Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wuarchive!emory!gatech!ukma!morgan From: morgan@ms.uky.edu (Wes Morgan) Newsgroups: comp.edu Subject: Re: Against educational fads (was: math credit) Message-ID: <16495@s.ms.uky.edu> Date: 6 Dec 90 14:09:06 GMT References: <15404@cs.utexas.edu> <15425@cs.utexas.edu> <15488@cs.utexas.edu> Reply-To: morgan@ms.uky.edu (Wes Morgan) Organization: The Puzzle Palace, UKentucky Lines: 51 It seems to me that we may be approaching this from the wrong perspective. I don't think that any of us want to emasculate the current high school curricula by replacing mathematics/history/foreign language/whatever with computer science. Why not start encouraging students to program with "alternative" projects? For instance, wouldn't an "interactive timeline" program have just as much validity as any History term paper? Wouldn't a computer simulation of a Chemistry experiment be acceptable in place of the experiment itself? Most schools with computer facilities dedicate those facilities to the computer science curriculum. How about just throwing the lab open? Almost all students take a "study hall" during their high school years. Those students could be exploring computers during that time. If their instructors in other classes could accept some digital work in place of regular assignments, the students might be more and more inclined to explore further....... Teachers should be flexible enough to accept computer-based work as well as that created by pen and paper. Why not come up with a policy something like: "With the permission of the instructor, students may submit computer-based work in fulfillment of no more than two (2) assignments during this course. The student must obtain the approval of the instructor for such work prior to submission." So the scenario runs something like this: Teacher: OK, class, your next assignment is to write a paper on the plays of Shakespeare. That's all for today; your papers are due next Friday. Student: Mr. Wizard, I'd like to do something a little different. How about a quiz program that would ask questions about Shakespeare, his life, and his plays? I could have it ask about memorable quotes and characters, too. Teacher: Well, I think that would be fine, but it's still due next Friday. What's the big deal? If the student does a good job, the teacher now has a CAI tool for use with future classes. The knowledge of Shakespeare required for such a program is virtually the same as that required for a term paper. I admit that one cannot 'compare and contrast' in a computer program, as can be done in a term paper. That's the reason for the "per- mission of instructor" clause in the policy. The limit on assignments for which computer work can be submitted also ensures that the student will have to demonstrate his analytical abilities during the course. Comments? -- | Wes Morgan, not speaking for | {any major site}!ukma!ukecc!morgan | | the University of Kentucky's | morgan@engr.uky.edu | | Engineering Computing Center | morgan%engr.uky.edu@UKCC.BITNET | Lint is the compiler's only means of dampening the programmer's ego. Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com