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For teaching kids how to think

 
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gypsy fly

Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 18
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Location: Portland OR USA

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PostPosted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 7:06 am    Post subject: For teaching kids how to think Reply with quote

Greetings!

Is there a solver available that could help me teach kids how to think through a simple puzzle using pencil and paper?

I imagine entering a simple puzzle into the solver, then handing out paper copies to my students. I would then project the solver on a screen using an LCD projector.

Features:
1. a frequency distribution
2. undo
3. projecting scan lines
4. switch between digits, letters, colors, fruits, animals, etc.

Thing like that...

Thanks
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fermat

Joined: 05 Feb 2006
Posts: 25
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Location: Melbourne

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PostPosted: Fri Mar 10, 2006 5:40 am    Post subject: Teaching Sudoku Reply with quote

There doesn't seem to be exactly what you want available, judging by the response.

There is a program that has some features you want and a bonus.

Sudoku Assitstenten available at:
http://www.sudoku.frihost.net/index.html

The biggest drawback is the lack of an English language help-file.

The bonus is it can aid pretty well anyone to create a valid puzzle.

The hint function is the one that is great for teaching solving technique, although the top methods are not supported. (Color and forcing chains etc.)
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gypsy fly

Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 18
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Location: Portland OR USA

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PostPosted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 6:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks! I will download and check it out.

I was beginning to design one. Step one was to enter the puzzle found in the newspaper. Step two, save the puzzle with the givens on the network drive. Step three, print out copies for the students (12 year olds mostly).

Step four, project the puzzle ona screen and have kids scan. If need be, project lines to help identify single digit squares, etc. etc.

The objective is to use Sudoku to help the kids "see" and think!

I'm experimenting with the pedagogy and exploring the epistemology. I'm finding it's even more fun to teach the techniques specially when greeted by those "aha" moments.
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gypsy fly

Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 18
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Location: Portland OR USA

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PostPosted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 8:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looks like it's a broken link ... will try searching for it
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foxglove

Joined: 04 Feb 2006
Posts: 42
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Location: Portugal

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PostPosted: Sat Mar 11, 2006 9:47 pm    Post subject: Re: For teaching kids how to think Reply with quote

gypsy fly wrote:

4. switch between digits, letters, colors, fruits, animals, etc.

Thing like that...


If you can find a nice font for that...

try Number 9

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gypsy fly

Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 18
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Location: Portland OR USA

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PostPosted: Sun Mar 12, 2006 9:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Being able to change fonts would probably show significance for some groups of visual learners. For auditory learners, I've been toying with the concept of adding sounds or chords. I don't know what to do for the kinestherics, except perhaps use a "dance mat" for input. One of my daughters would probably never miss a puzzle if the objects were shoes or heart throbs.

Anyway, mapping the traditional digits to other objects more suited to a learner's style, would in my opinion, help them to think through the logic of sudoku. I believe that's every elementary teacher's ultimate goal, teaching kids to THINK.

I'm going to try to use some of the solvers I found on the web. I'm also planning on trying to create one to fit my methodology. I think I'll use Game Maker.
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Henk

Joined: 13 Nov 2005
Posts: 105
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PostPosted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 6:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi,

Maybe I can help you. My solver allready supports different characters instead of the number 1 to 9. Using images is not possible yet, but I am willing to build this in if you want. Its not really difficult to do this because the character I use now can be easily changed to images. Just let me know if you would be interested, and then send me some images you would like to see. My program can be found here (dutch/german/english):
http://www.intosudoku.com

I'm not sure it can do everything you are searching for, you should check this first. There are some drawing functions to draw lines and colors, but probably not everything you want.

Henk
_________________
Generate and solve Sudoku puzzles with Into Sudoku!
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gypsy fly

Joined: 06 Mar 2006
Posts: 18
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Location: Portland OR USA

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PostPosted: Tue Mar 14, 2006 5:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Just downloaded "IntoSudoku". I appreciate the excellent definitions and examples. I'm sure these would go a long way in helping my students. In fact, I will try them on the kids this week.

As for the images, I think I'll try paper cut-outs first. A bit of experimenting would be necessary to help the kids identify their own preferences. Simply switching from digits to letters (or Japanese, Cyrillic, Hebrew, etc. characters) might be sufficient for now.

It's the math phoebes that squirm at the digits.

Henk, would it be possible, in your next version, to have the labels "A", and "B" (as in the Naked Pair definition, etc.) in place?
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