Hello freedom lovers,
I would suggest that you do not introduce computers at the class 1 level. In my opinion, there should not be any computer classes before class 7 or 8. Below that age, children should be
On the contrary, it will be extremely helpful (to say the least) to introduce programming, and games on the computer from atleast class 5. I have very good memories of when i played games like Lemonade and "programmed" in Logo, in the 1st and 2nd standards (due to my dad) and learning basic BASIC in the 5th (in a school environment). Complemented with a steady grounding in logic from class 5 until the introduction to Algorithms in 9th/10th it will make our peoples more _aware_ of the PC and its possibilities than being paper heroes.
I think it helped in shaping my perception of what a computer is, not a machine (/compiler) to fight, and not a glorified jukebox.
running around and playing more than anything else. They should, ideally, learn through play.
I agree with you on this, and suggest that the computer be used a part of the environment of the student _in_ the classroom, rather than in a lab of some sort. Of course this will be more practical only in the very early classes like 1st and 2nd (where computer usage will be less and therefore there will requirement of less number of machines in each class).
If I were microsoft, i would severly "attack" the lower classes, because children at this level is the future ( *hint* *hint*). Moreover, in the case of GNU/Linux, i think it would be MUCH easier to evagelise young children than very old ones, since they do not prefer and are not brainwashed yet.
There is a school in central Kerala that does precisely this. Children up to class 7 are not forced to sit in the class or assigned specific tasks. The job of the teacher is to ensure that the children learn things as a part of whatever they do. This is
Consider for eg, Celestia. It is a very good tool for visualizing the solar system (if the graphics were a little better in the sense understandable).
Geometric principles are introduced quite early in the indian child's lifetime, and software like KGeo (perhaps after simplification) could open up the world of visual mathematics to them, leading away from the purely symbolic means that is being used today. Remember a sound spatial sense/perception is very useful not only in making better civil/mechanical engineers, but also physicists, software architects and network engineers. However, today's education system does not handle this well.
I have taught various aspects of network theory to students of various levels, and i have found that tutorials via the spatial perception are much more useful than long expositions on network history and what not. I feel that a computer is probably the _only_ tool (other than (expensive) physical models), that can give such training to students.
My company (www.stendekrnd.com) is now investigating the creation of a "desktop" for young children, in which there is a simplistic GUI command environment to launch specific programs (such as celestia, etc).
hard on the teacher, but the children do learn, and not just bookish knowledge that helps only to write answers in examinations.
There will soon be a solution for this too from my company. watch this space for the next few months for more info on that :)
Rajeev J Sebastian Stendek R&D
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