On Sat, Mar 19, 2011 at 1:02 AM, Frederick Grose fgr...@gmail.com wrote:
On Fri, Mar 18, 2011 at 11:23 PM, Michael FIG mich...@fig.org wrote:
Hi all,
This is tangentially related to the broad ideas of computer and
mathematics literacy that Alan has, and so I would like to ask the list
for your opinions and advice. (If you have things to share that are not
related to computing, please reply to me privately.)
My wife, Susana, works at an agency that helps immigrant families from
all over the world settle in Canada. They are currently looking for
software or online resources to help improve literacy for youth (and
possibly younger children), sometimes teaching EAL (English as an
Additional Language) from square one.
Susana and I saw some connection with VPRI, as at least some of the
children have little past exposure to computers, and that literacy is
not about a specific language, but about solidifying new knowledge with
experimentation and creative expression. I've admired Kim's handbook
that guides math learners through Squeak-based experiments. Is there an
approach embracing this model (computer as an empty world for performing
experiments, not as a multiple-choice quiz automator) with exercises
involving language?
To give some political context, the conventional advice currently on the
table is to license Rosetta Stone for children. Do you see better
alternatives? Does this belong in the scope of FONC?
FWIW, I am working with a Canadian foundation on some 'learn to read'
activities. These would work in any language, but we are focusing on
English and Spanish to begin with. This is very different from Rosetta
Stone... at a basic level of phonics and decoding, but may be of some
use. I'll keep you in the loop.
-walter
Thanks,
--
Michael FIG mich...@fig.org //\
http://michael.fig.org/ \//
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Forwarding this to 'It's an Education Project', Sugar Labs general mailing
list, as this topic naturally arises among this community.
http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Welcome_to_the_Sugar_Labs_wiki
There are also some interesting links in the OLPC, One Laptop per Child,
wiki, such as,
http://wiki.laptop.org/go/Talk:Language_Learning
--Fred
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--
Walter Bender
Sugar Labs
http://www.sugarlabs.org
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