[MWForum]how much MW homework help should this list provide?

[Wendy Petti]

I think that Lauren's remark is the most pertinent thing for us to keep in
mind here:

> On 26 Feb 2004 at 12:17, Lauren Pacini wrote:
> > It seems to me that the value
> > of Microworlds is the logical thought processes that
> > it instills.

Daniel, thanks for explaining your reasoning; I understand your intentions,
but our purpose is not to provide unconventional solutions to class
assignments.  If this student is puzzled and seeking help, I think we'll
want to give the student a handle to begin to grasp a solution.  Perhaps the
student does not know or understand that the turtle ends up turning 360
degrees in all while drawing a polygon.  That knowledge is fundamental to
understanding most polygon-drawing procedures.  We do not know how must
information was presented in class and how much the student is expected to
deduce.

Also, please realize that we do not need to help everyone who asks for help,
especially if they are not willing to participate in a dialogue.  If we ask
a few questions to determine what background knowledge and preparation they
have, and if they do not reply, we do not need to bother ourselves with
providing further help.  (And if they do reply, we can provide more relevant
help rather than guessing blindly at the student's difficulty.)

But when we are providing help, let's aim to cultivate those logical thought
processes ... with MicroWorlds, with students, it is the process we should
be caring about more than the product.

Wendy