POSTED June 15, 2009

Key Hero and the Pooping Turtle Story - The Gameshelf ⚓

"Ten years ago, before I became Yet Another Software Engineer, I spent a year “teaching computer” at an elementary school in Hermon, Maine. I chose to subvert the curriculum (how to type and use Microsoft Word, mostly) by trying to teach computer science concepts instead. I will never forget the moment when one student, in the classroom of second-graders struggling over a three-line Logo program I had them try to type in and execute, Finally Got It. “My turtle pooped!” he cried, and everyone crowded around to witness as his Logo-turtle successfully drew a straight line. Within minutes, not only was every kid’s turtle also pooping, but they discovered that changing the number changed the line’s length, a fact they started excitedly telling each other about with no prompting from me. I spent the remainder of the period suggesting other things they could try, with the kids spreading each bit of new programming knowledge amongst themselves. I have never had an experience quite like this in my life since."