Talk:Pre-school education

To get xjig working for me was a bit of a pain. I wrote this helper script:

#! /bin/sh
if [ ! -d /tmp/$USER ] ; then mkdir /tmp/$USER ; fi
if [ ! -x /usr/bin/djpeg ] ; then echo "jpgjig: missing djpeg" ; exit 1 ; fi
if [ ! -x /usr/games/xjig ] ; then echo "jpgjig: missing xjig" ; exit 1 ; fi
if [ -z "$1" ] ; then echo "jpgjig: no filename given" ; exit 1 ; fi
if [ -z "$2" ] ; then echo "jpgjig: no width given" ; exit 1 ; fi
if [ -z "$3" ] ; then echo "jpgjig: no height given" ; exit 1 ; fi
djpeg -gif -outfile /tmp/$USER/jigsaw.gif $1
exec xjig -side 2 -w $2 -h $3 -file /tmp/$USER/jigsaw.gif

And even so, it does an imperfect job. I really want to take any image source and convert it (especially png).

But the user interface is no good for kids. Kids ought to be able to pick any image using a file browser and convert it. I fiddled with GNOME+Metacity+Nautilus for a few minutes and was unable to determine how ...

Ben Armstrong 23:12, 12 February 2007 (UTC)

Interesting! If this takes off it will please me that Wikiversity has something for kids receiving a computer under the w:One Laptop Per Child program. I have seen some learning games aimed at preschoolers but I do not remember what licensing they were under. As I have time and inclination I will attempt to find links for you to evaluate. Mirwin 20:56, 20 February 2007 (UTC)

Should preschoolers even be on the computer? If not, I don't know how we could be of any help to them.--Rayc 20:15, 5 March 2007 (UTC)

Is this a kinda moralistic "should" question, Rayc? Because I think that, if it is, then it is pretty redundant. More and more kids are growing up with computers as a reality - and I think this is all to the good. I think we obviously should be trying to help kids become as literate in computers as possible - meaning that they understand the computer's benefits as well as its dangers - and that they are able to use them towards creative and educational ends. Cormaggio ^beep 18:49, 6 March 2007 (UTC)

I thought I remembered a study that said computers shouldn't be used until kids are in school, though it might of been talking about TV. Looks like the experts think positively on this: [1]. I actually taught preschoolers for one semester, and I just remember that they used a computer for about a half hour at a time once through the week. As for a program suggestion, "Geography and maps" seems like a nice idea. Could we suggest taking a screen shot of google maps satellite photos? Those really help me as a visual learner.--Rayc 05:35, 15 March 2007 (UTC)

Possible carpentry solutions

How about shifting some computer use time from the present-day 99% entrenched sit-up use position to lyin' down? That way toddlers can get the benefits of additional study, reading, adventure on their down-time, so to speak, reserving uptime for running around instead of sitting at a desk (this has implications for the obesity problem).

The simplest way is to have supports on either side at a desired height-- 18-30"?-- above bed (or pillow) level. Two boards stretch across above eye-location, with a plexiglas panel-- could be 12 x 18"-- between them. On this panel can lie a book, a magazine, or a computer monitor looking down at you. The mousepad etc. is on your tummy.

"Slabtop"

Imagine a laptop computer lying flat looking down at you, but the keyboard hangs down toward your belly where your hands get to it easily. Extra boards and wiring can be built in to hold the keyboard in place, and the structure made as strong as necessary. For when you are reading books instead of viewing the monitor, there would be two little reflector lamps fastened down on either side of your head, beaming up 45° toward the paper area (none of the light reflects down into your eyes).

Viewing duo with toddler

Now imagine at the start, you are lying face up, your toddler right under your chin lying on top of you, the location of the screen adjusted so both have no trouble seeing it, and your hand is over the toddler's hand on the mouse, teaching the clickfunctions. (Wanna bet how soon, counting days fromn birth, the toddler is on to how to do it alone, clickmouse included, even a few keyboardkey sequences?)

Because no exercise uptime is usurped by non-exercise occupations, I don't see any particular problem with how many hours a day a toddler spends doing this, instead of just lying in the crib counting pretty dots on the ceiling which is what they let me do in the 40's.

Eco-Toys (Essential Preschool Part I)

As for what toddlers can do on their uptime, please check the above-cited descriptions of music and outdoor action toys made in any neighborhood from trimmed, sanded scrap lumber etc. (and an 8" kickball made out of you don't want to know what). Now imagine a child experienced with action toys lying at the computer viewing diagrams or videos (and descriptions which dadmom can read aloud with a pointfinger moving) of the selfsame action toys and their use (including that awful zooky music).Treedesigner 17:20, 7 March 2008 (UTC)

August 2007 Update

We've got a bunch of ideas floating around, which is fantastic. I've been in contact with a Touchscreen provider, so we might actually get a loaner while we develop our proposal. Exciting stuff.

I'm hoping to tie this all together -- we have a bunch of off wiki stuff happening, lots of calls and talks, and there should be some on-wiki editing going on to flesh this out. Wiki outreach at it's best. Historybuff 04:27, 9 August 2007 (UTC)

The off wiki stuff took far longer then I had hoped, but it looks like with the new year we are finally going forward. I've got a version of the latest debian installed and I hope to start poking with applications in the next couple of days. Historybuff 23:30, 4 January 2008 (UTC)

We now have all of the paperwork done to get a demo computer to test the waters. I haven't gotten much feedback from application people, and we'll need a couple devs to help out in some capacity at some point. Historybuff 04:09, 1 February 2008 (UTC)

Topic or Portal?

Should this be a Topic or a Portal? Donek (talk) - Go raibh mile maith agaibh 01:44, 1 July 2008 (UTC)

For now, this is probably best as a topic or moved to the mainspace, since there is already Portal:Pre-school Education. -- Jtneill - Talk - c 02:06, 1 July 2008 (UTC)