[math4] Learning in software

[Karlie Robinson]

Kathy Pusztavari wrote:
>  Hi, I'm just curious as to what is motivating people like Greg D. to 
> tackle
> this.  Do you guys have kids?  
I do have children - two boys age 4 and 5, but that's not what motivates 
me at least not entirely.
You see, I know my children will have the benefit of an education - yes 
public school, but also through activities we do as a family.

I'm drawn to the XO and OLPC because it pushes technology for the good 
of all.  Yes, there is benefit to some geek somewhere doing things just 
to see if it can be done, but personal victories are just that 
personal.  They do eventually make their way through the Open Source 
community, but the work done here at Math4 has direct impact on someone 
who needs tools to better their life.

I'm not a die hard, push them till the drop type mom either.  I simply 
understand that much of what a child learns is through play and through 
experiences.

It's about paying attention to what catches their attention and adding a 
little bit to it.  Simple things like "what-cha looking at?"  Or 
explaining 1/2 as we measure pancake mix.

My husband, Todd, and I see the XO as a tool to help a child gain 
mastery.  That one extra thing that takes a daunting task and makes 
learning enjoyable.

Here's an example...

Quintin is my 4 year old.  He is 42 inches tall.  The pool at the high 
school is 42 inches deep in the shallow end.  We didn't sign him up for 
swim lessons with Clayton, his brother, because we knew Q couldn't touch 
the bottom (not if he wanted his head above water that is).

Instead we also registered for Family swim on another night when we 
could all get in the pool and play.
As parents, we understand that everything is more enjoyable without a 
cling-on so we put Quin in a flotation suit (cross between a swim suit 
and a life jacket) for family swim in hopes that we wouldn't have claw 
marks on our skin when we got out of the pool.

Guess who's the swimmer in our family?  You're right, Quin!

It took him a few minutes to get comfortable but then he doggy paddled 
all over the pool.  Back, forth, shallow, deep.  You name it, he swam 
there.  At the second session he was doing tricks like spinning and back 
stroke.  Week three he was enrolled in swimming lessons.