LOGO-L> random explorations

[KERRB@Magill.UniSA.edu.au]

RANDOM EXPLORATIONS     Bill Kerr
summary only
for full article visit http://www.senet.com.au/~kerrb/
					
I have been exploring a different approach  to teaching the Chance topic
in Mathematics whereby the random concept is moved to centre stage, so
that its unpredictability can be celebrated as a fascinating, interest
generating phenomenon. This approach requires extensive use of computers
and a programming language such as logo that has a random primitive.

For comparison purposes, this innovative approach may be contrasted with
traditional math's textbook approaches to Chance or Probability that are
focused around  understanding probability to get the "correct" answer.
(snip)
Critique of traditional textbook method:-
(snip)
Papert's influence on my thinking:-
My acid test for a successful maths activity is when students decide for
themselves to work on it in their own time. For the first time in years
of teaching probability I have achieved this using the random approach
described in this article. 
(snip)
The medium is the message:-
(snip)
RANDOM EXPLORATIONS: THE CONTRACT, with annotations.
Explanation: In a classroom situation the teacher would pose the
problems and talk students through it over an extended time frame along
the lines suggested in Comments and Explanations below. What is
presented below is not intended for distribution to students as is but
would have to be modified so the students are presented with the
challenge but not the answers.
(bigsnip)
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