“In many schools today, the phrase “computer-aided instruction” means making the computer teach the child. One might say the computer is being used to program the child. In my vision, the child programs the computer and, in doing so, both acquires a sense of mastery over a piece of the most modern and powerful technology …
Seymour Papert makes several profound points in this very short clip from a 1991 conference keynote. The complete video, along with its transcript may be found here. “Another way of describing what school does to children is infantilizing them, treating them like children so to speak. Now, one’s got to be careful playing with that …
“Everyone knows computers help children learn. But I was coming to understand that most parents will do better at sharing and enhancing their children’s learning if they take a hard look at their own learning’. Many need to work at their learning habits; most, even those who are adept at using computers should learn new …