| Ulf Wiger 2007-03-08, 8:07 am |
| >>>>> "BK" == Barry Kelly <barry.j.kelly@gmail.com> writes:
BK> Ulf Wiger wrote:[color=darkred]
BK> 'Aimless experimentation' is called playing, and playing is a
BK> far more effective tutor than any theorizing, because playing
BK> causes the learner to build up a model of what they're playing
BK> with, and thus they become better at internalizing theory.[color=darkred]
BK> Well, playing is the aim in itself. There's no external aim. Can
BK> you then give an example of "aimless experimentation" which
BK> isn't play?
No, I don't think I can. I can imagine experimentation with
no discernible aim, possibly because the person's mind isn't
really into it, or because she is not trained or able to use
her faculties.
To small kids, it's not possible to make such a distinction.
The aim is _learning_. We adults look at what they do and
call it play, but to them it's as serious as can be.
Adults can play in order to give their mind a bit of rest
(which is better than watching TV, at least). Small kids
don't do this. What they do can be called play, but it
might as well be called work, or simply being. Children
can get very frustrated if they are told that they are
"merely playing".
I will confess that I've been much inspired by the
Montessori Method, having had my kids in both Montessori
pre-school and school, as well as 'normal' public kindergarten
and school. http://en.wikipedia.org/Maria_Montessori is a
good starting point. Reading about her life is reason enough
to follow the link.
BR,
Ulf W
--
Ulf Wiger, Senior Specialist,
/ / / Architecture & Design of Carrier-Class Software
/ / / Team Leader, Software Characteristics
/ / / Ericsson AB, IMS Gateways
|