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James,
I agree with each of your 7
points. However, I also believe that if we keep doing things the way we've been
doing them, we'll keep getting the same results we've been getting. A computer
is nothing more than a tool which should help us to approach the problem of
motivating in a different way. Since the kids are raised on visual stimuli,
using visual stimuli in the classroom is an avenue worth
pursuing.
Regarding pouring money into
computer infrastructure, that's why I am pleased at the opportunity to show off
what can be done for peanuts. My classroom network has become sort of a hobby
and has probably cost me a few hundred dollars out of pocket. However, it hasn't
cost the school a dime. I'm trying to set it up as a demonstraton project to
show what can be done with Linux and surplus (free) hardware.
<snip>
Where I am coming from is that there are several reasons various
students do not excel in Mathematics, and lack of computer
instruction
is not one of them. Here are a few of those
reasons:
1) The primary reason, IMHO, is that students see no use
for
mathematics in _their_ world.
2) No
teacher has had the time to really reach the children
in each's own individual way of learning.
3) Most students who do
miserably in mathematics believe
that the concepts are
beyond them (in short they lack
confidence in
themselves to master this discipline).
4) They generally have a
_very_ low self esteem. Though,
related to three
they are not the same thing.
<snip>
I see so many states pooring lots of money
into computer
infrastructure thinking that this will somehow prepare
these students
for job markets of the future, when, personally, I would
rather see
someone who has mastered Calculas, can express his/herself
cogently in
paper and verbally, and can think logically, than
10 certified in
something dudes.
Cheers...james
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