[Edu-sig] Learning (some more) programming

[Arthur]

Paul D. Fernhout wrote:

>John-
>
>An excellent post; and I'll have to agree with most of it, including your 
>conclusions at the end, especially in relation to choosing educational 
>strategies based on empirical research.
>
Consensus on this point is an excellent starting point.

But even given it, I am not in position to lay down my arms.

This is exactly where the issue of my obsession with the influence of 
commercial interests in these discussions kicks in.

The research that gets done tends to be, in reality, the research that 
gets funded.  And the answers returned are largely determined by the 
questions asked.
 
I had posted an excerpt and link to a public message by Microsoft which 
was frank and direct about its efforts to direct its (quite 
considerable) influence at US national educational policy,  which cites 
as its empirical basis research that I consider to be quite specious and 
that Microsoft had, in part, funded.

When those dynamics are at work, and when they are work publicly, and 
when no general outrage can be generated in connection with those 
dynamics occurring in plain view - one becomes deeply concerned. 

As I am.

Art