From: Eugene Matusov
Submit: Post Comments
VisitDate: 00/00/96
Date: 19 Oct 1996
Time: 16:48:41
Remote Name: pax-ca4-08.ix.netcom.com
Hi David--
I think you raised an interesting question about why Ana was scribbling on the computer while was drawing nicely with crayons.
Vygotsky (and some other psychologists) developed a theory that when people get a new tool they degrade to earlier developmental levels that they demonstrated in past with old tool. For example, think of people learning second language. Although their first phrases in second language, of course, do not repeat their early childhood phrases in first language, the content of early phrases in second language is extremely poor. If you look at the meaning of the early phrases in second language, you may have an impression that person's intellect is degraded.
Back to the paintbrush program. It is very difficult (if possible at all) to draw with mouse. Mouse was not designed to draw. My guess (and my use) of the paintbrush program is that drawing is done by combinations of available ready-made geometric forms such as circles, ovals, triangles, and rectangles. This is very different from drawing with crayons and remind me collage rather than drawing. You can try to show this to kids and see what will come out of that.
Good luck,
Eugene