Hi Don, When I worked on challenging productions in TV we used to say that if it were easy, it would probably already have been done.
The problems you raise are very real and pertinent to the discussion. There is definitely a perception of math that gets in the way of a popular audience, but it is this public perception that is the challenge, not the math itself. Of course math will always be challenging, but that is part of its attraction when you get past the perception of 12X tables and high school trigonometry proofs ad infinitum (I betray my particular challenges to perceiving the beauty of mathematics). However there has been some success in adjusting this perception for individual students. In Ontario there is an organization called JUMP (http://jumpmath.org/about/philosophy ) founded by John Mighton (playwright/mathematician). JUMP has created a program to develop volunteer tutors that provide a resource to classroom teachers and is especially focussed on raising the self esteem of learners that are initially math challenged. Along with the inevitable importance of math as a technological tool, in time these efforts may help to change the popular perception. If Jsoftware was interested in filling a similar position for computer science, an online version of JUMP (which uses face to face tutoring) may be an option. Cheers, bob On -Apr26-2009, at -Apr26-20097:06 AM, Don Guinn wrote: > I want to apologize for last night's e-mail. I was not in a good mood. > > I was trying to say that there should not be a one-size-fits-all > solution. Some teachers want to be challenged, others only want > something to help them teach children. Some love math. Others may be > intimidated by numbers and math in any form. A complete turn-off. > > Children are the same way. > > On Sat, Apr 25, 2009 at 8:37 PM, Don Guinn <[email protected]> wrote: >> This is getting so far off the original topic. >> Teachers - Overworked! Underpaid! Unappreciated! They have to teach >> because >> they love it. >> Whether they want to learn something new or not they don't have >> time. Why >> should they learn S or J or anything else with all the great computer >> learning tools for children around which carefully avoid getting >> anyone to >> really think. Make it all fun! Otherwise nobody is interested. Then >> they >> have education courses they must take on their own time to keep their >> certificates. >> Some people would rather challenged. Others want to avoid new >> things. I >> don't think that S will satisfy the needs of all teachers and >> students. >> Neither would J or anything other computer tool will meet the needs >> of >> everyone. >> I really have no idea where I'm trying to go with this. >> Sorry about the bitterness! >> >> > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For information about J forums see http://www.jsoftware.com/forums.htm
