Imagine Logo

KS1 - KS4 (Years 1 - 11)

ICT

This product is distributed by Logotron (Tel: 01223 425558 Free Support Helpline)

There are several Logo software packages on the market, but this has extended the traditional features in an imaginative way, making it more attractive and allowing more creative use. There are some well-constructed activities with detailed instructions, but some may appeal more to younger pupils. The sections where multimedia or web pages can be made provide a basis for more involved work and a taster for what is possible. The section ‘Composing a melody’ would extend Key Stage 2 work, but has its limitations. The accompanying guides are invaluable and having them onscreen as well as in paper format is excellent. The links to the Internet for free upgrades and resource downloads offer a wonderful extension to the software.

Seymour Papert's vision of Logo was to “Allow children to program computers, rather than having children programmed by computers.” This program certainly does that. From a Mathematics point of view, in covering shape and space and path of loci, this program has been excellent. It is also excellent for creating multimedia presentations. However, it is the fact that the program does much more than this, that is its major attraction. It encourages creativity and exploration. Logotron have stated that 'the ultimate goal of Imagine is to provide students, teachers and developers with a challenging general tool for learning'. I think that the program certainly lives up to this claim.

Imagine is a Logo-based program which has been developed for students who want to perform a broad range of activities. These can include painting and animating, Web authoring, ‘traditional' Logo, creating multimedia applications, using speech input and output, and much more. It is described as a 'general tool for learning'.