[Watford] Something else discussed last night

[Peter Grant]

I stumbled upon that and as someone who's worked/works in education IT - I
feel this article can explain a lot of IT in education. Like the
interactive whiteboard - more like interactive white elephant! A very big
obvious and next to useless peice of kit.
Peter

"When you have a Swiss Army knife of a mind, everything looks like it
should be dismantled." Danny O'Brien/Merlin Mann


On 11 February 2014 11:20, M Fernandes <myitpartneruk at gmail.com> wrote:

> That article has exposed a hidden side which is difficult for outsiders to
> see.  It's changed my whole perspective on the matter.  We shouldn't use
> children...ever.
>
> Mike
>
>
> On 11 February 2014 10:28, Alain Williams <addw at phcomp.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> On Tue, Feb 11, 2014 at 09:11:43AM +0000, M Fernandes wrote:
>> > I too had the same thoughts when I was trying to show my young girls the
>> > rudimentaries of programming.  I showed them the "hello world" program
>> > (Python) and I was surprised at how curious they became.  It's all about
>> > how you present the concept to them.  I'm not an expert, not by a long
>> > shot, but, that was my attempt to help them understand.  One of my
>> > daughters has asked me for that program again, so, I've had partial
>> > success!!  :-)
>> >
>> > Incidentally, I've just come across this article:
>> >
>> http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/education-news/get-coding-people-its-the-new-mandarin-and-its-not-just-children-who-can-learn-how-to-do-it-9117071.html
>> .
>> >  I think she has been let down by the PR machine, which, I suspect, is
>> > currently engaged combating the negative press surrounding flooding.
>> > Wasn't the gist of her message correct though?
>>
>> It is talked about in el Reg today:
>>
>>     http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/02/11/coding_in_schools_madness/
>>
>> I commented:
>>
>>     Would they appoint as head of the English Tourist Board someone who
>> had
>>     never been to the country or even seen a map ? Of course not.
>> However: the
>>     numpties who appointed her are so clueless that they could not
>> understand
>>     that having some understanding and insight is necessary.
>>
>> --
>> Alain Williams
>> Linux/GNU Consultant - Mail systems, Web sites, Networking, Programmer,
>> IT Lecturer.
>> +44 (0) 787 668 0256  http://www.phcomp.co.uk/
>> Parliament Hill Computers Ltd. Registration Information:
>> http://www.phcomp.co.uk/contact.php
>> #include <std_disclaimer.h>
>>
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