Seymour Papert, Logo, and ThinkPlayful’s Roots
The arrival of Education Technology Day on Sept 23 made our team nostalgic for the days when ThinkPlayful™ Co-Founder and COO Dr. Elizabeth Schwartz had the opportunity to work with Dr. Seymour Papert, co-founder of MIT’s Artificial Intelligence Lab.
Seymour Papert, co-founder of MIT’s Artificial Intelligence Lab. Still from “On Logo” (1986). © Media Microworlds Inc.
In 1985, Schwartz was Assistant Superintendent of the Ladue School District and had read about Papert’s pioneering efforts in education technology as co-creator of the Logo programming language. She contacted Papert and asked him to help shape the district’s early computer use. Papert agreed! He traveled to St. Louis to help Schwartz in her efforts to bring a constructivist and creative focus to the district’s use of computers in the classroom.
“Seymour Papert (1928–2016) was a pioneering mathematician, computer scientist, and educator. A co-creator of the Logo programming language, he advocated for using technology to empower children to be active learners and creators. His work at MIT’s Artificial Intelligence Lab significantly influenced the field of educational technology, emphasizing constructionism and learning through doing.”
— https://nationaltoday.com/education-technology-day
Schwartz’s work with Papert led to Logo implementation across grades K-8. That initiative shaped learning for more than one member of our team, and for countless other students over the years! Director of Education Margo Smith still remembers the LogoWriter projects she completed at school, made possible by Schwartz’s work with Papert. The goal of pairing EdTech with the belief that children learn best by exploring and building ideas for themselves is at the heart of ThinkPlayful today, where guided play lets the child lead with support from a grown-up and from technology.
Join us in our nostalgia with a look at some professional development videos that Schwartz and her husband created with Papert back in 1986. These “On Logo” videos were filmed in St. Louis. The St. Louis Zoo, the St. Louis Science Center, and other notable landmarks can be spotted throughout the series. And ThinkPlayful Co-Founder and CEO Tyler Schwartz participated on-camera with friends! Can you spot him?
Watch: "On Logo" (1986)
Professional development videos with Seymour Papert, filmed in St. Louis.
© Media Microworlds Inc. Hosted by the Logo Foundation.
Watch the series: https://el.media.mit.edu/logo-foundation/resources/onlogo/index.html