This is an article by Mitch Resnick, the man who "invented" the idea of LEGO Mindstorms. In the article he discusses the importance of being able to discover ideas instead of being guided toward a fixed, narrow concept.
Published in Educational Technology Research & Development, vol.
In Pestalozzi’s words: "things before words, concrete before abstract" (Pestalozzi, 1803).
In sharp contrast with previous schools, Froebel put physical objects and physical activity at the core of his kindergarten.
But as children move on through elementary school and into secondary school, they have fewer interactions with manipulative materials.
Some of our new manipulatives have already been used extensively by children, in both schools and after-school settings; others are still in the early prototype stage.
• Design activities provide a context for reflection.
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