endless automata

stevenf:

When I think back to using the Apple ][ lab in elementary school, four pieces of software come immediately to mind, as vividly as if I’d just run them this morning:

1) Rocky’s Boots - Taught the fundamentals of digital electronics and Boolean logic.

2) Lemonade Stand - Taught the basics of supply and demand economics.

3) Logo - Taught the basics of functional programming, and maybe even a little geometry.

4) Mario Bros - OK, I brought this disk in from home.

Plumbers aside, that seems like pretty deep stuff for K-6. I don’t think it’s an overstatement to say those programs affected the course of my life permanently. It’s been years since I’ve even thought about educational software. I assume it still exists. How does it stack up?

I played all of these games except for Mario Bros. I learned about programming and logic from Rocky’s Boots and Logo. I learned about business from Lemonade Stand. I eventually learned BASIC and modified Lemonade Stand. I really miss those days. It’s unfortunate because in this day and age, the same experience is basically impossible to duplicate for children without pulling out a mothballed Apple II. Have we really made things better?