Bob Anderson On (12 Jun 96) was overheard to say to All
 BA>                Graphics
 BA>     Graphic programs are a means of increasing personal
 BA> productivity in content area studies.
 Disagree .. strongly.  Creating graphics, even with a prepackaged
 program like print shop, or announcements, are labor intensive and
 time consuming and would, I think, tend to distract a 6th grader from
 the "real" task at hand.
 BA>  1 - Complete a number of assignments that make use of
 BA>  specific applications ( signs, banners, posters,
 BA>  cards, invitations, certificates, ect..)
 All those are in any 1/2 way decent graphics program.  I suppose
 there are some cheapie single purpose things still floating around
 that only do one or two of them..
 BA>      2 - be able to use graphic software to solve a problem
 BA>          or deal appropriately with a given task
 Ever used Kid Pix?  I know a 2nd grade teacher who took the use of
 this program way beyond what the authors envisoned it being used for.
 BA>               Electronic Communications
 BA>      Students should know what a modem is and be familiar with
 BA>      simple communication programs.
 Simple? If it's not full featured it's not worth bothering with.
 Many modem manufacturers bundle software with the modem.  For 6th
 graders KISS should be the rule.
 BA>       1 - Knowing what a baud rate is,
 Why?  Baud rate does not always (if ever?) = transfer rate
 BA>       2 - What ascii files ,and, binary files are
 BA>       3 - How to upload and download files
 BA>       4 - be familiar with  basic  networking commands
 BA>       ( login , logout, password )
 That's _pretty_ basic...
 BA>       5 -
 BA>       Note - The concept of a school community BBS run by the sixth
 BA>              grade is worth exploring.
 Aha! Ever heard of K12Net? (Please don't start Frank)  Sheila King
 is, I think, still active - but not sure.  Maybe she will jump in.
 If not try netmail to Robert Brault at 1:167/130.
 BA>                         The Internet
 All good stuff if you have unlimited access.  Before even considering
 giving a 6th grader internet access through a school connection I'd
 strong urge you to develop a strongly worded "use contract" for
 students and their parents to sign.  Any kid who is savvy enough to
 effectively use the internet is probably also savvy enough to defeat
 just about any of the software packages designed to restrict access
 to less than desirable newsgroups and/or web sites.
 Regards..Bob
... Oh no! Not *ANOTHER* learning experience.
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