Re: LOGO-L> computers in school

["Gary S. Stager" <gstager@pepperdine.edu>]

Michael is correct. The New York Times gave this study a slightly better 
spin. Here is a more detailed analysis, complete with a link to the 
actual study.

http://www.edweek.com/sreports/tc98/ets/ets-n.htm

I saw a much more disturbing book in the bookstore last night.

"Failure to Connect: How Computers Affect Our Children's Minds--for 
Better and Worse" by Jane Healy. 
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0684831368/resourcesforprog/

This book begins by talking about how the author was originally smitten 
by the ideas in Mindstorms, but goes on to spend several hundred pages 
disparaging all educational computing because it is expensive and may do 
harm to childhood development. The book is all over the map and adds yet 
another volume to the growing genre of "on the otherhand" books about 
education. These books have no real data or strong point of view, but 
savage any attempts at educational progress or constructivism by saying, 
"on the otherhand," and complaining there is no scientific proof of 
constructivist theories (they leave out the proof justifying behaviorism).

ASCD just commissioned a study http://www.ascd.org/today/pollrel.html/

An analysis of the ASCD study tells of more bad news...

>While the poll responses were focused on K-12, the
>implications for higher education are provocative.  Consider:
>"...Although technology is the wave of the future, slightly
>less than half (49%) of those polled believe it will enhance
>the educational system and 44% view it negatively. Younger
>people and college-educated people are most likely to hold
>this negative view...."
>
>And: "...Almost two-thirds of Americans (64%) agree that
>children will be taught the same knowledge and skills
>nationwide-and nearly three-quarters of those polled (77%)
>consider this a positive change...."
>
>Here's a little secret:  My impression is that tuition and
>fees for non-public K-12 schools have been increasing
>significantly in the past few years.  So has competition for
>admissions.  Same for private higher education.  The
>curricula for independent K-12 schools is more challenging
>and the access to technology for students and teachers in the
>wealthier and more selective independent schools is far
>greater than in most public schools.  The gap between the
>"haves" and the "have nots" with respect to what children are
>being taught and what technology they have access to is
>increasing.  Why do "...Almost two-thirds of Americans (64%)
>agree that children will be taught the same knowledge and
>skills nationwide..." ??)

-=Gary

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