At 10:50 AM -0500 04/03/02, Lolita A.Wood-Hill wrote: > One set is being taught how to make the computer work for them (able to > program it for their own purposes), the other set is being prepared to > use that same computer as a glorified typewriter for the purpose of > being a white collar worker. So the exposure to computers is not a magic > formula for bringing the masses out of poverty but another means whereby > we train folks for the higher end and lower end jobs of society--as > we've always done. It is sad but not surprising.
I have a slightly different take than Lolita Wood. My sense is there is not nearly enough connecting the dots between the (computer) training and a "real world" job - particularly in the tele-work arena. How many know that Amazon.com contracts a major portion of its electronic help desk from India? Whether it's "programing" or helping with an airline reservation, isn't the *main* point that more people (on the wrong side of the digital divide) need to get better jobs? US$5.00 an hour may not seem like much in Los Angeles. But how about in Lagos? John Hibbs www.bfranklin.edu ------------ ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, an NGO that is a GKP member*** To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: <http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/>
