Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #81382 in Books
• Published on: 1994-04-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 256 pages

From Kirkus Reviews
The genially unorthodox author of Mindstorms (1983) again makes a stimulating case for computers as a primary route to knowledge, revising and expanding earlier observations in view of disappointing school policies of the past dozen years. Rejecting most schools as ``sluggish and timid'' in assuring access to learning, Papert (Mathematics and Education/MIT) divides the conservative education world into ``Schoolers'' (who acknowledge underlying problems but focus on short-term urgent ones) and ``Yearners'' (who create their own small-scale alternatives) as he considers why technology hasn't revolutionized school learning. Championing computers for offering forms of learning that can be ``quick, immensely compelling, and rewarding,'' Papert contends that Logo (the computer language he conceived) is a superior mode of learning for young children, closer to their informal learning style than traditional classroom approaches and invaluable as a medium for most areas of study. But schools have ignored computers' broad capacities, he finds, isolating these tools from the learning process instead of integrating them into all areas of instruction. Papert offers a steady supply of examples--from his own extensive experience as well as from assorted classrooms--providing evidence of computers as powerful learning allies. He also understands the nature of learning--the importance of the personal element in any classroom exchange; the need to adapt a learning-environment design to its social and cultural milieu; the ``internal censors'' that students bring to required work; and the way that ordered ideas can emerge from an imprecise, undirected process. Even those who resist Papert's belief that the foundation of modern schooling is faulty will agree with his central theme that the ability to learn new skills is the most critical skill of all- -and that computers have a unique, accelerating role to play in developing that ability. -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

About the Author
Seymour Papert holds the Lego Chair for Learning Research at MIT. He is the author of Mindstorms: Children, Computers, and Powerful Ideas.

Customer Reviews

Good Book
This is a good book to read. This was recommended by my academic advisor and Amazon had it for an excellent price. Basically, trying not to tell everything in the book, or spoil the story, but you should not let children run or operate machines or heavy equipment. I recommend this book. I think I will read some more.

For those that dream of changes to the school systems
Seymour Papert, a mathematician, educator, and scientist, begins "The Children's Machine" with the question, "How does the relationship between children and computers affect learning?

He writes passionately about his experiences with schools, children, learning, and their intersections. Drawing from both theoretical and empirical perspectives, Papert lays out the compelling reasons for rethinking education in this Information Age. His words echo those of Piaget and many others that are completely convinced that there is indeed hope for change. Continuing in the tradition of his previous book "Mindstorms: Children, Computers, and Powerful Ideas" and thoroughly describing the further innovative potential of his own Logo program, Papert does not fail to educate, inspire, and provoke his readers. He ends the book with a chapter on what can be done now, and, almost 15 years since its release, his ideas are still relevant.

The way a computer "should" be used in education
Papert makes some very interesting points in this book about how computers are currently used in schools and how they should be used in schools. Papert explains traditional schools use computers as a substitute for the teacher. Meaning, programs are written to simulate what a teacher would do and the program is often looking for a very specific right or wrong answer. Papert suggests a better use of the computer is to allow the child or student to control what the computer does. This is possible by a programming language called Logo which was developed by Papert while working at MIT. The programming language uses a turtle, who receives instructions from the student in the form of commands, as the basis for learning. The student then has the ability to make the turtle behave in any creative way he or she wishes. One of the key benefits is rather than looking for a specific answer to a question, this use of the computer allows the student to explore and be creative even learning from their mistakes. I've used Logo and can say this is an excellent way for 'anyone' to learn.