<div>Good point Paul, students have some odd conceptions about how computers work. I recall using a particular series of operations on a calculator This would return an odd number that illustrated the cumulative error from all the iterations going on .. simple problems that students can figure out in their head.
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<div>Regards Roland<br><br> </div>
<div><span class="gmail_quote">On 28/04/06, <b class="gmail_sendername">Dr Paul Chandler</b> <<a href="mailto:paul.chandler@yvg.vic.edu.au">paul.chandler@yvg.vic.edu.au</a>> wrote:</span>
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<p><font face="Arial" size="2">Folks,</font> </p>
<p><font face="Arial" size="2">Over the last couple of years, I've been turning an idea around in my mind; it's basically seeking to better understand "how students understand computing concepts". For those who might know of "children's science" in the area of science teaching, the idea is to apply the same sorts of ideas to the understanding of computing concepts (and yes, I am deliberately using 'computing' rather than IT or ICT). Another way to put it would be to 'probe the naïve understandings of computing'.
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<p><font face="Arial" size="2">I've put together some thoughts in a couple of seminars - a couple of years ago at a VITTA conference, and more recently at a gathering at Monash Uni. I'm happy to share these around to anyone interested.
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<p><font face="Arial" size="2">Moreover, I'm trying to drum up a bit of interest in people who might be interested in similar sorts of things. Without flooding the list with a whole lot of material which may not be of interest to everyone, it's not easy to give much more of an overview of what I am thinking of. BUT if I have sparked your interest at all, please reply, and I'll be in touch.
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<p><font face="Arial" size="2">Thanks!</font> </p><br>
<p><font face="Courier New" size="2">--- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=</font> <br><font face="Courier New" size="2">Dr. Paul Chandler</font> <br><font face="Courier New" size="2">Professional Development Coordinator
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</pre></div></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Roland Gesthuizen - ICT Coordinator - Westall Secondary College<br><a href="http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au">http://www.westallsc.vic.edu.au</a><br><br>"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever has." --Margaret Mead