One of the refrains I hear a lot from my kid is all the ways kids in their school figure out ways to bypass the content control systems on the school laptops/tablets. Which in one sense, is showing problem solving skills (how many comp sci types got their start figuring out how to break into systems?). Problem is, because they have those devices all day long, not just in computer labs, it means they’re constantly sneaking in visits to game sites and whatnot. So it goes too far and the devices become distractions.

[–] Blockocheese@hexbear.net 7 points 7 hours ago

I had an SAT prep class where the math section was entirely online and some guys learned that if you watch porn on the school's computer it'll block you from logging on but not say why so at one point most of the boys just couldn't do their work

[–] NewOldGuard@lemmy.ml 16 points 9 hours ago (5 children)

Yeah when I was in high school we discovered an exploit on Chrome that would let you download files despite the content control blocking any downloads for non admins. So I hosted a bunch of pirated games on a google drive, and my friends and I would distribute it. Then everybody would be playing Minecraft or CS 1.6 LANs in class and in the after school detention room. Shit was awesome

[–] Belly_Beanis@hexbear.net 4 points 6 hours ago

God I'm old. Our computers were garbage so we installed Bolo.

[–] SupFBI@hexbear.net 15 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago)

At the risk of doxxing myself, I'll tell you from the inside. It's a game of whack-a-mole. The students will always find ways to circumvent the tools. And many of the teachers themselves do not know how to properly use the tools. It's an impossible task. Monitor every student's (20+ in a class) screen and manage open tabs/windows on a dashboard while trying to teach on a whiteboard? Not gonna happen.

We have to go back to pencil and paper. Even if that means I don't have a job. Laptop and software platform based instruction is not working. It's not good for developing brains. I'm witnessing it in person.

[–] marxisthayaca@hexbear.net 6 points 8 hours ago

This was us and Halo: Combat Evolved in the engineering and business lab playing LAN back in ‘06

[–] SorosFootSoldier@hexbear.net 7 points 8 hours ago

CS 1.6 and computer labs, good childhood.

[–] WhatDoYouMeanPodcast@hexbear.net 4 points 8 hours ago

It seems to me that if you took a class of high school students and tasked them with the 100 day melon challenge in Minecraft, you will have prepared them with all the mathmatic, engineering, and research ability they need to navigate society.

They have to install mods for building, research what builds to make and why, know how much material they need, where to get it, learn about logic circuits+signal propagation in redstone, learn about the exponential curve of growth, and learn how to focus on a grind for an hour or two at a time.

Then say that whoever has the most melons gets a crown they can wear for the rest of the semester and they'll be off to the races.

Which is to say that, in terms of applied academics, wouldn't you be better off with access to Minecraft?