Glossary
This glossary explains terms used throughout Roamer’s websites. You can explore the dictionary or discover the terms highlighted in the text. Put your mouse on the words and the definition will pop up. Make sure you’ve enabled popups on your computer.
You will find the terms parameter, argument and variable often used in computing, mathematics and science. Their exact meaning depends on the context. Computer scientists use "parameter" to mean something you can add or alter within a command.
![]() |
Number [1 to 100] | We call Number [1 to 100] a parameter. |
![]() |
![]() |
We call the 6 an argument. |
We use the word variable as a general term. The Roamer Music command has two variables: the duration of the note and the pitch. Number to 8 is the duration parameter and Number 1 to 14 is the pitch parameter. In Music 4 11: 4 and 11 are arguments.
![]() |
![]() |
In this Roamer instruction 5 is the argument. |
Control is a general term which applies to the design of automated machinery. The video shows a few examples of control engineering in action. A robot is one example of control technology. A key part of control is the need to use inputs to sense what’s going on and outputs to do something. For example a burglar alarm will sense an intruder and respond by making a loud noise.
The Power of Computers from Dave Catlin on Vimeo.A default is the normal setting of a feature. For example, when you first switch Roamer on it runs at 25 cm/sec. That is Roamer’s default speed. Roamer uses default settings at the start of a GO Program and when you switch the robot on. Roamer’s voice is another default: how the robot behaves when it completes a sense-procedure is another. You can change some of the defaults – see Advanced Roamer.
![]() |
d | This is the symbol key for the Roamer musical note. |
Ofsted is the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. They inspect schools in England and publish the results online. They're a quango and report to the British Parliament.
You will find the terms parameter, argument and variable often used in computing, mathematics and science. Their exact meaning depends on the context. Computer scientists use "parameter" to mean something you can add or alter within a command.
![]() |
Number [1 to 100] | We call Number [1 to 100] a parameter. |
![]() |
![]() |
We call the 6 an argument. |
We use the word variable as a general term. The Roamer Music command has two variables: the duration of the note and the pitch. Number to 8 is the duration parameter and Number 1 to 14 is the pitch parameter. In Music 4 11: 4 and 11 are arguments.
A child plays Turtle when they imagine themselves to be the robot. When they move and turn like the robot they think about what they’ve got to do to make the robot to achieve a task. It makes the Roamer an object to think with and connects students to powerful mathematical ideas.
Tim Bell and his team from Canterbury University in New Zealand launched Computer Science Unplugged. This is an extension of Papert's Playing Turtle idea. It's a "... collection of free learning activities that teach Computer Science through engaging games and puzzles that use cards, string, crayons and lots of running around. We originally developed this so that young students could dive head-first into Computer Science, experiencing the kinds of questions and challenges that computer scientists experience, but without having to learn programming first." [nwsymbol] Computer Science Unplugged.We joyfully remember a favourite toy or comfort blanket. When focused on Roamer this bond plays an important role in developing students imagination and cognitive skills. Students reinforce this bond when they create a personalised Roamer Character.
In education, a scaffold is the support we give to a student to help them solve hard problems. As a student progresses we remove the scaffolding and eventually the student can solve the full problem without difficulty. When we teach children to swim we don’t simply throw them into the deep-end of the pool and let them get on with it. We provide them flotation aids and spend time in the water with them, helping as needed. We gradually remove the support. Scaffolding is the same idea applied to intellectual efforts. Many Roamer tasks adopt this principle.
Most Roamer tasks don’t have simple right and wrong answers. So how do students know they’ve achieved success? Getting them to clarify what they want to achieve is another part of “Assessment for Learning” method.
See Success Criteria
A Turtle is an educational robot originally created as part of the Logo programming language. Originally the Turtle was a physical robot controlled using Turtle Graphics (a part of the Logo language). With advances in screen graphics, a virtual Turtle became prevalent. Originally, the Turtle and a Sprite were different. LogoWriter and RoamerWorld blurred the distinction by allowing programmers to change the shape of the virtual Turtle. We keep the distinction.
You will find the terms parameter, argument and variable often used in computing, mathematics and science. Their exact meaning depends on the context. Computer scientists use "parameter" to mean something you can add or alter within a command.
![]() |
Number [1 to 100] | We call Number [1 to 100] a parameter. |
![]() |
![]() |
We call the 6 an argument. |
We use the word variable as a general term. The Roamer Music command has two variables: the duration of the note and the pitch. Number to 8 is the duration parameter and Number 1 to 14 is the pitch parameter. In Music 4 11: 4 and 11 are arguments.