GIGO

Learning with Computers

I had a rather startling demonstration as to the value of educational software the other day when driving Peter to the airport. Our five-year-old announced that his father wasn't travelling overseas, but "over the air", because he was about to take off in a plane, rather than venturing forth in a boat.

We countered with the fact that flying across the Pacific Ocean means Peter would indeed be travelling over seas. Silence from the back seat. Then came "Are there mid-ocean ridges in the Pacific? What about subduction zones?"

I struggled a bit, trying to recall the ridge patterns on the huge world map we used to have, but also marvelling at the question. I knew Perry had been playing a lot with the latest Magic Schoolbus software we'd bought -- no points for guessing it was Inside the Earth -- but I had assumed that most of it was spent on the various games it included. It seems he was doing more than learning how to fly a bat through a cave full of obstacles.

This was further strengthened a few days later when we went to look at the Art in the Park sculpture event, where huge blocks of Oamaru whitestone were being whittled away by sculptors from around the world. Perry and his seven-year-old brother David swooped on the discarded shards, determined to take score some limestone for their ever-growing rock collection.

One sculptor was a little nonplussed to be accosted by a small child asking to be shown the ancient creatures hidden inside the rock. Perry was a little disappointed that he couldn't actually see them, but figured that they had got "too squashed". He and David came home with their chunks of limestone and then promptly headed for the vinegar to see if it would really fizz, like on the Magic Schoolbus. I was delighted that this early expedition into experimentation worked wonderfully, and they were duly impressed at the foam produced.

Sure, computers are no substitute for keen teachers and a stimulating environment, but it's nice to see that they can be demonstrably more than a games platform or a default baby-sitter.

Vicki Hyde is the editor of New Zealand Science Monthly.
Vicki Hyde is the editor of New Zealand Science Monthly.