This is gold, though I don't know that the tenth grade student is
average by any stretch. And to balance it, I suppose we need this
discussion with the average students - which, I believe, is the point
that Shantanu is circuitously making - or not.
Satish Jha wrote:
A note from a tenth grade student
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: shantanu jha <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Jul 28, 2006 11:12 PM
Subject: Re: $14 Million Study Proves (???) Student
LaptopsIneffectiveAcademically
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
The fundamental problem with laptops and mathematics/science is that
there
is just not enough computer science taught today. It is impossible to
be a
mathematician or scientist these days without being heavily involved
in the
use of computer modeling. Every mathematician, scientist, and engineer
will
have to become fluent in the use of Mathematica, Maple, MATLAB, or some
other computer algebra system, and this cannot be done without computer
science. The links between mathematics and computer science are
incredibly
far-reaching as well, giving considerable pedagogical value to the use of
computers in mathematics. For example, any given "for" or "while" loop we
use is basically a finite induction process directly analogous to the
method
of inductive proof we use constantly in mathematics. Recursion,
another oft
used computer science technique, appears often when we deal with
generating
functions and recurrence relations - which, in turn, are two of the
areas of
mathematics that lend themselves best to analysis via computer science
methods.
I'll only comment briefly on reading. There is no good reason that one
can't
read as much with the use of a laptop and the internet than with a book.
Give someone a laptop with internet access, and they have a key to an
immense amount of online material. Whether it is reading the classics or
reading a math textbook, there is almost always an online alternative
that
is cheaper than buying a book. Merely go to
http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/ and search for any great work of
literature and it shall be found.
Of course, everything I said does not apply to the average student.
However,
for the student that enjoys the tools that laptops offer for
academics, it
is an invaluable tool. I think introducing technology into schools today
suffers from much the same problem as U.S public schools do on a broader
level - no matter what new and innovative teaching method you may
have, the
students that don't want to learn will not. While engaging the
students with
images and technology may help, the students have to meet you half way
there.
--
Taran Rampersad
Presently in: San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Always looking for contracts!
http://www.knowprose.com/node/9786
New!: http://www.OpenDepth.com
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"Criticize by creating." — Michelangelo
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