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From: tlh@arthur.cs.purdue.edu.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.edu
Subject: Re: Resources and education
Message-ID: <1385@arthur.cs.purdue.edu>
Date: Mon, 11-May-87 12:54:57 EDT
Article-I.D.: arthur.1385
Posted: Mon May 11 12:54:57 1987
Date-Received: Thu, 14-May-87 04:47:58 EDT
References: <1345@arthur.cs.purdue.edu> <852@killer.UUCP>
Sender: news@arthur.cs.purdue.edu
Organization: Department of Computer Science, Purdue University
Lines: 34
Summary: Response to Eric. Very short.

In article <852@killer.UUCP>, elg@killer.UUCP (Eric Green) writes:
> You are not going to teach a person how to think by denying him access to
> necessary resources. 
> 
[ large portion deleted ]
> If a student types in a program out of a book, that's obviously "cheating".
> However, when used properly, a book can help a student understand the
> reasonings and principles behind a solution. 

Exactly, that is what I have been saying for two weeks.

>                                              Is not that understanding, a
> step toward the road of actually being able to independently develop such
> solutions?  

Understanding, yes, but independent development of ideas is "painful" in the
sense that it requires creativity, something that (possibly) cannot be taught
but can be encouraged!  Asking students not to run to the reference books
to do their homework is like assigning calc problems when some of the answers
are in the back.  It is not "denying access to resources" as Eric suggests.

> Eric Green   elg%usl.CSNET 
> {cbosgd,ihnp4}!killer!elg    

Tom

P.S.  Perhaps further dicussions on this issue can be done via email now.

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Thomas L. Hausmann           |   
Graduate Assistant           |   tlh@mordred.cs.purdue.edu    ( ARPA )
Dept of Computer Science     |
Purdue University            |   ...!purdue!tlh   ( UUCP  )
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