$100 laptops – help or hindrance?
Mass production of the first batch of $100 laptops for schools in developing countries is reported to have begun, sparking debate over the importance of pushing technology upon developing countries that have ‘more pressing needs such as sanitation, water and health care.’ Kofi Annan, however, is a supporter of the scheme, developed by the organisation, One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) describing it as a medium to “open up new fronts” in education. Time will tell how the developing countries that have pre-ordered these machines use them in realising the technological potential of their next generations. Bringing education to a common level whatever a child’s circumstances however, is surely a step in the right direction?
Filed under Educational news by sfletcher
Comments on $100 laptops – help or hindrance? »
Interestingly Nicholas Negroponte, the founder and chairman of the One Laptop per Child non-profit association, has made his feelings clear about what software should be used on these machines. He says:
“In fact, one of the saddest but most common conditions in elementary school computer labs (when they exist in the developing world), is the children are being trained to use Word, Excel and PowerPoint,” Negroponte wrote in an e-mail interview. “I consider that criminal, because children should be making things, communicating, exploring, sharing.”
So folks, its official, teaching Office to kids is criminal!!