Re: Why Intel macs will lose the education market.

On 2006-01-31 12:03:18 -0800, "William A. T. Clark" <clark.31@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> said:

In article <200601310841008930-proconsul@coxnet>,
 Proconsul <proconsul@xxxxxxx> wrote:

On 2006-01-31 02:51:49 -0800, Tim Streater <tim.streater@xxxxxxxxxxxx> said:

In article <barmar-2BBC21.23133030012006@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Barry Margolin <barmar@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

In article <m2lkwxoxgx.fsf@xxxxxxxxxxxx>,
Tim McNamara <timmcn@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Barry Margolin <barmar@xxxxxxxxxxxx> writes: 
The computers we're talking about are probably not being used mainly
to teach computers skills, but to run applications that teach kids
other skills, like math and science.


Unfortunately the evidence seems to be that computers don't teach those
skills.  Using computers teaches kids to use computers, but not math
or science.  Those are better learned through hands-on practice (e.g.,
pencil and paper for path, getting your hands dirty in science).  The
information learned through computers tends to be abstract and
disconnected from reality.

That's what I thought they did. They use computer programs to practice the skills. A program to teach fractions can display pie wedges and ask the student to identify the fraction.

What a waste of money. How about pre-printed sheets that can do the same thing. How about the teacher doing it on the board?

The main reason is that an alarmingly high percentage of teachers these days are incompetent. They are interested in political indoctrination, not education.....

Besides, common sense methods, such as you describe are not politically correct!.....:)

PC

Coming from the one who would railroad us all into the true way of Windoze, criticizing teachers for proselytizing is pretty rich!

I wouldn't "railroad" anyone to do anything - I've merely pointed out that reality is real and you ignore it at your peril.....

Teachers need a lot more criticism than they get....they are a major factor in the ongoing "dumbing down" of the society at large. Between bad teachers who care more about an agenda than the welfare of their students and bad parents who don't give a damn, you'll not see much improvement - regardless of whether the kids are "dumbed down" using PCs or Macs......!

PC

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