-----Original Message----- From: Kirby Urner [mailto:urnerk@qwest.net] Sent: Sunday, June 05, 2005 12:08 PM To: 'Arthur'; 'Edu-sig' Subject: RE: [Edu-sig] A case against GUIs in intro CS :-)

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The only realms that I can think of in which the notion of the voluntary adoption of and adaptation to discomfort has been successfully introduced is

Religion Athletic training

I have decided to (at this time) forego the incorporation of the Church of the Awkward Interface (hmmmm... foregoing some nice tax benefits), and concentrate for the time being on the athletic training meme.

See how far I get.

Art

I think the athletic training metaphor is a fine one to milk.

Less far-out when I recall that my 10th grade math teacher and my junior varsity wrestling coach were one-in-the-same. And I promise that training for collegiate style wrestling is all about adaptation to discomfort. Perhaps explains how I can get through 8 chapters on Lisp syntax ;)

I'm drawn to the bicycle world in particular, where there's the actual activity of riding, which may be very strenuous (distance racing is one of the most punishing of all competitive sports), but also the job of maintaining the bike.

The real point, I think, is that it is not the most efficient way to get from here to there. But its workings are transparent, and there is no ambiguity as to whom is supplying the power. Art