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Re: Patience please [repost in text]
Posted:
Nov 8, 1993 9:10 AM
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[I'm reposting this for Keith - Annie]
November 7, 1993
I know it's been a while since I've posted anything. As always it's
a combination of factors - my wife was out of town, so it was just
my son, Brendan (16 months) and me - we've has some illness, the
usual stuff - and other home front events.
But more importantly and to the point, I have been working hard
to figure out the logistics of getting the students on-line. It's been
a bear.
A very brief update:
You may have noticed some introductions here and there - more
should follow as students get them typed. A few students have
begun corresponding with Steve Weimar around investigations
using Sketchpad - interesting stuff!! Students are presently typing
up first drafts of some very difficult problems which Steve posted
a while back. I'm still trying to get some computers for my
classroom and better access to the computer lab in our school.
We have restructured our class in an effort to integrate sketchpad
and telecommunications - new groups of 3-4 students - with
individuals responsible for an aspect of the work that needs to be
done ... that being typing materials for the group, mastering the
sketchpad menus and tools, using sketchpad to investigate and
explore, and learning and performing telecommunication skills.
The idea is to take the second term and build capacity within each
group and within the classroom. Then over time, we could help
each other learn to perform every task. It's not as linear as it
sounds - there are many students who are using sketchpad, typing,
and learning telecommunication skills all at once.
Concerns and Questions:
It seems one key leverage point is getting the material "into the
computer". I do not want to use class time to have students typing
up problems or journal entries - and yet if I don't, then days and
weeks go by before information gets posted.
Two examples: 1. Each student had written an introduction two
weeks ago. You notice how many are posted. 2. Each small group
of students had written a first draft to one of Steve's problems -
one week ago - none posted yet.
We need more immediate access to computers - I believe
computers in the classroom is the only way to pull this off! At this
point, 3 MacIntosh computers capable of running Sketchpad and a
word processing program would go a long way towards getting my
students and I to the next plateau. Any suggestions?? I posted a
draft of a funding proposal - no responses yet! I'm talking to
everyone I know who might be able to help.
My students and I realized that Christmas is still some time off, so
we have alternative plans to address our present dilemmas. Over
the next few weeks, you will notice by the number of postings,
whether we are successful.
Please be patience with us - we are doing our best.
Keith
Annie Fetter | The Geometry Forum | Voice: 215 328-8225
Project Coordinator | Swarthmore College | 800 756-7823
annie@forum.swarthmore.edu | Swarthmore PA 19081 | Fax: 215 328-7824
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