An unavoidable link


The theory of open tools isn't new, and I'm not sure that anyone can lay claim to being the first who expounded it. What's more, it's the sort of theory (if it can be called that) that when you hear it the first time you sort of nod your head and say, "of course", and sort of wonder just why it is that academics spend so much time elaborating it. After all, if we try and capsulize it into one sentence, the basic idea is that there are tools that are designed to accomplish one task, and tools that can do many, and tools that, though originally designed for one particular task, contain within them the seeds to continually generate new functions. Ultimately, in education we're interested in these because they allow, perhaps even generate, creativity and the discovery of new realms of action and understanding.

But why take it from me in one sentence. In Hebrew, at least, you can read it from the horse's mouth, in an article by Shafee which should be the classic in the field, and what's more, can be found on this server, so why not advertise it.



Go to: Part of the Family?