In preparation for our discussion of Scheffler, please consider the following questions.

1. Scheffler notes a couple of times that the Japanese schools have not yet (as of the writing of this piece) incorporated computers into the general schooling experience, leaving students to become familiar with them through "informal means." As computers have become such a part of our society, is it even a possibility to keep computers away? If we attempt to do so, are we then doomed to bringing up a generation of kids who aren't prepared to interact with computers in the real world? And is this really a bad thing?

2. Scheffler writes "Learning takes place not just by computing solutions to problems, nor even just by exchanging words, but by emulation, observation, identification, wonder, supposition, dream, imitation, doubt, action, conflict, ambition, participation, and regret."

What are some of the ways that we can apply the above observation about learning to the way computers are used in the classroom and to the way that children are taught using computers?

3. In discussing the computers in the classroom, Scheffler describes four different roles ranging from teaching actual computer skills to using the computer as a means of problem solving outside the realm of subjects actually taught in the class. Towards which end of the spectrum do you think that the use of computers in the classroom should fall, or should we even try to confine it to these uses at all?

See you tomorrow,

jcn