Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2000 09:10:18 -0500 Reply-To: CS92-L List <CS92-L@LISTSERV.BROWN.EDU> Sender: CS92-L List <CS92-L@LISTSERV.BROWN.EDU> From: Gary Ault <Gary_Ault@BROWN.EDU> Subject: Today's Class Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowedHello everyone. Today's class will follow the usual discussion format, but there are a few topics which I would like to focus on. Schank's theories are based on the assumption that our school system fails our kids. We will analyze these theories today in class. Our discussion today will be based around the following points brought up in the book.
1) Schank values failure as a vital element in children discovering that they need to expand their capabilities. It is something that is extremely critical in the learning process. Schank believes that traditional schools teach us to fear failure.
2) The Dogfish Example - What is the benefit of learning through experience vs. traditional means of educating?
3) The current educational system is focused on the goals of the educator first and the goals of the student second.
4) Issues of curiosity vs. curriculum
5) The role of feedback and testing - What are its positives and negatives?
6) What natural learning mechanisms do we have as humans? In what way can these abilities be fostered?
7) Computers as tools that would foster natural methods of learning
8) In what ways do we learn by doing? How can this be applied to our educational system?
9) Dustin, GuSS, and George - Do such programs have any real significance?
10) In what ways do we learn incidentally? Can this be applied to our educational system?
11) Significance of Road Trip
12) Learning by Reflection - What is the significance of this theory? How can this be used in our educational system?
It is my hope that this discussion will give us some ideas as to thinking of alternative methods of teaching. Schank offers some interesting issues and these by no means will limit today's discussion.