SK>Also from the May 19, 1996 Edupage:
SK>-> TECHNOLOGY AS A JUNK FOOD
  >-> In the next issue of Educom Review, technology visionary Alan Kay
  >-> says in an article on "the use and misuse of computers in education"
  >-> that it makes him sad to be shown a classroom full of children
  >-> joyfully using computers: "This is technology as a junk food --
  >-> people love it but there is no nutrition to speak of."
SK>FWIW, I have had several "discussions" with others in Usenet about
  >whether we should be using computers to teach math in the classroom.
  >There are some (apparently) well educated engineers and computer science
  >professionals who are telling me that we should NOT be using the
  >computers in education, that what is needed is more basic and also more
  >emphasis on analytic skills which do not require technology.
I personally don't see computers as teachers, more like facilitators.
If a student is having trouble with multiplication tables.  A computer
can give the question, accept the answer, grade the answer and move on
with no emotion involved other than what is programed.  The student can
learn at their own pace until they can do as well as others in the
class.  Simple division, addition, subtraction would all be applicable.
I would agree that too much reliance on computers to do ones
calculations reduces basic skills.  I experienced this with the first
calculators.  Even today my sons can not calculate simple math
situations as quickly or accurately as I.  But then I can't do
differential equations or dynamics either.  In the early years IMO the
more the student can do manually the better.  Once they master the
basics the computer just becomes a facilitator again.
___
 X QMPro 1.53 X All rising to a great place is by a winding stair.
  
--- Maximus 2.02
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