Mindstorms: Children, Computers, And Powerful Ideas 2nd Edition

by Seymour A. Papert (Author)

24 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0465046744

ISBN-10: 0465046746

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Mindstorms has two central themes: that children can learn to use computers in a masterful way and that learning to use computers can change the way they learn everything else. Even outside the classroom, Papert had a vision that the computer could be used just as casually and as personally for a diversity of purposes throughout a person's entire life. Seymour Papert makes the point that in classrooms saturated with technology there is actually more socialization and that the technology often contributes to greater interaction among students and among students and instructors.

Mindstorms: Children, Computers, And Powerful Ideas

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Seymour Papert is Lego Professor of Mathematics and Education at MIT, where he is also co-founder of the artificial intelligence and media laboratories.

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Product details

Paperback: 252 pages
Publisher: Basic Books; 2 edition (August 4, 1993)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0465046746
ISBN-13: 978-0465046744
Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.6 x 8 inches
Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,619 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #58 in Books > Science & Math > Mathematics > History
- #510 in Books > Textbooks > Science & Mathematics > Mathematics
- #726 in Books > Textbooks > Computer Science

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Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars

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Top Customer Reviews

My foundation for teaching programming to kids

BySteve Con December 19, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I use this as the basis of a Minecraft + (i)Python class I teach, and as I tell everyone who asks, I'm really more or less working straight out of this book. It's the intellectual foundation - and stands in stark contrast to instructional material that just plows through teaching variables, loops, decision logic, procedures, and so on, i.e. the vast majority of programming literature.

It was wonderful to see some of the kids "get" the math side of programming when we walked through the commonality between square and triangle functions - creating a general purpose polygon function, and then refactoring square and triangle to use it. There's so much they're being taught that they don't necessarily even realize, because it's all being delivered as something that's engaging and "fun".

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EIGHT STARS -- A Breakthrough in Natural Learning

ByDonald MitchellHALL OF FAMEon May 19, 2000

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is the best book I have ever read on how to assist people to learn for themselves. Papert began his work by collaborating with Jean Piaget, and then applied those perspectives in a self-programming language designed to help children learn math and physics.
Papert explains Piaget's work and provides case studies of how the programming language, LOGO, can help. He provides a wonderful contrasting explanation of the weaknesses of how math and physics are usually taught in schools.
I learned quite a few things from this that I did not know before. People are very good at developing theories about why things work the way they do. I knew that these theories are almost always wrong. What I did not realize is that if you give the person a way to test their theory, the person will keep devising new theories until they hit on one that works. What is usually missing in education is the means to allow that testing to occur.
An especially imaginative part of this book were the discussions of how to create theory testing solutions that are much simpler and easier to apply than any school problem you ever saw in these subjects. Papert works from a very fundamental and deep understanding of math and physics to reach the heart of the most useful thought processes for applying these subjects. It is thrilling to read about what you have known for many years, and to suddenly see it in a totally different and improved perspective.
Another benefit I got from this book were plenty of ideas for how to help my teenage daughter with her math. She is very verbal, and Papert points out that math seldom teaches a vocabulary for talking about math. As a result, she memorizes a lot and gets dissociated from the subject. I got a lot of ideas for how to encourage her to personalize the concepts and problems by moving her own body. From that I realized that I often solve the same kinds of problems by recalling physical situations I have been in. But I have failed to help her make that connection because I was unaware of it on a conscious level.
If you want to improve as a learner, help others learn better and faster, or simply want to understand more about different ways to think, this is a great book. I hope that all teachers get a chance to read and apply it.
Enjoy learning more!

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A must read!

Bymboeckingon July 19, 2011

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Papert was a pioneer in the field of instructional technology. Papert highlights two main constructs - one that children can learn to use technology in meaningful ways; and two, the ability to use technology as a part of the learning process effects the way future learning will take place.
Papert took aspects from the Piagetian theoretical framework to support his learning philosophy. Specifically, Papert believed that children are the builders of their own intellectual structures. In other words, children use the tools around them to learn and build their intellect. Papert's theoretical framework differed slightly from Piaget's in that he highlighted the differences in the "tools" with which children use by noting the importance of the culture surrounding those tools and the learning environment it provides. Instead of attributing slower development to complexity, as Piaget would have done, Papert believes that the culture from which the learner operates in should also be considered as a factor of development.
Papert regarded teaching and learning in traditional classrooms of his time as inefficient, forced and sometimes even painful, and believed that instructional technology would transform classrooms as well as informal learning environments to more intuitive and nurturing environments. Papert certainly did not assert that instructional technology was a "magic wand" so to speak, but rather a tool that may enable a different path to success, or even an initial one! With a background in mathematics, Papert was well-aware of what he described as "mathaphobia," or the inclination of students to dislike math or believe they could not succeed in math. In an effort to combat learning obstacles like "mathaphobia," Papert created a scheme of optimal learning which would include the following components: tools for learning are integrated into the learner's "natural landscape." In other words, the learner should be able to experiment with the learning tools and relate to them in an intuitive manner. Additionally, the learning tools should be modeled by knowledgeable others, so the learner can relate to them in collaborative experiences. Papert also considered "body knowledge" to be an essential part of the learning process; learners should be able to use their kinetic intelligences on a regular basis during the learning process. The final component of optimal learning, according to Papert, is the ability to relate the new information to existing knowledge in a meaningful way.
Papert used "computer-controlled cybernetic animals" or robots to explore the technology integrated learning process and optimal learning environments. Using robots and the LOGO computer language, Papert created learning tools and experiences for children and found great success when providing a free contact between the learners and their tools.
Papert openly admits that he is a bit of a utopian thinker, and he writes as such, but his theories do resonate with instructional technologists, and educators overall. Educators, including myself, have seen that technology integrated learning environments can provide rich learning opportunities and Papert's Mindstorms is a great look at where technology integration started and also provides a multifaceted lens from which to critically examine where we are going in the future. I highly recommend!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

Five Stars

Seymour!
-L

Published 5 months ago by A Customer

Five Stars

I am loving the perspective on education here.

Published 7 months ago by T. Alexander

ok book

The book arrived in perfect condition and survived trough a rough term without much damage to it/its pages.Read more

Published 1 year ago by Lyuba

Four Stars

Great introduction to constructionist pedagogy.

Published on March 4, 2015 by GLENN D. MUDD

This book reveals a lot about how computers have NOT ...

This book reveals a lot about how computers have NOT been used appropriately in schools. I was part of the generation that first had computers in our classrooms, and we played...Read more

Published on January 30, 2015 by Camera Dad

Great book about using computers to help bring mathematics to ...

Great book about using computers to help bring mathematics to life for students. Papert has great theory and ideas about why our society as a whole is struggling with mathematic...Read more

Published on November 26, 2014 by A. D. Ramos

Great ideas

This book provides a vision of an awesome way to use computer tools to stimulate kids imagination and logic skills. What a contrast to the mind-numbing video games.Read more

Published on August 24, 2014 by Thomas D. Bostick

OLD

To be honest I am a bit disappointed. There are some interesting ideas in it, but not as powerful as it claims.

Published on March 21, 2014 by L. C. JI

Papert's ideas about learning - still interesting in 2013

The book describes Papert’s vision of learning and the profound change that computers can bring about in education, especially at an early age.Read more

Published on November 9, 2013 by Laszlo Kozma

Computers are good at teaching kids, but KIDS TEACHING COMPUTERS is the true and overlooked disruptive technology

This book is incredible. It ties together so much commonly known and well regarded foundational research with novel but tested ideas to break through what was formerly thought...Read more

Published on July 25, 2013 by Terrible Tank

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