Logo and Equity: A Natural Partnership

Abstract

In the fall of 1987, Cleveland State University in conjunction with Cleveland area schools and Logo Computer Systems, Inc., embarked on a series of workshops designed to train teachers in group learning techniques and Logo programming for use in computer training for junior high school girls or minorities. The first serious exposure to computing often occurs at the junior high school level. Unfortunately, computing is usually associated with mathematics, and research indicates that by the junior high age, many girls and underrepresented minorities have acquired a high level of math anxiety. In addition, the teaching style often used in such classes does not involve group work, when research shows that group learning is preferred by girls. Logo lends itself well to both group work and to the use of graphics and sound, which are also preferred by girls. Each workshop focused on both Logo programming and computer equity issues. The success of the project is being evaluated by both formative and summative techniques. This project can serve as a model for others wanting to train teachers in equitable use of computers in the classroom, and at the conclusion of the project, workshop materials that include techniques for teaching both Logo and group learning will be made available. (12 references) (EW)