[Yr7-10it] RE: Year 7-10 IT structures

[Bell, Cameron P]

I'm sorry but Alida's comment came across to me in the vein of "Third World Countries can't look after themselves" and I'm sorry if it wasn't meant that way. If I have completely mis-interpreted your comment Alida I'm sorry. I still think that many of the questions you raise are still equally applicable here.
I also have a question about the OLPC, which I suppose may also seem patronising, but has less to do with corruption and political interference and is more from a teachers perspective:

We have had laptops for some years now and, by the nature of the discussion on this list, are still trying to develop clear strategies for the use of ICT in schools. We are still coercing reluctant colleagues into using them and have had millions of dollars spent on PD over the years. We are only just understanding the potential and putting effective practise into place. Will educationalists in those countries be supported in utilising them effectively?

The cultural aspect of the OLPC is, I believe, less of an issue than fast-food multi-nationals and syndicated tv programs. The beauty of the OLPC OS is that it can be culturally customised. There is no doubt that the OLPC has the potential to create cultural problems, but we have also seen it here with the misuse of the Internet. The model I advocate at my school is that teachers must act as learned guides to establish the rules and offer the guidance youngsters need when venturing online. Teachers, often being trained and keeping abreast of the developments in the ICT world have a role to play in preserving our values and culture and keeping our kids safe. Will the teachers in OLPC countries be encouraged and equipped to take on the same role?
We in Victoria have learnt that simply throwing a computer at a teacher or class isn't sufficient. What support will the OLPC receive to prevent them simply decorating classrooms and looking good for VIP visits.

Cameron


-----Original Message-----
From: yr7-10it-bounces at edulists.com.au on behalf of Tony Forster
Sent: Tue 10/23/2007 8:26 PM
To: Year 7 - 10 Information Technology Teachers' Mailing List
Subject: Re: Re: [Yr7-10it] RE: Year 7-10 IT structures
 

Alida asks good questions, some have good answers, others don't:

How do we know the black market won't steal these machines for their 
nefarious profit making?
The idea behind the OLPC is mass rollout in the millions, every child will 
have one so there is less option to selectively supply them for extra 
payment. There is also a security feature which allows them to be remotely 
disabled if stolen

Corrupt governments can use them to push their agendas online and in 
classrooms?
The mesh network will mean wide access to the net, narrow agendas would be 
hard to maintain

What divide will occur between the computer literate child and their 
non-savvy parents?
The cultural question is I think the big sleeper here. What will these sort 
of effects be?

Will it use American software which has American English and uses structures 
and sensibilities that are ubiquitously American (and insidious) and 
therefore difficult for other cultures to understand?
When you look at the open development model, the monopoly of American 
structures and sensibilities is broken

Tony

_______________________________________________
http://www.edulists.com.au - FAQ, resources, subscribe, unsubscribe
Year 7 - 10 IT Mailing List kindly supported by
http://www.vcaa.vic.edu.au - Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and
http://www.vitta.org.au  - VITTA Victorian Information Technology Teachers Association Inc


Important - This email and any attachments may be confidential. If received in error, please contact us and delete all copies. Before opening or using attachments check them for viruses and defects. Regardless of any loss, damage or consequence, whether caused by the negligence of the sender or not, resulting directly or indirectly from the use of any attached files our liability is limited to resupplying any affected attachments. Any representations or opinions expressed are those of the individual sender, and not necessarily those of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: not available
Type: application/ms-tnef
Size: 4987 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://www.edulists.com.au/pipermail/yr7-10it/attachments/20071023/8a8936be/attachment.bin