4 ms·

> to completely block him out outside of school hours they cannot google stuff or check wikipedia when they are at home? no internet access at all?

munk-a 5y ago
You'd be surprised how irrelevant wikipedia and googling are to elementary and middle school educations. Due to a lack of assumptions about who has devices at home all the information you'll need for course work is included in the course materials (whether that be a text book or some other form of reference). I think online educators have a lot to offer young students, but they help accelerate the process - they don't replace it.
- nybble41 5y ago
  > You'd be surprised how irrelevant wikipedia and googling are to elementary and middle school educations. You say that as if the official elementary- and middle-school curriculum are the only things worth looking up. There is much one can profitably learn from the resources which are freely available online beyond the least-common-denominator taught by schools.
  - munk-a 5y ago
    I did purposefully exclude High School from that list since that's a good period to start independent research. If you have an issue with the curriculum being taught that's an issue you should take up with your school board - not try and monkey patch by using online learning as a solution. Elementary and middle school expectations are usually focused on learning the way to learn since that's where the brain is at.
    - nybble41 5y ago
      I for one am extremely glad that you in particular, and others of a similar mindset, had nothing at all to do with my pre-high-school education. It is truly unfortunate that not everyone else can say the same. The right time to start "independent research" is approximately from birth. We should be overjoyed that any child is curious and eager to learn. Standing in their way by limiting access to educational resources based on arbitrary ideas of "age-appropriate materials" is absolutely a crime.
stjohnswarts 5y ago
That's not what they're doing when they have 24/7 unlimited internet, it certainly ain't wikipedia or looking up animal/computer facts.

munk-a 5y ago

You'd be surprised how irrelevant wikipedia and googling are to elementary and middle school educations. Due to a lack of assumptions about who has devices at home all the information you'll need for course work is included in the course materials (whether that be a text book or some other form of reference). I think online educators have a lot to offer young students, but they help accelerate the process - they don't replace it.

nybble41 5y ago
> You'd be surprised how irrelevant wikipedia and googling are to elementary and middle school educations. You say that as if the official elementary- and middle-school curriculum are the only things worth looking up. There is much one can profitably learn from the resources which are freely available online beyond the least-common-denominator taught by schools.
- munk-a 5y ago
  I did purposefully exclude High School from that list since that's a good period to start independent research. If you have an issue with the curriculum being taught that's an issue you should take up with your school board - not try and monkey patch by using online learning as a solution. Elementary and middle school expectations are usually focused on learning the way to learn since that's where the brain is at.
  - nybble41 5y ago
    I for one am extremely glad that you in particular, and others of a similar mindset, had nothing at all to do with my pre-high-school education. It is truly unfortunate that not everyone else can say the same. The right time to start "independent research" is approximately from birth. We should be overjoyed that any child is curious and eager to learn. Standing in their way by limiting access to educational resources based on arbitrary ideas of "age-appropriate materials" is absolutely a crime.

stjohnswarts 5y ago

That's not what they're doing when they have 24/7 unlimited internet, it certainly ain't wikipedia or looking up animal/computer facts.