Seymour Papert
Creator of Logo
Mathematician and educator who created the Logo programming language and pioneered constructionist learning with computers.
Overview
Seymour Papert was a mathematician, computer scientist, and educator who believed children could learn powerful ideas through programming. He created Logo in 1967, a programming language designed for education, and developed the theory of constructionism - learning by making things.
His work at MIT’s Media Lab and his book Mindstorms (1980) influenced how computers are used in education worldwide.
Fast Facts
- Born: 1928, South Africa
- Died: 2016, USA
- Institution: MIT
- Created: Logo programming language (1967)
- Book: Mindstorms: Children, Computers, and Powerful Ideas (1980)
- Theory: Constructionism
Logo Language
Papert created Logo with these principles:
- Low floor - Easy to start
- High ceiling - Capable of complex programs
- Wide walls - Many directions to explore
The famous turtle graphics let children see programming as drawing:
FORWARD 100
RIGHT 90
FORWARD 100Constructionism
Papert’s educational philosophy held that:
- Learning happens through making
- Computers are tools for thinking
- Children can handle powerful ideas
- Mistakes are learning opportunities
- Personal projects motivate learning
Mindstorms
His 1980 book Mindstorms: Children, Computers, and Powerful Ideas argued that computers could transform education by giving children tools to explore mathematical and logical concepts through programming.
Influence
Papert’s ideas influenced:
- Scratch (MIT, direct descendant of Logo)
- LEGO Mindstorms (named after his book)
- Constructionist education worldwide
- The maker movement
- Computational thinking curriculum
Legacy
Though Logo itself faded from schools, Papert’s ideas about learning through making remain central to computing education. Scratch, used by millions of children, directly continues his vision.