Notes on Pedagogy
WIP
TODO Learning
<“What is called thinking” excerpt>
Speculative and Prospective Curricula
Thinking: Logical, Critical, and Programmatic
A simultaneous introduction the basic concepts and practice of logical thinking and computer programming, guided by the aims of critical pedagogy.
Basic enabling analogies
calculation : computability :: communication : unambiguous communicability
- We help students discover and experience the difficulty of communicating clear, unambiguous instructions.
- We introduce Turing machines as a solution for this problem.
statement : computation :: concept : constructive & actionable cognition
(the latter in the Kantian sense)
- Defining computations is a way of constructing concepts.
- Performing computations is a way of analyzing, or applying concepts.
writing : programming :: wish : organized, repeatable plan of action
- We help students realize and recognize the ways in which they already write and execute programs.
- We problematize the political and economic dimensions of this programming, and help them see how the are programmed.
terms : types :: proofs : propositions
- We show students that untyped computation leads to nonsensical and monstrous executions.
- We help them see the connection with nonsensical and monstrous actions and outcomes of plans.
- We introduce natural deduction first (just the very basics).
- We then introduce programs which exhibit proofs of simple deductions.