WHAT IS SQUEAK?

Squeak is a "media authoring tool"-- software that you can download to your computer and then use to create your own media or share and play with others. It is free and downloadable here. If you'd like to get a feel for what Squeak looks like without downloading, view a typical early project for kids in HTML (no download needed). Once you download Squeak you can use the Squeak Tutorials and download the handy Etoys Quickstart Guide.Further information can be found in the Squeak FAQ.
Squeakland has been developed to offer a variety of fun experiences to people of all ages who use their computers to create. Squeakland is meant to be a playground for developing a community of people who want to work together to invent new media types.

FREE TO ALL - WE WELCOME FEEDBACK

Squeak is open source software - which means it has been created and developed by a body of individuals in a communal effort to broaden its ability and explore new realms of computing and media development. Programmers interested in this new OOP language by the creators of Smalltalk should proceed to Deep Squeak. Many programmers around the world are currently advancing the state of Squeak.

Squeak is not a finished product - it is the outcome of research conducted by a small community. This research is ongoing.

We are seeking help to continue to grow and develop Squeak and help to identify what is successful and what doesn't yet work well. Whether you are a teacher, student, programmer, homeschooling parent, or an explorer - your feedback, authoring, and sharing is welcome in the Squeak Community.

SQUEAK AND EDUCATION

Education is a primary focus for many Squeakers - who are doing cutting edge research on how computers can be used to enhance and amplify learning. At Viewpoints Research, "Squeak Central", creator Alan Kay and director Kim Rose use Squeak with students to explore how this can be achieved. A 45 minute, multiple Emmy winning, documentary film called "Squeakers" was recently completed on this work. Several clips are available here. A new book by BJ Allen-Conn and Kim Rose entitled "Powerful Ideas in the Classroom - Using Squeak to Enhance Math and Science Learning" will be released in August and offer a view of some excting work in Squeak with 5th and 6th Graders.

Alan Kay, guiding light of Squeak, has based this educational work with Squeak on a number of different sources. His Scientific American article details his theories, based in part on Jerome Bruner's groundbreaking ideas of constructivist learning as well as Seymour Papert's important work in using computers to find new ways to reach children with powerful ideas of math and science. Additional influences are to be found on Alan Kay's recommended reading list which he prepared for his students.

Many students are using Squeak to learn more about how the world works. See children's projects and teacher's comments in School Stuff.

Some students work with media created in Squeak by their teachers; others are creating their own simulations and models to test their theories and deepen their understanding of math and science. Around the world, international Squeakers are advancing Squeak, particularly in Japan and Germany. Click here to see many interesting links.

OTHER APPLICATIONS

Other "Squeakers" use Squeak to develop games and other forms of online entertainment, while still more are writing software and basing companies on this remarkably powerful scripting language.

For more information on Squeak, visit the Squeak FAQ --