Pixel Pattern Madness

I can't stop with the pixel patterns. This gallery of gifs is pure pleasure. Tile them on your desktop, protopage background, everywhere! Now to try making some--that's when you realize how artful these are. Actually, when you think of it, there must be some techniques to making them tile properly.
Link

One reflector and the if command

Look here for the reason for these Logo posts.

Setup: Connect a motor to port A. Connect a reflector to port 1. The reflector is the blue piece with a wire attached to it.

To activate the reflector, type this in the command center and hit enter:
display reflect1
If the reflector lights up, it's ready to go.

A reflector is like a switch. If it sees a light color, it's on. If it sees a dark color, it's off. Download this program and run it. To test it out, put a white piece of paper or a white Lego in front of the red light.
to start
loop [spin]
end

to spin
if reflect1
[aoff]
if not reflect1
[aon]
end

Two switches and the if command

Look here for the reason for these Logo posts.

Setup: Connect one motor to port A and one lamp to port B. Connect one switch to port 1 and another switch to port 2. Download and run this program:

to start
loop [flash-and-spin]
end

to flash-and-spin
if switch1
[aon]
if not switch1
[aoff]
if switch2
[bon]
if not switch2
[boff]
end

One switch and the ifelse command

Look here for the reason for these Logo posts.

Setup: Use one switch connected to port 1 and one motor connected to port A. Download this program:
to go
loop [reverse]
end

to reverse
aon
ifelse switch1
[athisway]
[athatway]
end

One switch and the if command

Look here for the reason for these Logo posts.

Setup: Use one switch connected to port 1 and one motor connected to port A. Download this program:
to go
loop [spin]
end

to spin
if switch1
[athatway]
if not switch1
[athisway]
aon
end

One switch and the waituntil command

Look here for the reason for these Logo posts.

Setup: Use one switch connected to port 1 and one motor connected to port A. Download this program:
to go
loop [start]
end

to start
waituntil [switch1]
aon
waituntil [not switch1]
aoff
end

The waituntil command functions sequentially, just like other simple commands.

Programming an RCX with Logo Commands

I use MicroWorlds EX Robotics to teach 7th graders to program Lego RCX robots. It took me a lot of trial and error to find simple ways to control the input and output for these units; to find efficient programs that direct switches and reflectors to make the RCX do useful things. The accompanying help guide for MW EX provides overly complex examples for just learning the basics, so I figured it might be helpful to post the examples I'm using to get my students started on creating interactive robots.

Un-conference board

The NYCIST Un-Conference workshop sign up board is such an impressive sight. I came up here a day late a little apprehensive, worried that there would be chaos or general lack of inspiration. But I should have known...this is a group of people who know so much and have so much curiosity about everything. It couldn't help but be fruitful and productive.

Interaction Design

This is how to set up an un-conference. Grab a paper and put yourself in a spot. That's great interaction design.

Chris Lehmann, virtual keynote, NYCIST un-conference

--learning with your head, heart, and hands: can I do all three in each and every class? And let the kids know that I am?
How do we move away from schools + computers to simply innovative schools:
--facutly workshop, not staff meeting
--creating common meeting time
--move away from "How do we do this?" move toward "Why do we do this?"