I wouldn’t worry about it too much, have a conversation with the student and see where it leads - after all it’s his assignment, not yours. Regards, Mike Willegal
On Feb 22, 2019, at 12:11 AM, Hintz, Eric <HintzE@si.edu> wrote:
Hi SIGCIS-
My buddy emailed and said (paraphrasing): “My son’s a 6th grader; he and his classmates are doing research projects. They have to interview an expert on some topic. His classmate wants to research ‘the first computer.’ Can my son’s classmate interview you?” Being an all-purpose “expert,” I said yes!
As historians, we tend to reject absolutes, hedge, and use qualifying adjectives like the first “electronic” or “programmable” or “personal” computer. But this is a 6thgrader, so I don’t want to confuse him with too many carefully constructed hedges. So I appeal to the wisdom of this crowd…
Q: How would you approach this 6th grader’s legitimate interest in the first computer? Which computer(s) should I/we focus on? Best books or other resources (e.g. Ceruzzi’s Concise History) to help me and the sixth grader get the facts straight?
Many thanks! Eric Hintz
====================== Eric S. Hintz, Ph.D. Historian, Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation National Museum of American History Smithsonian Institution MRC 604, P. O. Box 37012 Washington, DC 20013-7012 WORK: 202-633-3734 CELL: 610-717-7134 FAX: 202-633-4593 hintze@si.edu <mailto:hintze@si.edu> http://invention.si.edu <http://invention.si.edu/>
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