Laura Makolandra – Reflection

1. Papert asks the following question following his parable of the time traveler from 100 years
ago who lands in an operating room, as well as a classroom, and sees two very different levels of
advancement:

 Why, through a period when so much human activity has been revolutionized, have we
not seen comparable changes in the way we help our children learn?

How would you answer this question?

The field of American education has attempted to be changed or altered many times since
its official establishment. Our society continues to update education but not make the
major changes it needs to student learning. Research has proven how students learn best,
but our obsession with testing knowledge for outcomes has derailed changes to the field of
education. Testing students and lecturing has not allowed for the field of education to be
revolutionized like the medical field has. Medicine is constantly changing and accepting
change to create better outcomes for patients and increase the life span of human beings.
Education does not change and adapt because in order to alter this field, it would have to
be reformed from the ground up.

2. Papert seems to believe that video games are particularly educational.  What have been your
personal experiences with video games?  In what ways are your feelings about the value of video
games the same or different from Papert’s?

Truthfully, I have very little experience with video games. Growing up, my family did not
allow gaming consoles in the home. My experience is limited to going over to a friend’s
house and playing Just Dance on their Wii. However, I had many friends growing up who
had video games and most of their time spend after school involved getting on a playing
with others over the internet. I thought Papert’s view on video games as educational and an
entryway into the world of computers was interesting. I have always viewed video games as
the typical Xbox/Call of Duty as destructive and violent. Papert’s explanation made me
realize how many “video games” I did play growing up. My parents allowed me to have a
Webkinz, which was an online pet that I took care of and would go play online arcade
games with to win coins to use to feed the pet. I was introduced to the world of computers
and video games at a young age and did not fully realize the impact that had on my life.
Technology has been a major impact on myself and using a computer comes naturally to
me. This cannot be true for people who grew up 25 years before myself, like my parents.

3. Papert asks the following question related to instruction:

 In trying to teach children what adults want them to know, does School utilize the way
human beings naturally learn in nonschool settings?
How would you answer this question?

I do not believe that school is utilizing to the fullest extent the way individuals learn
naturally. There is a strong press too get students to learn information quickly and retain it
for a test. Children are learning content adults have picked out for them to learn in order
to be successful. However, they are missing the idea that in order to learn something
naturally, an individual must be engaged and interested in the subject. Schools are lacking
in this area. Teachers need to find the interest of their students and design lessons
surrounding their interests and teach using those interests. If not, the robotic way of
lecturing then testing will never allow for the full development of individuals in our society.
It might feel natural to students to do this, but it is not the best way for them to learn and
develop.

4.  After Papert’s story about sleeping giraffes, he mentions the possibility of the creation of a
Knowledge Machine.  The book was published in 1993.  Do you think the Internet is the
Knowledge Machine Papert envisioned in the early 1990s?  If so, does it work the way Papert
envisioned?

I do believe the envision of the Knowledge Machine described by Papert is what we

currently know as the internet. But, Papert stated the Knowledge Machine “barely
scratches the surface of how new media will change children’s relationships with
knowledge” (p. 8). The internet we know today is a giant resource to use to education and
expand the knowledge of children and adults today. I think Papert was on the right track,
but the internet does so much more than just scratch the surface of knowledge.

5. After envisioning the introduction of a Knowledge Machine into the classroom, Papert asks
the following question:  

 How would the introduction of Knowledge Machines into the School environment
compromise the primacy with which we view reading and writing-that is, children’s
fluency in using alphabetic language?

Assuming the Internet, as it exists today, is the Knowledge Machine Papert envisioned, how
would you respond to this question?
I do not believe that the Knowledge Machine aka the internet has compromised children’s
fluency of using the alphabet. Yes, I will acknowledge that the internet might play a role in
decreasing the timeliness of student’s ability to read. But, the internet has only built more
pathways and access for students to learn how to read and write. There are many internet
programs used today to build knowledge and school readiness for children. For example,
ABC mouse is an internet platform/app that children ages three and up use to learn the
alphabet, reading, and writing skills. The importance for children to attend pre-school or a
head-start program is key in later future success. However, if that is not available to
children, parents can use programs like ABC mouse on the internet to teach their children
these school readiness skills. The internet does not compromise children learning, but
instead enables it for everyone.