Re: [seul-edu] Home schooling pages

[Petr Vicherek <petr@ied.com>]

  We are currently using for homeschooling the K12 books imported from 
US. Unfortunately, sometimes we need to repeat some tests, either
because it is too bad or because it is too good (cheating, you know..)
So what we need is:
1. Reprint the test pages with some alterations on paper (color printer)
2. HTML/XML interactive sheet for more drills and tests, dynamically
generated
3. Voice output for pre-schoolers and for dictation.

The subjects that need to be covered first:
1. Math drills: addition, subtraction, times tables, division.
2. Spelling drills.
  - Fill in missing letters
  - Write dictated word.
  - Tell which letter belongs to which sentence/picture.

The other subjects would be also nice, but require more individual
approach. Most people would agree on the former two, but some
subjects such as catechism or history will need to be written
not be equally accepted by all homeschooling families.

  For all parents the most important is curriculum. It should be
somewhat customizable. The second important is catchy presentation,
but not distractive or undervaluing the child.

   One observation:
I am comparing Math with Winnie The Pooh to console based Linux
program arithmetic.
   The console based arithmetic just presents exercises such
as 4+5= ?  For you to fill in. At the end it prints you your
performance - percentage of first correct answers and speed.

    On the other hand, Winne the pooh does not time the work
and does not clearly evaluate the results, so the competitive
character of the game is lost. The flashy graphics wears out soon.
When Winnie The Pooh decides to talk for a minute the same
thing again for the tenth time, leaving the mouse unresponsive,
the child loses his patience and leaves the computer for some
other business.


Doug Loss wrote:
> 
> I was fiddling around recently and again came across Adam Cody's pages
> <http://cran.seul.org/~acody/> on home schooling and Linux and open
> source software.  We had some discussion of that back in December (as I
> recall), but nothing much beyond that.  I think home schooling is an
> important (at least in the US) portion of the educational spectrum that
> we haven't paid much attention to.  I know that there were some other
> folks here who were interested in talking about that too, such as Petr
> Vicherek.  I'd like to start up a discussion on how the needs of home
> schoolers differ from those of more traditional schools, and how Linux
> and SEUL/edu might help address those needs.  Adam and Petr, could you
> start off?  And of course anyone else with experience, interest, or an
> opinion is welcome to join in.

-- 
                                                    Petr Vicherek

Gloria in excelsis Deo et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis
_/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/ _/