paper turing machine (icalt 2011)
DESCRIPTION
Programming Turing Machines as a Game for Technology Sense-Making To gain a better understanding of the process through which technology users become technology creators, we designed a paper-based, tangible Turing Machine and introduced it to 54 teenage students. The information collected through tinkering tasks and a questionnaire is discussed both via statistics and qualitative analysis. This initial study suggests that simple paper tangibles and tinkering have a place in future, technology-enhanced learning, and that central technological concepts can be discussed on the basis of low-cost tabletop-like games. We also notice a general interest in the historical development of technologies, that seems to enhance motivation and participation.TRANSCRIPT
Programming Turing Machines as a game for technology sense-making
Andrea ValenteDepartment of Architecture, Design and Media Technology
http://www.create.aau.dk/av/
Emanuela MarchettiInstitute for Learning and Philosophy
http://personprofil.aau.dk/profil/123867
Aalborg University Esbjerg, Denmark
Our goal● Observe transition from (technology) user to creator
● How do users (and creators) make sense of their technology? Differences? Perception of self?
● How?● as a game● by programming (but how?)● ask/observe circa sense-making
● Who?● pre-university students
??
Paper Turing Machines
Programming, but...- tangible- symbols are all that counts- program is a card- manual execution
Test (and demo)● Let's see what we did... and you can participate too!
1) presentation of computation and computing machines
Hilbert's decision problems as motivation for TMs
2) play/program, by solving given tasks, with a tangible TM● ... demo ...● Method: observation, then questionnaires
Invert and
Consider: input = 1101 in binary, output = 0010
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TASKDesign and test a TM for thisproblem.
DEM
O
Quantitative
Girls/Boys Prog/Never
Tech/Hum Red/Struct/Emp
54/41 = test/questionnaire
Red/Struct/Emp● Actual question asked: ● You are studing a complex thing (example: the human brain). Your position is:
1) all I need to do is to study very well the components (example: neurons)
2) the most important thing is the interaction among components
3) no matter what I do, I will only get a partial understanding
● Definitions:● Reductionism ... analyzing and describing a complex phenomenon ... in terms of
phenomena that are held to represent a simpler or more fundamental level [google dictionary]
● Structuralism ... focuses on relationships of contrast between elements in a conceptual system [google dictionary]
● Empiricists assume obtaining a complete knowledge of the world is not possible, but fortunately it is also not needed in order to predict and even control the behavior of complex phenomena [Gödel, Escher and Bach]
Tech
Hum
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
NoneReductStructEmpiric
Tech
Hum
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
BlankProgNeverProg
QuantitativeTech Hum
Blank
Prog
Never
Tech Hum
None
Red
Struct
Emp
in %
in %
Qualitative
Observations:● Tinkering helps – low-fi can works just fine!● For some, easier to alter the formalism (creative/cheating)● Curiosity, pride, positive response to challenge● Social interaction: coaching/leading emerged in groups● History matters
● Babbage, Hilbert and Turing● Elicitation of discussion
by Sydney Padua
Conclusions and future work● In just 2 hours the visiting students learned about TMs, decision problems, and could
work with programming tasks.
● Technically inclined individuals tend to agree with reductionist positions and are more likely to have experienced programming before university.
● Humanities inclined students instead are more frequently empiricists and might find technical subjects more attracting if historically contextualized.
● Technical skills like programming, which originated from rationalism might appeal more naturally to reductionist individuals.
● Historical grounding interests all and possibly motivates also HUMs.
● Digital immigrants (me), digital natives (my daughter)... digital authors? (script kid)
● New tasks and a more playful PTM is under development (turn-based!)
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Article● Programming Turing Machines as a Game for Technology Sense-Making
http://secure3.computer.org/csdl/proceedings/icalt/2011/4346/00/4346a428-abs.html