March 12, 2012
“Instead of making kids learn math let’s make math kids will learn.” Papert, S. (1996). “An Exploration in the Space of Mathematics Educations.” International Journal of Computers for Mathematical Learning, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 95-123.
“Instead of making kids learn math let’s make math kids will learn.” Papert, S. (1996). “An Exploration in the Space of Mathematics Educations.” International Journal of Computers for Mathematical Learning, Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 95-123.
“But insofar as it can be seen as an aspect of education, it is about something far more specific than constructivism in the usual sense of the word. The principle of getting things done, of making things — and of making them work – is important enough, and different enough from any prevalent ideas about
“In the past most people left the world only slightly different from how it was when they found it. The rapid and accelerating change that marks our times means that every individual will see bigger changes every few years than previous generations saw in a lifetime. So this is the choice we must make for
“Looking at the complex texture of LOGO development (of which I have mentioned only a sample of what already exists and barely a foretaste of what might come) provides a new perspective on the problem of deciding not only whether LOGO succeeded or failed, but whether all endeavors in the field have succeeded or failed.
“This neat picture of successive stages has aroused such strong positive and negative reactions that the ensuing debates have obscured Piaget’s really important contribution: His description of different ways of knowing is far more important than quibbling about whether they neatly follow one another chronologically. And what is especially important is the description of the
“Nineteenth century researchers seeking to improve transportation stumble on the idea of a jet engine and propose to use it to augment the power of horses pulling stage coaches. Researchers of a rival school ridicule the idea of using technology to solve the problem and suggest that the better way is to train the coachmen.
“In the end, I think computers are inherently subversive, even though they are captured by the system and tamed. But the potential is still there for them to be used in other ways.” Papert, S. (1994) in David Hill’s article, Professor Papert and his Learning Machine. Education Week Teacher. January 1, 1994.
“The best learning is learning that is embraced and enjoyed. Children love to learn until they are taught otherwise. Indeed even then, while most people may hate being taught, I believe that everyone, especially every child, always likes learning.” Papert, S. (1996) The Connected Family: Bridging the Digital Generation Gap. Atlanta: Longstreet Press. page 51.
“What they teach in school, I like to call, “math,” as opposed to mathematics. Mathematics is one of the great jewels of achievement of the human mind. Math is a bunch of boring stuff that you make kids do with pencils and square papers and filling in numbers. There is no relation.” Jump to 19
Paul A. Soderdahl of Iowa City, Iowa contacted me to share two quotes he wrote down during a Seymour Papert speech delivered in Newton, Iowa April 29, 1999. Here is one of those quotes: “We need to produce people who know how to do what they are not taught.”