Binary, Socrates, and Grade Threes
t thing: Using the Socratic method to teach a class of average Grade 3's binary arithmatic, by only asking them questions.
www.garlikov.com/Soc_Meth.html
It's a neat idea, and it made me realize that it's the way I tend to teach Karl when he wants to know something I sort of consider that he should already know (like sounding out words or what). It also gave me some fodder for thought on my own teaching/guiding methods, considering that he often gets frustrated and just wants me to tell him the answer. When he can work it out for himself, though (with a little guidance), he's usually happier and I suspect it sticks better.
Ends up that binary is easier to understand than I had thought it would be, even if I can't read it intuitively. But it is a cool thing to really grok that you actually can write numbers of any length by simply using two symbols (0,1).
Check out the site; it's worth a read.
www.garlikov.com/Soc_Meth.html
It's a neat idea, and it made me realize that it's the way I tend to teach Karl when he wants to know something I sort of consider that he should already know (like sounding out words or what). It also gave me some fodder for thought on my own teaching/guiding methods, considering that he often gets frustrated and just wants me to tell him the answer. When he can work it out for himself, though (with a little guidance), he's usually happier and I suspect it sticks better.
Ends up that binary is easier to understand than I had thought it would be, even if I can't read it intuitively. But it is a cool thing to really grok that you actually can write numbers of any length by simply using two symbols (0,1).
Check out the site; it's worth a read.