kwc@naucse.UUCP (Ken Collier) (10/24/89)
Generally I try and avoid cross-posting. However, I am not sure that one group is singularly appropriate for my message. Anyhow, I need the help of all of the
high powered intellects out in netland.
A course in creative thinking and problem solving is being proposed in our
department. This course is going to involve, at a relatively elementary level,
a look at AI techniques as a method for formalizing human problem solving
methods (sort of the reverse of the study of AI). The class will involve
computer simulation, gaming strategies, some natural language parsing and
social problems. This class is intended to be a interdisciplinary
liberal studies course whose target audience includes primarily upper division
non-computer science majors. There will be some programming involved as a
method for modeling problem solutions derived in class, however this is not
a "programming" class. It occurs to me that an appropriate language for this
modeling would be LOGO due to its English like syntax and the very nature
of the language itself. All the facts given, my questions are the following:
1. We can provide student's access to: microvaxen running Berkeley UNIX, IBM
PC's or Macintoshes. We are in need of a LOGO interpreter for the class.
Requirements:
-It must be inexpensive if not public domain. ( < $50.00)
-It must be as "standard" as possible, or it must come with a
reference/tutorial.
-It must have flexible licensing agreements (student's should be able
to sell it if they choose.)
-It should be a complete implementation of LOGO.
2. If the version of LOGO the student's are using does not come with a good
manual. We need a LOGO textbook which is not machine specific.
3. We need a primary textbook for the class which should cover such topics as
-How to we solve problems?
-How can we solve problems?
-Formalizing problem solving strategies.
-Improving Critical thinking skills.
Some examples are:
- Roger Schank and Peter Childer's book, "The Creative Attitude:
Learning to Ask and Answer the Right Questions"
- G. Polya's "How to Solve It"
If you have any thoughts or ideas for satisfying these three needs please send
me e-mail. Thanx in advance for any help you can offer.
Ken Collier ...arizona!naucse!kwc
College of Engineering and Technology Bitnet: collier@nauvax
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, Arizona