A programming language for development of thinking

A programming language for the development of thinking
Károly FARKAS University Óbuda
1. Logo is especially suitable for the development of thinking
2. Logo is widespread in education in the beginning years
3. The latest Logo versions are full programming languages
Thesis: Logo could be used in higher education as well
IT is more than computer technology. First the computer was used for elaborate computations or for processing large amounts of data. Later people realised that the computer can handle strings very well. From that time on the computer is an indispensable tool in the office. Text processing has overcome handwriting. Today in several states in the USA handwriting is not taught. The quality of monitors has improved so much that the monitor can be used as a TV. Thus the computer has become the general home entertainment tool. However, the computer is more than all the above; it can be used for modelling theoretical experiments as well as for education (Papert: Mindstorms, in Hungarian Észrengés 1988).
Using the turtle geometry of Logo, mathematical thinking can be developed at an earlier age, but what is even more important, without math phobia, in an effective and playful way (Farkas et al). In Hungarian schools, apart from text editors Logo is the most widespread software. From year to year Logo competitions are organised.
While learning programming, one meets notions that can be best demonstrated with Logo. Syntonicity – the easy way of empathy – is a great help when you draw a shape, the turtle is a good tool. Building the figures from parts makes a structure understood. List handling of Logo helps in developing logical thinking. The easy way of drawing on the screen makes you enjoy the cognitive operations like algorithmic and process oriented thinking.
Logo is also one of the best tools for developing an object oriented view. It contains objects like figures, buttons and bars whose properties can be very easily understood.
Based on the above, as well as the various applications that are increasing in number I claim that Logo-pedagogy is a very effective tool in learning programming.
In my presentation I generate some advanced mathematical curves whose main features will be easy to understand even for those who are not experts in mathematics. Additional examples can be found in my recent book [Játékos teknőcgeometria, Budapest, 2011].