The Six Year Old Hacker:The Six Year Old Hacker:No More Script Kiddies?No More Script Kiddies?

Kevin McCarthyKevin McCarthyDefCon 13 30/Jul/2005DefCon 13 30/Jul/2005

A Need Born of Frustration.A Need Born of Frustration.

●● ““So what did you do at school todaySo what did you do at school today””??●● The problem with computers, (computer The problem with computers, (computer

based) instruction in elementary schools.based) instruction in elementary schools.●● The Good, The Bad, The Ugly.The Good, The Bad, The Ugly.●● Many schools have well considered Many schools have well considered

““Technology PlansTechnology Plans””..●● The absence of a plan usually means drill The absence of a plan usually means drill

and kill.and kill.

A Need Born of Frustration.A Need Born of Frustration.

●● The Good.The Good.–– KeyboardingKeyboarding–– ResearchResearch–– Document productionDocument production

●● The Bad.The Bad.–– Drill and KillDrill and Kill–– EdutainmentEdutainment

A Need Born of Frustration.A Need Born of Frustration.

●● The UglyThe Ugly–– MS Office skillsMS Office skills–– ResearchResearch–– KeyboardingKeyboarding

A Need Born of Frustration.A Need Born of Frustration.

●● The EnvironmentThe Environment–– LabsLabs–– Locked Down and Hands OffLocked Down and Hands Off

●● After SchoolAfter School–– Uninformed caretakers.Uninformed caretakers.–– Insufficient supervision.Insufficient supervision.–– Inappropriate use.Inappropriate use.

Other ModelsOther Models

●● Going oldGoing old--school on 'em.school on 'em.●● Self taught.Self taught.●● The spirit of hacking: Doing science in a The spirit of hacking: Doing science in a

constructed world.constructed world.●● Is the elementary school the right place for Is the elementary school the right place for

PCs?PCs?

The PlanThe Plan

"Any subject can be taught effectively in some "Any subject can be taught effectively in some intellectually honest form to any child at any intellectually honest form to any child at any stage of development."stage of development."

--JeromeBrunerJeromeBruner

The PlanThe Plan

●● Programing classPrograming class–– 66--11 year olds.11 year olds.–– Computers aren't just for games, the Web, and Computers aren't just for games, the Web, and

boring adult stuff.boring adult stuff.–– LOGOLOGO–– The elements of problem solving.The elements of problem solving.–– Power tripping.Power tripping.

The PlanThe Plan

●● Geek DojoGeek Dojo–– Open to all ages.Open to all ages.–– SelfSelf--selectingselecting–– SelfSelf--motivatingmotivating–– Sensie's Challenge.Sensie's Challenge.–– H4x0ring!H4x0ring!–– CryptographyCryptography–– NonNon--computer related geek stuff.computer related geek stuff.

The PlanThe Plan

●● Summer school.Summer school.–– 5 and 6 year5 and 6 year--olds.olds.–– 66--13 year olds.13 year olds.–– SelfSelf--selecting.selecting.–– 2 week, group projects.2 week, group projects.

The PlanThe Plan

It's fun to have fun...It's fun to have fun...

The PlanThe Plan

... but you have to know ... but you have to know how.how.

--The Cat in the HatThe Cat in the Hat

ResultsResults

●● What is a PROGRAM?What is a PROGRAM?●● Why do programing?Why do programing?●● No computers the first month.No computers the first month.●● History of computing.History of computing.

ResultsResults

ResultsResults

●● LOGOLOGO●● Turtle graphics.Turtle graphics.●● Begin with only relative motion commands.Begin with only relative motion commands.

–– fd fd steps == Forward some number of turtle steps.steps == Forward some number of turtle steps.–– rt deg == Right Turn some number of degrees.rt deg == Right Turn some number of degrees.

●● Try it first then write a program.Try it first then write a program.

ResultsResultsto squareto square

fd 100fd 100

rt 90rt 90

fd 100fd 100

rt 90rt 90

fd 100fd 100

rt 90rt 90

fd 100fd 100

endend

to squareto square

repeate 4 [fd 100 rt 90]repeate 4 [fd 100 rt 90]

endend

to poly :sidesto poly :sides

repeat :sides [repeat :sides [

fd 100 rt 360/:sidesfd 100 rt 360/:sides

]]

endend

to poly :sides :sizeto poly :sides :size

repeat :sides [repeat :sides [

fd :size rt 360/:sidesfd :size rt 360/:sides

]]

endend

ResultsResults

ResultsResults

ResultsResults

From a basic From a basic Octahedral cell...Octahedral cell...

ResultsResults

...to a crystal. Or if you ...to a crystal. Or if you prefer...prefer...

ResultsResults

ResultsResults

ResultsResults

●● Students take responciblity for their own Students take responciblity for their own learning.learning.

●● Learning becomes self driven.Learning becomes self driven.●● Students become intrested in the computing Students become intrested in the computing

environment of the school.environment of the school.–– Hardware maintenance.Hardware maintenance.–– Firewall construction.Firewall construction.

Where Now?Where Now?This is all basic stuff. So why don't we see more of it?This is all basic stuff. So why don't we see more of it?

●● How do we expand our reach?How do we expand our reach?●● Public schools?Public schools?●● Curriculum or no curriculum?Curriculum or no curriculum?●● Independent centers?Independent centers?●● Working with the learning disabled?Working with the learning disabled?

––A real robot turtle.A real robot turtle.––Virtual Turtle in the real world.Virtual Turtle in the real world.

●● Working with younger hackers?Working with younger hackers?

Props out...Props out...

●● Diane Thompson, Amelia McCarthyDiane Thompson, Amelia McCarthy●● Rod and Jane ConnellRod and Jane Connell●● Vince Szewczyk, David KrausVince Szewczyk, David Kraus●● Maria Montessori, Jean Piaget, Seymour Maria Montessori, Jean Piaget, Seymour

Pappert, Brian Harvey, George MillsPappert, Brian Harvey, George Mills