I've found in my English composition classes, where I use online discussion, that anyone older than 19 or 20 is a little hesitant about using the "big pencils" of computers in class. The reason, I think, is the old attitude when a machine is broke, don't touch; call the repairman. But with computers, users can tinker and usually solve the problem. I don't mean programming; users need to tinker with the basic tools until they gain competency. Jim Flick -----Original Message----- From: Jacqueline Morris <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: The Digital Divide Network discussion group <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tue, 4 Oct 2005 09:20:09 -0400 Subject: Re: [DDN] Creating the $100 Laptop
I've found children have an easier time with some of my devices than I do... The gameboy etc are really tiny buttons that I can't really manipulate properly - my 6 year old cousin is a whiz. He's also much faster at SMS and uses my cell to play games with a speed and dexterity I can't match. I however, can type a LOT faster than he can on a big keyboard. ;) Basically because I know how to type and he doesn't. If he were taught - he'd probably be faster. How young is young? That's why I asked about what age the grades are... I can see the need for big buttons etc in 2-3 year olds, but by 4-6 this issue is disappearing - at least in the children I see here. (trinidad and tobago) Jacqueline On 10/3/05, Taran Rampersad <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Jesse Sinaiko wrote: > > >Big pencils. > > > >Much larger circumference than a normal thin, octagonal pencil. Maybe 1/3 > >inch in diameter. I see kids in Chicago Public Schools using them every > >day. I had them (and hated them) in first, second, and third grade (6, 7, > >and 8 years old aprox.) back in the early 1960s. > > > >Last year I heard a fairly comprehensive explanation about why they are used > >by a second grade teacher and department head. > > > >It's about motor skill development and dexterity. > > > > > You may want to ask how long ago this theory was developed. I think that > this particular theory may need some substantial updating... we've > (mankind) learned a lot about human development since the early 1960s. > More recent books on human development have been written since then. I > think that this might just be a hold over that is explained away without > thought. > > Also... think about how small the joints are in little fingers. A pencil > that big is actually harder to manage because of the physical > constraints of the human hand. Of course, I don't write like people > would want me to write, I write like I write (you know, the whole 'move > the hand', 'hold the pencil right') thing. > > >Obviously not essential, but helpful in getting primary school kids to > >develop writing skills more readily. > > > >My point was about teeny keyboards and young children having the developed > >motor skills to use them efficiently. > > > > > Actually, kids should have less trouble with keyboards since it's > basically learning how to point instead of learning how to draw > hieroglyphic lines with an oak tree. But that's an opinion, > substantiated only with my own experience. > > > -- > Taran Rampersad > Presently in: San Fernando, Trinidad > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > http://www.knowprose.com > http://www.easylum.net > http://www.digitaldivide.net/profile/Taran > > Coming on January 1st, 2006: http://www.OpenDepth.com > > "Criticize by creating." ? Michelangelo > > _______________________________________________ > DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list > DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org > http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide > To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. > -- Jacqueline Morris www.carnivalondenet.com T&T Music and videos online _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
