Mazza
> >>
> >> On Wed, Jan 20, 2016 at 2:07 PM, robert durtschi via alice-teachers
> >> <alice-teachers at lists.andrew.cmu.edu
> >> <mailto:alice-teachers at lists.andrew.cmu.edu>> wrote:
> >> Speaking as one who started teaching with Alice 2.2 at GCSU
> >>
> >> Alice 3 was confusing to someone who started with Alice 2.
> >>
> >>  It may have a slightly steeper learning curve which can be overcome for
> >> the most part by a good teacher 8-)
> >>
> >> Best
> >> Bob Durtschi
> >> ________________________________________
> >>
> >> Hi Don
> >>
> >> Just clarifying, it is Tamara who believes Alice 3 can be confusing for
> >> middle school students.
> >>
> >> Cheers
> >> Margaret
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> ------------------------------
> >>
> >> End of alice-teachers Digest, Vol 65, Issue 6
> >> *********************************************
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> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> --
> >> Sincerely,
> >> Tamara Mazza
> >>
> >> Computers - 6, 7, & 8th Grade
> >> Student Government Advisor
> >> Stallion Today (Middle and Lower School Daily Announcements)
> >> Click here to View <http://www.useducationtv.com/default.aspx?sid=16072
> >
> >>
> >>  American Heritage School
> >> Knowledge o Integrity o Compassion
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
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-- 
Dianne M. Pappafotopoulos
K-12 Instructional Technology Specialist/Teacher
Dover Sherborn Public Schools
157 Farm Street, Dover, MA 02030
phone: 508.785.1730 x7217
website: www.doversherborn.org
email: pappafotopoulosd at doversherborn.org

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