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![Red/Struct/Emp
● Actual question asked:
● You are studing a complex thing (example: the human brain). Your position is:
1) all I need to do is to study very well the components (example: neurons)
2) the most important thing is the interaction among components
3) no matter what I do, I will only get a partial understanding
● Definitions:
● Reductionism ... analyzing and describing a complex phenomenon ... in terms of
phenomena that are held to represent a simpler or more fundamental level [google
dictionary]
● Structuralism ... focuses on relationships of contrast between elements in a
conceptual system [google dictionary]
● Empiricists assume obtaining a complete knowledge of the world is not possible, but
fortunately it is also not needed in order to predict and even control the behavior of
complex phenomena [Gödel, Escher and Bach]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/paperturingmachine2011-120316164327-phpapp01/85/Paper-Turing-Machine-ICALT-2011-7-320.jpg)
Uploaded byAndrea Valente
Paper Turing Machine (ICALT 2011)
The document discusses the use of programming Turing machines as a method for understanding technology among pre-university students, focusing on the transition from user to creator. It details a hands-on approach where students engage with programming tasks, exploring their perceptions of technology and theory through observation and questionnaires. The findings suggest that students with technical backgrounds lean towards reductionism, while those from humanities backgrounds are more inclined towards empiricism, and highlight the importance of historical context in engaging students with technical subjects.
Paper Turing Machine (ICALT 2011)
- 1. Programming Turing Machinesas a game for technology sense-making Andrea Valente Emanuela Marchetti Department of Architecture, Design Institute for Learning and Philosophy and Media Technology Aalborg University Esbjerg, Denmark av@create.aau.dk ema@create.aau.dk http://www.create.aau.dk/av/ http://personprofil.aau.dk/profil/123867
- 2. Our goal ● Observe transition from (technology) user to creator ● How do users (and creators) make sense of their technology? Differences? Perception of self? ● How? ● as a game ? ● by programming (but how?) ● ask/observe circa sense-making ● Who? ● pre-university students
- 3. Paper Turing Machines Programming,but... - tangible - symbols are all that counts - program is a card - manual execution
- 4. Test (and demo) ● Let's see what we did... and you can participate too! 1) presentation of computation and computing machines Hilbert's decision problems as motivation for TMs 2) play/program, by solving given tasks, with a tangible TM ● ... demo ... ● Method: observation, then questionnaires
- 5. DEMO Invert and if write move jumpTo if write move jumpTo TASK Design and test a TM for this if write problem. move jumpTo Consider: input = 1101 in binary, output = 0010
- 6. 54/41 = test/questionnaire Quantitative Girls/Boys Prog/Never Tech/Hum Red/Struct/Emp
- 7. Red/Struct/Emp ● Actual question asked: ● You are studing a complex thing (example: the human brain). Your position is: 1) all I need to do is to study very well the components (example: neurons) 2) the most important thing is the interaction among components 3) no matter what I do, I will only get a partial understanding ● Definitions: ● Reductionism ... analyzing and describing a complex phenomenon ... in terms of phenomena that are held to represent a simpler or more fundamental level [google dictionary] ● Structuralism ... focuses on relationships of contrast between elements in a conceptual system [google dictionary] ● Empiricists assume obtaining a complete knowledge of the world is not possible, but fortunately it is also not needed in order to predict and even control the behavior of complex phenomena [Gödel, Escher and Bach]
- 8. Quantitative Tech Hum Hum Blank Blank Prog NeverProg Tech Prog in % 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Never Tech Hum None Hum None Reduct Struct Red Tech Empiric in % Struct 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 Emp
- 9. Qualitative Observations: ● Tinkering helps – low-fi can works just fine! ● For some, easier to alter the formalism (creative/cheating) ● Curiosity, pride, positive response to challenge ● Social interaction: coaching/leading emerged in groups ● History matters ● Babbage, Hilbert and Turing ● Elicitation of discussion by Sydney Padua
- 10. Conclusions and futurework ● In just 2 hours the visiting students learned about TMs, decision problems, and could work with programming tasks. ● Technically inclined individuals tend to agree with reductionist positions and are more likely to have experienced programming before university. ● Humanities inclined students instead are more frequently empiricists and might find technical subjects more attracting if historically contextualized. ● Technical skills like programming, which originated from rationalism might appeal more naturally to reductionist individuals. ● Historical grounding interests all and possibly motivates also HUMs. ● Digital immigrants (me), digital natives (my daughter)... digital authors? (script kid) ● New tasks and a more playful PTM is under development (turn-based!)
- 11. Inv if write move jumpTo Inv if write move SOLUTION jumpTo Inv if write move jumpTo F Finish
- 12. Article ● Programming Turing Machines as a Game for Technology Sense-Making http://secure3.computer.org/csdl/proceedings/icalt/2011/4346/00/4346a428- abs.html