Re: eduttg: Let's start !

[Doug Loss <dloss@suscom.net>]

Chris Ellec wrote:
> 
> I would like to start the new year with the wish that Linux will grow
> into something that can be used to teach and entertain children, with
> some really nice software that people will take notice of, and children
> will be asking for. It will be the goal of this edutainement task group
> to do its part in reaching that goal.
> 
That's a great mission statement!  We need to keep a copy of it for use
on a web page if we ever set one up.  Chris, would LinuxForKids be an
appropriate spot for that (not now; eventually), or do you want to keep
LKF more neutral?

> Just to get started, I'll say that my goal is to create software in the
> style of the jump start series, where kids play games and don't even
> realize they are learning something like math or spelling.
> 
I like those sort of things too.  My son loves the <xxx> Munchers
series--Math Munchers, Word Munchers, etc., and the Treasure <xxx>
series---Treasure Cove, Treasure Mountain, etc.  I'd also like to see
more exploration programs, like Oregon Trail, Creatures (from
MindScape), the Carmen SanDiego series, and all the SimWhatever titles. 
We already have LinCity as a cognate to SimCity, but I'd like to see
LinEarth, LinFarm, LinAnt, etc. too.

> I think we should have a discussion on subjects: what do we want to
> teach /  play with ?, and format: which software SDK is the most
> appropriate ?
> 
I should start by saying that other committments will probably keep me
from doing much detailed development work.  Within those limits I'll do
what I can to help.  As for subjects, see above.  As for format, you
mean which libraries should we consider, right?  I'm no expert on any of
these, but I think we need to consider ClanLib, SDL, CrystalSpace, and
PLib.  And of course GTC, which is part of the SEUL-supported projects. 
These are all predominently game libraries, but that's probably what we
should be looking at.  I don't know which of these would lend itself
best to the type of programs we're talking about.

Chris, should we keep this task group separate from the kidsgames
mailing list?  I know that list has been very slow of late.  Maybe we
should invite some of the more active members there to join this task
group too.  What do you think?

-- 
Doug Loss                 The difference between the right word and
Data Network Coordinator  the almost right word is the difference
Bloomsburg University     between lightning and a lightning bug.
dloss@bloomu.edu                Mark Twain