This PET Doesn't Bark, But It Does Speak Math

This PET doesn’t bark, but it does speak math

By Roger Le Lievre

STAFF REPORTER

For Darcy Thomas, 9, and Alberta Richardson, 10, summertime this year means more than parks and playgrounds. It means PET’s and a new way to learn as well.

The PET stands for Personalized Educational Terminal, a tabletop microcomputer that is helping the youngsters learn math, language, logic and a host of other subjects.

“The computers help make learning a game,” says Charles Thomas, Jr., director of the Washtenaw County Black Economic Development League (BEDL). The computer as an array of other educational devices, are located in league’s office on Depot Street.

About ten youngsters are involved in Thomas’ special Youth Development Program (YDP) this summer. The YDP works within the structure of classes designed to benefit low income families. “We try and help kids resolve, with the equipment, their learning difficulties,” he explains.

One of the advantages to using the computer, he adds, is there are no arguments. The machine is totally objective.

EACH COMPUTER has a mini screen, much like the screen on a television. Depending on the tape that’s fed in, questions or puzzles appear displayed on the screen. For example, a question about language may show a sentence and ask the child to choose, from a number of responses, the work closest to the meaning of the verb in the sentence.

The youngster responds by “talking” to the computer via a keyboard.

If the answer is correct, the computer flashes “Good job, Congratulations.”

If wrong, “No way” appears on the screen.

The computers can even call the child by name.

In the room at BEDL the children are also learning to make radios, test circuits, film, produce, and edit television, and to take and process photographs.

Older students also work within the BEDL program to qualify themselves for jobs in business and industry.

INSTRUCTORS volunteer their time to the church financed facility, and Thomas estimates more than 200 students have been put through the program in the past two years. The center was started in 1973.

BEDL also acts as a referral agency, putting people in touch with jobs in General Motors Hydra Matic Division in Ypsilanti, as well as with openings at 7 other GM facilities in the Detroit area.

As far as the Youth Development program goes, Thomas, an enthusiastic promoter of his organization says he’s met with nothing but good comments from people who have observed the computer education set-up.

"You get nothing but good things when you take second, third, and fourth graders, and give them microcomputers to relate to the world. I never met a parent that didn’t love this,” said Thomas.

Ideally, he said, the computers, which can be rented locally, may someday be in student’s homes. Use of the terminals gives the children a tremendous advantage when they get into the public schools, he added.

LEARNING computer-age technology comes easily, says Thomas. “We try and use our program to benefit the low-income community,” he added.

Not only are these involved in the youth program working on their abilities at the center, but they are expanding their horizons through field trips as well. Visits have been made to the Phoenix Project on the University of Michigan campus, and trips to Cedar Point, the Cranbrook Art Museum in Detroit, and Mackinac Island are planned.

In addition to programs already in progress at BEDL, Thomas and his organization has been tapped to provide technical assistance for a new educational project involving the interpretation of black music.

Called “Project Jumpstreet, -The Story of Black Music,” tapes for the educational series will be mastered at BEDL’s studio and will also be pre-tested by students at the league.

At right, Darcy Thomas and her computerized teacher