Why mathetics?

Mathetics, what is it all about....

More than 300 years ago the word mathetics was first used by Jan Amos Comenius (1592-1670). In his opinion there were two important processes occurring during learning: the art of teaching (mainly called didactics) and the art of learning (called mathetics) by him.

The introduction of computers is going through three stages:
the technological stage: learn to use
The didactical stage: learn to teach
The mathetic stage: learn to learn

In the eighties of the 20th century Seymour Papert re-invented the word mathetics. He created the most elaborated learning environment so far, enabling users to practice mathetics.
In spite of the large success the environment did not integrate in daily schoolpractice.
During the centuries past mathematicians claimed the word. Papert describes this as follows:

Mathematicians were so convinced that theirs was the only true learning
that they felt justified in appropriating the word, adn succeeded so well that
the dominant connotation of the stem math- is now that stuff about numbers they
teach in school. (Papert, S.(1993) The childrens machine. Harvester Wheatsheaf, New York)

Now, at the beginning of the 21th century, we try to change our learning and learning institutions in a mathetical direction. What is going on in this field? Who is experimenting, what do we know already and... most important: what works for whom under what circumstances?

Like to share ideas in English, Dutch, French or German?