[Its.an.education.project] Is this EDUCATION or Constructionism ? Are we watching the wood or the tree?

[info at olpc-peru.info]

If you are having the best of your days, plenty of peace and a warm 
sunny light comes from your window... don't read!

Education is the name of the game. Not constructionism.  Education is 
the goal.  Construccionism is ONE of the ways.
Not everything that a child will learn (needs to learn?) comes from 
"construcionism" methods.  Sometimes "prussian" methods are the correct 
ones.  But that is in the eyes of the observer and in the eyes 
(perception) of the pupil.  Sometimes I can look something and say it is 
a "Prussian" thing... but in the end it is "construcionism" without 
using the word.

Construccionism is a very "big" word for such a normal thing that 
happens all the time: human and mammals learning (most of the time 
insects, fish and reptiles are born without the need to learn nothing, 
the genetic that they carry is good enough for their survival to their 
environment.  Mammals (humans!) are a totally different song).

I was educated in a low middle class school in Peru in the primary 
school (6 to 10 years old).  We were hit with a ruler (in the hand) if 
we don't know the maths assigned for that day.  Later I go to high 
school (11 to 16 years old) and it was a private Jesuit school (the best 
of the best education, top, selective, very expensive (thanks Dad!), I 
was in the middle of the sons of the top peruvian society) and then it 
was almost the same: learn this or... if you don't learn for this day... 
then you go to the yard to run or you are punished with this or that 
method (sometimes physical sometimes a demerit).  My nephew is in the 
top peruvian school (if money and expensive teachers mean something!) 
and it is the same: you do this or you dont get that.  As far as I don't 
damage the kid (physically) and the teacher (trainer!) is just "acting" 
(and not driven by the kids) then I can accept many strong issues.  My 
point is: it is not "construccionism" or "prussian" what matters.  What 
matters is the quality (capabilities) of the person that teach (or the 
institution that teach) and the tools that they have to teach.

Example: here in Peru, until 10 years ago, military training was normal 
in ALL high schools (for kids from 13 to 16 years old).  We learn to 
march, turn right, turn left, carry a rifle (I know that maybe you are 
turning nuts in this moment... but ask... I am not saying nothing but 
the true).  Militar training was left because of goverment lack of money 
(and sport training was left in the schools by the same reason, there is 
no money.. then fire all specialized sport teachers and put the history 
teacher (or the less fat one) to teach basketball or soccer).  Well... 
militar training in high school can be seen as the best example of 
"prussian" method... right ? Nope. Sorry.  It was our best opportunity 
to learn ways to avoid that bored task, and at the same time it was the 
best time to get in the first rows IF we are going to march in front of 
a girl's high school that was near to our school.  So we were "learning" 
by doing (in a "wise" sense for the eyes of a 15 years old kid!).  
But... do you think that when I learn to turn to the right or to the 
left I am just  the VICTIM of a prussian method? No way.  Even in that 
case I am LEARNING to control my body, to do it with ACCURACY, to do it 
with precision and correctness, I am learning to use my body.  Do you 
think that when I assembly a gun I am the victim of some prussian 
method? Nope.  I am learning by doing! once and again! assembly, 
disassembly... This second point is: we, human beens (mammals) can not 
escape from "learning by doing", it is in our nature (like the mammals 
that we are).  Even in situations that look like "Prussian" methods we 
are "learning by doing".  It happens from the ancient times and it will 
be the same in the next millenniums.  So "construccionism" is not a 
method of teaching or learning.  Construccionism is just an EXPLANATION 
of human nature.

So... if you keep reading (what I strongly advise you don't do!)...  IF 
construccionism is a natural thing and it will happen all the time then 
we must focus on EDUCATION.  What education we want to give to these 
children?  Not what education they will give themselves...

The mission should be "... Education and Opportunities for the 
children..."... then add Open Source, working with stake holders, 
freedom and human rights... Construccionism is nothing new, is just an 
explanation of human nature, it is a description and not a method.

I didn't know the word "construccionism" with accuracy.  I knew about 
Papert, Piaget, Montessori and many other people that has investigate 
human and animal conduct and behaviour.  I have a deep knowledge about 
mammals and behaviour.  After training more than 1,000 dogs (aprox.) for 
search & rescue, police and war task, good behaviour, high dog sports 
competition, I can guarantee that ALL is the hands of the trainer 
(teacher) and it goes according with the tools (computers? books? 
previous experience?) that are available.  Good method 
(construccionism?) or bad method (prussian?) is not the key, the teacher 
is the key (oh! my God! know I will be tortured by the Holly 
Inquisition!! (smile)).  I prefer to put my dog (my kid) in the hands of 
a good trainer (teacher) than in the hands of this or that training 
(teaching) method.  What is a good trainer (teacher)???? Easy.  Read and 
don't forget: the one that keeps cool and thinking all the time, a real 
actor that is playing his or her role, one that can anticipate all the 
pupil (dog or kid) movements and next steps, once that can correct with 
the minimum effort and minimum damage (if there is some "horse" trainer 
in the audience then he knows very well what I am talking about... and 
if you have loose your temper trying to teach your dog just to sit... 
then you are starting to understand what I am talking about.  If you are 
thinking about that horse trainer that "talks" to the horse and doesnt 
"break" horse's back... ask him about what happened to him when he went 
to train horses to Argentina).

Well... I have put too much coffee on this Sugar... (I will keep my big 
mouth in silence in the next hours!)

Best regards,

Javier Rodriguez
Lima, Peru


Edward Cherlin wrote:

> Should we set up an official non-profit and raise money? I have
> proposed two possible names in the subject line.
>
> If so, the mission should include Constructionism, Open Source,
> working with all stakeholders, Freedom and Human Rights in general,
> and some other things. Suggestions welcome.
>
>