today's need for play

I still feel bad about my mother's attempt to learn to use a computer and she has been deceased for 5 years.  She listened to how much I got from my Apple 2e and the Appleworks program.  I hadn't heard about word processing, spreadsheets and simple databases until I received that program for Father's Day in 1984.  I urged her to get a computer and try using it for writing letters, keeping track of her money and making ordered lists she needed. 


I think I dropped the ball some when I didn't urge her to play with the machine.  She seemed to take the "good student" approach of buying a fat book that explained everything the machine could do and then start reading on page 1.  For many complex, powerful experiences and tools, that is not usually a good way to learn.  Much better to use the dip-in-when-you-need-something approach.  Try something, say organize your digital photos using Picasa and start doing that.  When you run into an obstacle, then go to the Help file or the library or search the web with Google.


Starting on page 1, you will forget what you read before you get to page 5.  Reading complex directions without trying to carry them out asks your mind to keep abstract symbols without them having any meaning, not what the mind is good at.  One of several obstacles to good learning in many classrooms today is a similar overly simplistic approach.  The problem is related to the problem of recognizing the strengths and powers of women.  When the teacher demands everyone sit still and quiet and pay attention, the brains of the students are working at a low level, not very engaged.  When a society says that women need protection and isolation and commands, the brains of the women are working at a low level.  We all lose when people are required to stick to a rigid, simple routine, as when my mom started on page 1. 


Whether it is in the classroom or the workplace or the home, we do much better when everyone is free to use their brains fully and widely.  Since we have different thoughts, different backgrounds and different strengths, we are not all suited to take the same path or proceed at the same speed.  Clever use of our diversity and even of our moods may lead to greater individual fulfillment and greater collective achievement.