Computers in Education

I once thought computers were useless in elementary and middle school: costly page-turners at best, and inducements to passivity at worst; but, watching my own child, I've changed my mind. Some computer-based educational software may be mediocre, but the potential is huge. I think computers should be introduced as early as possible in elementary school.

Ties to Reality: During the elementary years, it is particularly important for kids to deal with "real and physical stuff". This reinforces the connection between concepts and reality. Consider, for example, an elementary-school child learning Pythagoras' theorem. In some traditional cultures, the child will see a diagram of a triangle in a book; he'll be told "the formula"; and, he will work out many examples. In contrast, a child in a Montessori school will be given a "toy" which he can manipulate in certain ways to "see" the theorem at work. A more creative teacher might find something in the real world to demonstrate it:  "if I wanted to tie one end of a rope to that point on the school's roof and the other end to this stake in the ground, how long should the rope be?"

Downside of real-life examples: While tying things to reality is essential, it can be overdone. Take the rope-length example. It's useful for students to get a tape and measure the base-distance. It's useful for them to figure out how to estimate the height of the building (e.g. measure the size of 10 rows of bricks, then count how many there are up to the roof-line and multiply). Problem is that all this takes time, so one cannot do too many such exercises. Also, it becomes boring. At some point, the kid has the real-world tie and is ready to work with diagrams alone. And later still, with concepts and formulae alone. The test is whether -- when asked about a concept or formula -- he can readily tie it back to reality. (As an aside, it is not enough to demonstrate the tie just once. Next year, one might revisit some of the key concepts with some more real-life tests.)

The role of text-books: Books are much more efficient than doing real life experiments. Once a child has understood some principle with a real-life example at school, a few simple diagrams in a book can help him see how one might do the same on the scale of a bridge, or a rocket, or even the solar system. Books also train a reader in a certain mode of active, solo learning and allow the reader to proceed at his own pace.

Computers as Books: If a tablet computer is used as nothing more than a book, it does no more harm than the book it replaces. However, even the simplest of electronic books comes with some add-ons -- like a dictionary that can be looked up immediately and the ability to gather up one's notes for use elsewhere. Adding just a little more -- like diagrams that move -- can be a big benefit in some areas. While explaining some idea in geometry, the ability to do so via a 10-second moving picture can illustrate the concept far better than a set of figure 1, figure 2, figure 3.

When it comes to problem-sets, a tablet can reproduce exactly what is in the text book, but it can do more. Math books usually have some solved examples and then some problem sets. A tablet could also have an in-between stage: some problems which the student can tackle, but reveal the "next step" if he is stuck. While doing so, a tablet can actually record the fact, allowing a teacher to see exactly where the student is getting stuck on his homework. The teacher can then better focus his efforts. Also, if many students are stuck in the same way, it becomes feedback about the lesson as a whole.

Computers as more than books: Computers can do so much more than books. There are many ways in which they can bring fundamental structural changes to the education industry. A computer can take over many tasks that teachers do today.  A math lecture from Khan Academy, followed by an automated test on their site can definitely do better than a sub-par teacher. One day it will do better than an average teacher. I used to be a Luddite, but I am reformed! It's time for automation to make education far more productive.