[LINK] school ain't what it used to be

[Stephen Loosley]

At 01:22 PM 31/05/2004 +1000, Richard wrote:

> Daniel, as you said ..
>
>> All of this takes time from what the real job should be 
>> -- which is teaching in a classroom.  

Yes, and as always, teaching / utilizing / modelling the utilization
of most / all of the commonly available technologies, from video
to vehicles.

>> It strikes me that computers in school are not primarily for 
>> the benefit of the students or the teachers, but the managers
>> because it gives them something to measure.

No .. schools have computers because Australia wants them to.
Eg.. I well remember, ten years ago, adults requesting shopping
dockets to provide another Apple llE to the local primary school.

> You left out: - the vendors who funded the studies which proved
> that you have to have computers; 

Haha .. but, who cares if Microsoft says schools need computers?
The case has been proven many times. For example, and as Evan
Arthur posted in this thread last week:

> You probably already have seen this but if not it is interesting stuff:
>http://www.becta.org.uk/research/research.cfm?section=1id=230
>
> Evan Arthur 
> Acting Group Manager 
> Innovation and Research Systems Group 

Just by the way, Richard.. apologies for some delay in that reference
to the major NSW School Computer Co-ordinator mailing list. I was
subscribed, but the list was simply too busy ... so I un-subed, and so
had to hunt up the location from old emails. Here 'tis .. it's a splendid
NSW .edu asset  http://nswceg.org.au/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/nswcc

Cheers Richard
Stephen Loosley
Melburbs, Australia