On Tue, Sep 15, 2009 at 21:05, Bakhtiar Mikhak <[email protected]> wrote: > More than two decades ago, Seymour Papert wrote a response to similar > criticisms of the role of computers in education: > http://www.papert.org/articles/ComputerCriticismVsTechnocentric.html > I think Seymour's comments are as relevant today as when he first wrote > them. It's interesting to read the paper replacing LOGO with OLPC, olpc, XO, > or Sugar. > I don't believe this paper has yet been mentioned in conversations on our > lists. I think it would be of interest not only in light of reviews like the > one that is the subject of this thread, but also with respect to the broader > education conversations that have come up.
Great reading, thanks for sharing! Pity Sugar and OLPC doesn't get more useful criticism, but after reading the paper, I understand why ;) Regards, Tomeu > Best wishes, > Bakhtiar > On Mon, Sep 14, 2009 at 8:39 PM, Bill Kerr <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> >> On Tue, Sep 15, 2009 at 9:40 AM, Bill Kerr <[email protected]> wrote: >>> >>> On Tue, Sep 15, 2009 at 5:39 AM, Kevin Cole <[email protected]> wrote: >>>> >>>> This may have already come up in the 680 unread messages I have in my >>>> inbox... If so, my apologies. >>>> >>>> A researcher in my office subscribes to Miller-McCune magazine, whose >>>> slogan is "Turning Research into Solutions". After seeing last week's >>>> presentation by SJ et al, he handed me an article from the latest issue >>>> (September / October 2009, Volume 2, Number 5). >>>> >>>> | News and Opinions by Timothy Ogden (page 12) >>>> | >>>> | COMPUTER ERROR? >>>> | There appears to be cheaper, more effective ways to improve education >>>> in developing nations than the glitzy One Laptop per Child program. >>>> >>>> The article is available on-line >>>> at http://miller-mccune.com/business_economics/computer-error-1390 >>>> >>>> At the risk of being burned at the stake, though I'm one of the devout, >>>> I think the author makes some good arguments that should be either >>>> countered >>>> POLITELY and/or addressed. >>> >>> hi kevin, >>> my thought was to ask: why do some NGOs criticise other NGOs in this >>> way? While other NGOs just get on with the job. Is this to do with a real >>> discussion of the issues or is there another agenda, such as a fight for >>> being noticed to attract funding? >>> I would see a real discussion about the different efficiencies of >>> different methods of helping developing countries as important and am very >>> interested in such discussions - >>> see http://universalcommunication.wikispaces.com/ >>> But what is the relevance of comparing deworming with the xo???? No one >>> promoting the xo is critical of deworming. And such different approaches >>> attract different types of people, surely there is room for both. The other >>> comparisons too while a little more relevant don't make much sense to me. >>> Esther Duflo's suggestion of teachers making a date stamped photo of >>> themselves each day is going to improve teacher attendance at low cost. >>> Great idea. But the goals of this approach compared to the xo approach are >>> very different and so its difficult to compare. I didn't see this article as >>> fair or balanced because it didn't attempt to setup a real basis for >>> comparing things. >>> Also the link provided by walter is very interesting - all the comments >>> as well as Oscar Becarra's response >> >> more information on the esther duflo approach here: >> http://econ-www.mit.edu/faculty/eduflo/papers >> her approach is cost efficient small interventions that make a big >> difference developed into a "science" - that is the claim, which is >> interesting but my response is skeptical - I'm not convinced we are at the >> stage of the one true scientific approach wrt the developing world >> I think from her perspective the OLPC mega change approach is seen as >> wasteful >> here is a popular article about her: >> >> http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/step-aside-sartre-this-is-the-new-face-of-french-intellectualism-1332028.htmlhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/step-aside-sartre-this-is-the-new-face-of-french-intellectualism-1332028.html >> >> "She investigates, in elaborate detail, the practical, small things >> which can make a difference in trying to improve the lives of the >> poorest of the poor. For instance, not just "education, education, >> education" but how to make sure pupils and their teachers turn up at >> school. (Answer: tiny incentives, such as free meals or uniforms, can >> transform attendance in poor countries.)" >> >> _______________________________________________ >> IAEP -- It's An Education Project (not a laptop project!) >> [email protected] >> http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep > > > _______________________________________________ > IAEP -- It's An Education Project (not a laptop project!) > [email protected] > http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep > -- «Sugar Labs is anyone who participates in improving and using Sugar. What Sugar Labs does is determined by the participants.» - David Farning _______________________________________________ IAEP -- It's An Education Project (not a laptop project!) [email protected] http://lists.sugarlabs.org/listinfo/iaep
