[tt] [GreyThumb] Next Meeting: Tuesday, May 6

[Eugen Leitl]

----- Forwarded message from Brian Peltonen <brianp at livingplaysets.com> -----

From: Brian Peltonen <brianp at livingplaysets.com>
Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:31:06 -0400
To: Grey Thumb Boston <society at greythumb.org>
Subject: [GreyThumb] Next Meeting: Tuesday, May 6
User-Agent: Thunderbird 1.5.0.14ubu (X11/20080227)


Grey Thumb Meeting Announcement

Grey Thumb is pleased to announce a presentation by Dr. Eric Klopfer, of 
MIT, on his work developing StarLogo TNG.

When: 7:00pm Tuesday, May 6, 2007
Where: The Asgard Irish Pub & Restaurant (350 Mass. Ave, Central Square, 
Cambridge)
Who: All are welcome

[Please Note: This meeting will be held on a Tuesday evening.]

Abstract: StarLogo TNG is a programming environment designed to support 
new programmers in building games and complex systems simulations. With 
its new graphical programming language, students can construct programs 
by snapping together puzzle-piece like statements, and their programs 
control animated agents in a 3D world. StarLogo TNG lowers the barriers 
to entry for learning to program by preventing syntax errors, freeing 
students to focus on more important challenges. It can be used to 
construct simulations in a variety of domains such as biology (predator 
prey dynamics, epidemiology, evolution), chemistry (brownian motion, 
reaction kinetics, osmosis), and physics (velocity and acceleration, 
gravity, orbits). It can also be used to develop a variety of 3D games 
(adventure, arcade, strategy, action and puzzle games). The intersection 
of games with simulations creates a new way to engage learners with 
constructive play, in which they are simultaneously building simulations 
of real world systems, learning to program, and making their own games. 
Eric (along with some of the StarLogo TNG development team) will talk 
about StarLogo TNG uses and development, as well as future directions 
(including the open availability of the blocks programming interface).

Bio: Eric Klopfer is Associate Professor and Director of the MIT 
Scheller Teacher Education Program (STEP). STEP prepares MIT 
undergraduates to become math and science teachers. Klopfer's research 
focuses on the development and use of computer games and simulations for 
building understanding of science and complex systems. He is the 
director of The Education Arcade, which is advancing the development and 
use of games in K-12 education. He is the co-author of the book, 
"Adventures in Modeling: Exploring Complex, Dynamic Systems with 
StarLogo," and author of a forthcoming book “Augmented Learning: 
Research and Design of Mobile Educational Games“ from MIT Press.

About Grey Thumb:
Grey Thumb is a group of scientists, engineers, hackers, artists, and 
hobbyists in the Boston metro area with a strong interest in artificial 
life, artificial intelligence, biology, complex systems and other 
related topics. http://www.greythumb.org

Note: Parking is available for $3 (with validation) in the garage behind 
The Asgard on Green St.



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Eugen* Leitl <a href="http://leitl.org">leitl</a> http://leitl.org
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