[Fsf-friends] Computing and Learning for young children

[Kanti Jadia]

Hi Rajeev,

Please take a look at debian jr. project.

URL : http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-jr/index

:)


On Tue, 27 Jul 2004 rajeev joseph sebastian wrote :
>Hello freedom lovers,
>
> > I would suggest that you do not introduce computers
> > at the class 1
> > level. In my opinion, there should not be any
> > computer classes before
> > class 7 or 8. Below that age, children should be
>
>On the contrary, it will be extremely helpful (to say
>the least) to introduce programming, and games on the
>computer from atleast class 5. I have very good
>memories of when i played games like Lemonade and
>"programmed" in Logo, in the 1st and 2nd standards
>(due to my dad) and learning basic BASIC in the 5th
>(in a school environment). Complemented with a steady
>grounding in logic from class 5 until the introduction
>to Algorithms in 9th/10th it will make our peoples
>more _aware_ of the PC and its possibilities than
>being paper heroes.
>
>I think it helped in shaping my perception of what a
>computer is, not a machine (/compiler) to fight, and
>not a glorified jukebox.
>
> > running around and
> > playing more than anything else. They should,
> > ideally, learn through
> > play.
>
>I agree with you on this, and suggest that the
>computer be used a part of the environment of the
>student _in_ the classroom, rather than in a lab of
>some sort. Of course this will be more practical only
>in the very early classes like 1st and 2nd (where
>computer usage will be less and therefore there will
>requirement of less number of machines in each class).
>
>If I were microsoft, i would severly "attack" the
>lower classes, because children at this level is the
>future ( *hint* *hint*). Moreover, in the case of
>GNU/Linux, i think it would be MUCH easier to
>evagelise young children than very old ones, since
>they do not prefer and are not brainwashed yet.
>
> >There is a school in central Kerala that does
> > precisely this.
> > Children up to class 7 are not forced to sit in the
> > class or assigned
> > specific tasks. The job of the teacher is to ensure
> > that the children
> > learn things as a part of whatever they do. This is
>
>Consider for eg, Celestia. It is a very good tool for
>visualizing the solar system (if the graphics were a
>little better in the sense understandable).
>
>Geometric principles are introduced quite early in the
>indian child's lifetime, and software like KGeo
>(perhaps after simplification) could open up the world
>of visual mathematics to them, leading away from the
>purely symbolic means that is being used today.
>Remember a sound spatial sense/perception is very
>useful not only in making better civil/mechanical
>engineers, but also physicists, software architects
>and network engineers. However, today's education
>system does not handle this well.
>
>I have taught various aspects of network theory to
>students of various levels, and i have found that
>tutorials via the spatial perception are much more
>useful than long expositions on network history and
>what not. I feel that a computer is probably the
>_only_ tool (other than (expensive) physical models),
>that can give such training to students.
>
>My company (www.stendekrnd.com) is now investigating
>the creation of a "desktop" for young children, in
>which there is a simplistic GUI command environment to
>launch specific programs (such as celestia, etc).
>
> > hard on the teacher,
> > but the children do learn, and not just bookish
> > knowledge that helps
> > only to write answers in examinations.
>
>There will soon be a solution for this too from my
>company. watch this space for the next few months for
>more info on that :)
>
>Rajeev J Sebastian
>Stendek R&D
>
>
>
>
>
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