Schools don't need computers
Scoble points to this set of articles on computers and schools. Now, I don't know whether computers are directly causing problems (as argued here) - but I do know this - an astonishing number of students cannot perform basic arithmetic tasks. Watch the fun in any store when the computers and registers go offline - it's a test to see if anyone can calculate bills, and most clerks seem to fail it. What I'd really like to see is a lot more time spent on basics. My wife and I had to drill our daughter ourselves - they simply weren't doing that at all in our supposedly "great" suburban school. Interestingly, the instruction (at least locally) in reading and writing skills seems pretty good - they stress that stuff a lot, and it shows. I would gladly trade away all the computer lab time they get for better mathematics instruction though. And why in the heck do they think it's a good idea to introduce calculators - they started that in 2nd grade! Insanity....
Comments
Kids need pianos for advanced thinking later
[Patrick Logan] January 23, 2004 12:36:17.000
Elementary age kids should be learning a second language and they should be learning the piano. Both of these will "wire them up" for more advanced thinking later. OK, if your system can afford it, attach the keyboard to a computer, give them GarageBand, whatever. But when your kid's teacher tells you they're learning "keyboarding skills" make sure it's the ivory kind, not the QWERTY kind. This has been well studied and if the US president really was intent on "leaving no child behind" he'd make sure schools had a rich enough music program for every child to learn to play. Wouldn't cost that much, when you think about it.
It's not the tools, it's the approach
[Troy] January 23, 2004 14:01:04.000
I've been back at College for a year now, afer being out for about 25 years. What I've noticed is that students can't read, can't write, and don't seem to realize that they should be able to do so. From watching my kis in school, and then seeing these students, I think the problem isn't inappropriate technology. I think the problem is the expectations we place on kids. Standards keep lowering. Children are promoted in grade for "social" reasons, and here in Ohio you only need to pass a 9th grade proficiency test to graduate from high school. The message to kids is that you don't have to do the work. They skate.
Have pity on the english profs who read the work of undergraduate students trying to do college work. The papers they write HURT to read!
re-emphasizing basic education
[Eric] January 23, 2004 15:39:21.000
Here in Washington state, there is a real emphasis on getting back to a more basic education and the vehicle to get the schools there is the WASL (Washington Assessment of Student Learning). While standardized tests like this and the Iowa Basic Skills tests have some substantial problems, it can provide an early indication of whether students are getting behind. And it can detect problem areas for students while there is still time to help a student - as opposed to SAT's or ACT's which are done too late to make a difference towards real learning improvements.
The other things our school is doing, and i hope other schools are doing, is promoting homework at even the kindergarten level. For kindergarteners, like my son, homework assignments aren't returned to school for grading, but are given at the start of the month in the form of a calendar. Each day has an assignment that takes 5-10 minutes. The parent returns the sheet at the end of the month with initials by the assignments done. The idea is to foster parent/child cooperation in school work, acclimate the students to doing homework every night, and to prepare the students for bigger homework in later grades.
Sadly, I've heard parents grumbling about too much homework in the early grades already and blame the WASL's for this, also blaming the teachers for emphasizing the WASL's too much. But, I like the emphasis that our school is putting on a more basic curriculum.
Re: Schools don't need computers
[Michael Lucas-Smith] January 23, 2004 16:14:59.000
Comment on Schools don't need computers by Michael Lucas-Smith
I had a taxi driver last night that couldn't figure out how much change to give me. The fair was $26.75 and I gave him $40. He tried the old "So that comes to.." making it a 'communal calculation', but as soon as I realised he didn't know I decided to make it 'easy' on him by saying "You could just round it and give me $15". He did. So! Instead of fixing the problem - abuse it :)
Ignorance is Happiness
[The Minister of Truth] January 24, 2004 5:33:34.482
Most of them won't be needed in tomorrow's work processes, so what's the point of giving them an education? Just keep them happy with TV and computer games.