why you should buy an OLPC XO laptop<br><a href="http://bc.tech.coop/blog/071112.html">http://bc.tech.coop/blog/071112.html</a><br><br>good and brief summary of the hardware, software and reasons for buying one (they went on sale in the USA and Canada yesterday)
<br><br>-- <br>Bill Kerr<br><a href="http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/">http://billkerr2.blogspot.com/</a><br><br><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Nov 12, 2007 8:29 AM, Donna Benjamin <<a href="mailto:donna@vitta.org.au">
donna@vitta.org.au</a>> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">On Mon, 2007-11-12 at 00:27 +1100, Margaret Lawson wrote:
<br>> If you missed it, here it is:<br>> <a href="http://60minutes.yahoo.com/segment/69/one_laptop_per_child" target="_blank">http://60minutes.yahoo.com/segment/69/one_laptop_per_child</a><br><br>It's really exciting. I've been following the progress of the project
<br>for a while now. One of my favourite features is the "view source"<br>button.<br><br><a href="http://wiki.laptop.org/go/OLPC_Human_Interface_Guidelines/The_Laptop_Experience/View_Source" target="_blank">http://wiki.laptop.org/go/OLPC_Human_Interface_Guidelines/The_Laptop_Experience/View_Source
</a><br><br>This is great. That's exactly how I first learnt to create web pages,<br>look at the code, change it, tweak it, customise it. Branch out and<br>experiment...<br><br>They aim to make all the workings of the computer that transparent.
<br><br>Of course the project has it's detractors - and very real problems - but<br>I believe it could bring about fundamental change. I believe it's<br>revolutionary.<br><br>Rethinking education ey? Books and Teachers... sure, but what about
<br>resourcing kids to create their own knowledge, share their own ideas and<br>creativity, and give them access to the world's knowledge...<br><br>The OLPC has 'activities' rather than programs and encourages kids to
<br>play with sounds and images as well as reading and writing words.<br><br>Books are expensive too. Some African education sectors tried to get<br>permission to print textbooks locally - because it was cheaper - but<br>
western publishers said no, that violates our copyright. In the<br>knowledge economy we've grown to recognise that knowledge gets dated -<br>giving people access to networking, with minimal infrastructure means<br>they can access knowledge, old and new, as well as make their own
<br>contribution to the global knowledge bank.<br><br>Hands up who still goes to the library to look up encyclopedia<br>britannica?<br><br>Voicemail is more popular than texting in areas where literacy is low.<br>Visual and audio communication is just as important as reading and
<br>writing. Modern technologies facilitate the ability to communicate, and<br>share knowledge, without necessarily having to learn to read and write<br>first.<br><br>If everyone has a video camera in their pocket, and a connection to
<br>global networks to publish their work... doesn't that change the<br>paradigm?<br><br>The OLPC has a built in camera... More power to them. I've read a lot<br>of the arguments against the project - and there are some valid
<br>concerns, but this project fills me with hope and optimism. It could<br>change the world. It gives me goose bumps. If it works, it will be the<br>moon landing of our time.<br><br>--<br>Donna Benjamin<br>Conference Co-ordinator
<br>2007 VITTA Conference and Expo<br>Rethinking Education: You say you want a revolution?<br>19-21 November, The Grandstand, Flemington Racecourse<br><a href="http://www.vitta.org.au/2007" target="_blank">http://www.vitta.org.au/2007
</a><br><br>Victorian IT Teachers Association Inc<br>T: +61 3 9495 6836<br>M: +61 418 310 414<br>F: +61 3 9495 6834<br>E: <a href="mailto:donna@vitta.org.au">donna@vitta.org.au</a><br>W: <a href="http://www.vitta.org.au" target="_blank">
http://www.vitta.org.au</a><br>Suite 202, 134-136 Cambridge St<br>Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia<br><br>_______________________________________________<br><a href="http://www.edulists.com.au" target="_blank">http://www.edulists.com.au
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</a> - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and<br><a href="http://www.vitta.org.au" target="_blank">http://www.vitta.org.au</a> - VITTA Victorian Information Technology Teachers Association Inc<br></blockquote>
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