[Edu-sig] Observations from the Northwest Science Expo

[Dethe Elza]

I'll have to go against Kirby here (sort of).  I think this is a sign that
computers have become fetish items which distract from teaching the basics.

Let me use the metaphor of a calculator.  A calculator can easily help you
add, subtract, multiply, and divide, and helps to reduces errors with these
operations.  But when you try to do anything more advanced, such as algebra,
the calculator doesn't really help unless you actually understand what you
are doing.

The difference with the computer (especially with the wizard-driven Excel
graphs) is that the computer can still *look* like it's doing something for
you even when you don't understand you're doing.

I think we need to teach computers in school, but a) we cannot let them
become fetishes, b) we cannot let them detract from the essentials of what
is being taught, and c) we need to use computers for what they're good for
(and that's a tough call).

--Dethe

Dethe Elza
Chief Mad Scientist
Burning Tiger Technologies