[Edu-sig] Review of Some Math-Through-Programming Themes

[Bruce Cohen]

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Kirby-
    Thanks for the posting.  I particularly like this paragraph:

> A first object we might construct is the Fraction object.
> I emphasize "object" because, unlike with the Logo or BASIC
> languages of the 1980s, we're now in a position to introduce
> students to a later programming paradigm, that of objects.
> This doesn't have to be considered "advanced" -- it's just
> a paradigm.  Newcomers to programming might start with
> classes and objects just as new users of telephones might
> start with a wireless unit.

All too often, we (in the math education world) hear people say students 
must master paper and pencil skills before they may be allowed to touch 
calculators and computers.  We don't need to have kids replicate the 
experience of their grandparents.   On the other hand, maybe we should 
have 6 year olds learn to use a dial phone before we let them use a 
touchtone phone ... :-)

-Bruce

         Bruce Cohen                        |  e-mail: bic@cgl.ucsf.edu
         Lowell High School             |  http://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/home/bic

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Kirby-

   Thanks for the posting.  I particularly like this paragraph:


<excerpt>A first object we might construct is the Fraction object.

I emphasize "object" because, unlike with the Logo or BASIC 

languages of the 1980s, we're now in a position to introduce

students to a later programming paradigm, that of objects.

This doesn't have to be considered "advanced" -- it's just

a paradigm.  Newcomers to programming might start with 

classes and objects just as new users of telephones might 

start with a wireless unit.

</excerpt>

All too often, we (in the math education world) hear people say
students must master paper and pencil skills before they may be
allowed to touch calculators and computers.  We don't need to have
kids replicate the experience of their grandparents.   On the other
hand, maybe we should have 6 year olds learn to use a dial phone
before we let them use a touchtone phone ... :-)


-Bruce


        Bruce Cohen                        |  e-mail: bic@cgl.ucsf.edu

        Lowell High School             | 
http://www.cgl.ucsf.edu/home/bic


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