I think given the right triggers and some time without noise in their heads to play with ideas, they can still do quite well. I am beginning to understand that we teachers may have to take some of them back to the early Piaget stages and let them play to connect with that new skill or with their imaginations on a personal level -- esp. if they did not have that time or opportunity when they were young. It doesn't seem to take as long, and they can catch on from playing alongside classmates, but if we give them tasks that require imagination without their ever having had that play time, they get too end- product focussed and don't manage very well.

I see older students and adults learning new tools on the computer as running into the same sorts of problems. We have to have time to play -- to take that baby out for a test drive and see what she'll do -- before we launch ourselves into trying to use it as a tool.

Hi Pat: I too had problems with the map but seem to have figured it out. When I added my name, picture and email address I received an email for the Frappr folks who provide the map with this content:

You've just joined a Frappr map. To remove yourself or change your information on the map later, we've created a Frappr profile for you.
Your password is:
******************

You can view your comment, edit your profile, and meet other map members at www.frappr.com.
http://www.frappr.com/?a=constellation_map&mapid=

Perhaps you have a similar email somewhere? Good luck, Bryan

Hey Pat!

It would be great to work with another Canuck. Have you worked with any other classes at all? I'm just picking up a webcam for my class tomorrow. You use Skype at all? What kinds of things were you thinking?

Ryan