Mindstorms Quotes

“In many schools today, the phrase "computer-aided instruction" means making the computer teach the child. One might say the computer is being used to program the child. In my vision, the child programs the computer and, in doing so, both acquires a sense of mastery over a piece of the most modern and powerful technology and establishes an intimate contact with some of the deepest ideas from science, from mathematics, and from the art of intellectual model building.”
― Seymour Papert, Mindstorms: Children, Computers, and Powerful Ideas

“The mathophobia endemic in contemporary culture blocks many people from learning anything they recognize as ‘math,’ although they may have no trouble with mathematical knowledge they do not perceive as such.”
― Seymour Papert, Mindstorms: Children, Computers, and Powerful Ideas

“An important component in the history of knowledge is the development of techniques that increase the potency of “words and diagrams.” What is true historically is also true for the individual: An important part of becoming a good learner is learning how to push out the frontier of what we can express with words. From this point of view the question about the bicycle is not whether or not one can “tell” someone “in full” how to ride but rather what can be done to improve our ability to communicate with others (and with ourselves in internal dialogues)”
― Seymour Papert, Mindstorms: Children, Computers, And Powerful Ideas

“You can't think about thinking without thinking about thinking about something.”
― Seymour Papert, Mindstorms: Children, Computers, and Powerful Ideas

“Children begin their lives as eager and competent learners. They have to learn to have trouble with learning in general and mathematics in particular.”
― Seymour Papert, Mindstorms: Children, Computers, And Powerful Ideas

“You can't think seriously about thinking without thinking about thinking about something.”
― Seymour Papert, Mindstorms: Children, Computers, and Powerful Ideas