Cynthia Solomon

Cynthia Solomon
PhD
Cynthia Solomon PhD
	Bolt, Beranek and Newman; Logo Computer Systems; Atari Cambridge Research Laboratory
Website	Logo Things

Cynthia Solomon is an American

Bolt, Beranek and Newman, she worked with Wally Feurzeig and Seymour Papert, to create the first programming language for children, named Logo.^[2] The language was created to teach concepts of programming related to Lisp. Solomon has attained many accomplishments in her life such as being the vice president of R&D for Logo Computer Systems, Inc., when Apple Logo was developed and was the Director of the Atari Cambridge Research Laboratory. Solomon worked on the program committee of Constructing Modern Knowledge and the Marvin Minsky Institute for Artificial Intelligence in 2016. Further, she has published many writings based on research in the field of child education and technology in the classroom. Solomon has conducted workshops in elementary schools, high schools, and colleges regarding academic research and writing. She continues to contribute to the field by speaking at conferences and working with the One Laptop per Child

Foundation.

Education

Solomon received her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in history at Radcliffe College in the early 1960s. Subsequently, she studied at

Bolt, Beranek and Newman

.

Accomplishments

After receiving her B.A. at Radcliffe College, Solomon taught at Milton Academy in Milton, Massachusetts for seven years. She also became the Technology Integration Coordinator at Monsignor Haddad Middle School in Needham, Massachusetts. Then, in the 1980s, Massachusetts Institute of Technology hired Solomon to lead the Atari Cambridge Research Laboratory due to her success in developing Logo. Solomon maintained a long relationship working with the MIT Media Lab and the One Laptop per Child Foundation. Solomon is still a leading worker for the foundation and directed the creation of educational materials for it. She continued teaching, consulting, and her scholarship while working with several esteemed research labs and foundations.

Logo, children's programming language

Together with

body-syntonic

reasoning", where students could understand, predict and reason about the turtle's motion by imagining what they would do if they were the turtle. There are substantial differences among the many dialects of Logo, and the situation is confused by the regular appearance of turtle graphics programs that call themselves Logo.

Contributions to child education

Solomon began to develop Logo after coming to the realization that children needed a programming language of their own. Solomon directed the creation of educational materials for the One Laptop per Child Foundation, and her doctoral research at Harvard led to the publication of the critical book, Computer Environments for Children: A Reflection on Theories of Learning and Education. This book explores the opportunities and challenges presented regarding having computers in learning environments. Focused specifically on elementary school mathematics, Solomon discusses the role of computers in innovative learning theories. Solomon is also the co-author of Designing Multimedia Environments for Children, with Allison Druin. Along with many other research projects and writings contributing to the knowledge of children's learning environments in conjunction with technology.

Solomon is still teaching, mainly using the Snap! based jigsaw programming Turtlestich

Writings

Solomon, Cynthia (1986). Computer Environments for Children: A Reflection on Theories of Learning and Education.
Twenty Things to Do with a Computer (1971). Papert, Seymour, and Solomon, Cynthia. http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/5836
Leading a Child to a Computer Culture. ACM SIGCUE Outlook. (1976). Solomon, Cynthia.
Teaching young children to program in a LOGO turtle computer culture. ACM Sigcue Outlook (1978). Solomon, Cynthia.
Solomon, Cynthia (1982). Apple II – Apple Logo: Reference Manual & Introduction to Programming Through Turtle Graphics.
Logo Power (1984). Solomon, Cynthia.
Solomon, Cynthia; Minsky, Margaret; Harvey, Brian (1985). LogoWorks: Challenging Programs in Logo.
Designing educational computer environment for children. (1995). Druin, Allison & Solomon, Cynthia.
Designing Multimedia Environments for Children (1996). Druin, Allison and Solomon, Cynthia.
Inventive Minds, Marvin Minsky on Education (2009). Edited by Cynthia Solomon and Xiao Xiao
Culture Audits: Supporting Organizational Success (2004). Solomon, Cynthia.
Select a Performance Management System (Infoline ASTD) (2009). Solomon, Cynthia.
The BBN-LISP System. 85. (1966). Bobrow, Daniel & L. Darley, D & L. Murphy, Daniel & Solomon, Cynthia & Teitelman, Warren.
Designing multimedia environments for children (2018). Druin, Allison & Solomon, Cynthia.

Honors

In 2016, Solomon won the National Center for Women & Information Technology (NCWIT) Pioneer Award.^[4] Solomon received a Lifetime Achievement Award at Constructionism 2016. She introduced the Seymour Papert memorial lecture at CrossRoads 2018,^[5] and facilitated conversation about new uses for the program in education and to a new demographic of users.

References

^ "Cynthia Solomon". Exploratorium. January 15, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
^ ^a ^b "Logo History". el.media.mit.edu. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
^ "Media: Blog: Q & A with Dr. Cynthia Solomon". Infosys Foundation USA. December 6, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
^ "Cynthia Solomon". National Center for Women & Information Technology. February 26, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2019.
^ Hasenhuttl, Lauren (December 6, 2017). "Media Alert: Computing Pioneer Cynthia Solomon to Deliver Inaugural Seymour Papert Memorial Lecture" (Press release). Palo Alto, California, USA: Infosys Foundation USA. Retrieved July 30, 2019.

[1] "Cynthia Solomon". Exploratorium. January 15, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2019.

[:0-2] "Logo History". el.media.mit.edu. Retrieved April 17, 2019.

[InfosysInterview-3] "Media: Blog: Q & A with Dr. Cynthia Solomon". Infosys Foundation USA. December 6, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2019.

[4] "Cynthia Solomon". National Center for Women & Information Technology. February 26, 2016. Retrieved April 17, 2019.

[5] Hasenhuttl, Lauren (December 6, 2017). "Media Alert: Computing Pioneer Cynthia Solomon to Deliver Inaugural Seymour Papert Memorial Lecture" (Press release). Palo Alto, California, USA: Infosys Foundation USA. Retrieved July 30, 2019.

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