[Edu-sig] Re: Propositions re Math Education etc.

[Kirby Urner]

 > = Kirby
     (for original post, to which this is a reply, see:
     
   = Wired News
     http://www.deja.com/getdoc.xp?AN=654047866&fmt=text

 >** SCHOOLS NEED TO DEFINE THEMSELVES IN CYBERSPACE

 >We desperately need public and private schools to develop a 
 >more on-line presence so that home use of computers is better 
 >integrated with homework of the more traditional sort.  Many 
 >schools are working in this direction, with the most successful 
 >models including the students as web masters and content 
 >providers. 

 And some are, certainly.  See:
 http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,21359,00.html

      The district -- which has eight schools covering an area
      the size of Ohio but only about 150 students -- has its
      own server, and a Web site connecting all the schools in
      the district. Kids can access schedules, homework
      assignments, and save their own files in a digital locker for
      retrieval from any Internet browser. 

      "I think it helps out a lot. We have Internet access, so you
      can research all kinds of things -- math projects and
      science and all kinds of stuff," said Robert Stumpf, who
      starts his freshman year in Copper River on Monday. "We
      have our own personal folders on the servers so we can
      access them from everywhere instead of carrying around
      floppy disks and losing them." 

 >The web naturally serves as a gateway to other media, such as 
 >audio and video.  Classroom assignments tend to focus on creating 
 >sharable files, such at web pages, slide shows, computer programs 
 >-- as well as the more traditional hands-on projects (dioramas, 
 >models, science exhibits -- the booth-oriented presentation, 
 >good prep for the trade fairs and professional symposia, with 
 >poster sessions, many students will eventually face).
 >
 >** MATH IS NOT STATIC, TECHNOLOGY MATTERS
 >

   Faulkner will be rolling out a 30-unit lab of the
   stand-alone computers when school starts in two
   weeks. The units are stripped-down terminals that
   cost only about US$500 each, and can boot from one
   server in the district office. 

   A new interface has made thin clients more user
   friendly than previous configurations, Faulkner said.
   Eventually, he hopes to put thin clients all over the
   district so all of the schools can be connected. 

   "This thin client product will allow us to populate
    classrooms with several of these, and they're
    full-powered but they're very inexpensive," Faulkner
    said. 

   "They give the teachers maximum flexibilty -- it frees
    them up to go about the business of teaching instead
    of managing technology. At the same time it gives
    them maximum control. It's the best of both worlds,"
    Faulkner said. 
 >
 >** NEW PILOT SCHOOLS WITH UNCLE SAM AT THE WHEEL
 >
 >Specifically, some pilot schools will be experimenting with 
 >math classes featuring screens and keyboards at every desk, a 
 >big projector screen up front.  The screens will be recessed, 
 >so as not to obscure the student's view of the front.  Some 
 >documentary films will be showing up on those screens -- pulled 
 >from the DVD jukeboxes in the back room.
 >
 >Kirby