Representation Systems of Building Blocks in Logo-based Microworld

Abstract

Logo has influenced many researchers and learners for the past decades as a 2D turtle geometry environment in the perspective of constructionism. Logo uses the metaphor of ‘playing turtle’ that is intrinsic, local and procedural. We, then, design an environment in which the metaphor of ‘playing turtle’ is applied to construct 3D objects, and we figure out ways to represent 3D objects in terms action symbols and 3D building blocks. For this purpose, design three kinds of representation systems, and asked students make various 3D artifacts using various representation systems. We briefly introduce the results of our investigation into students’ cognitive burden when they use those representation systems, and discuss the future application measures and the design principles of Logo-based 3D microworld.