Emile

Key components of Emile include:

• A Design Notebook which contains all of a students designs, representations, and articulations about a project. A sample project that students constructed in the evaluation of Emile was a simulation of two-dimensional projectile motion.
• The button Positive Gravity is one of over 100 components provided in Emile's basic library. Positive Gravity is a simulation of one-dimensional projectile motion which students can click on, drag on the screen, and then drop to see it fall as if it were a freely-falling object. Students modify these buttons (such as adding horizontal velocity and position) by adding actions which are code segments that are tuned to particular domains.
• Emile is notable for providing adaptable support. Students can choose to create their own actions, or even to type text programs in directly, by modifying their Preferences.

References

• Guzdial, M. (1995). Software-realized scaffolding to facilitate programming for science learning. Interactive Learning Environments. Available at Emile-ILE.pdf.
• AERA95 paper
• Guzdial, M. J. (1993). Emile: Software-realized scaffolding for science learners programming in mixed media. Unpublished Ph.D. dissertation, University of Michigan.
• Soloway, E., Guzdial, M., & Hay, K. E. (1994). Learner-centered design: The challenge for HCI in the 21st century. Interactions, 1(2), 36-48.

Contact information: