one laptop per child

Thursday, June 3, 2010

One laptop per child
Name: Suzanne Saba
Name of Article: One Laptop Per Child Project Works With Marvell to Produce a $100 Tablet
Author: Nick Bilton
Source: New York Times
Date: Wednesday, June 2, 2010
link: http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/27/olpc-partners-with-marvell-to-launch-100-tablet/
Description:
The One Laptop Per Child Project is about providing computers to ALL children in ALL parts of the world, including third world countries. The computers will be built in partnership with Marvell in order to keep the cost to produce these laptops at approximately $100 each.
Comment:
This article peaked my interest to get a better understanding of the One Laptop Per Child Project. I read their mission statement and found that I had 2 completely different reactions. The first was that this seems on the exterior to be a great idea - to allow all children in all areas of our planet the opportunity to be able to access a world of information at their fingertips, since these computers were going to be given to the students complete with free software.But then would we be saddened that the teachers may not receive the proper training or support to implement these computers into their curriculum.
Wouldn't all children benefit in their education by being able to communicate with each other, teach and learn about each other? Not to mention the benefit the children from 3rd world countries would get by researching ideas for planting better crops, purifying water, building structures which could keep them from the harsh environmental factors they endure on a daily Basis...but, then again, I have to wonder what is the value of such a device when these children are striving to simply survive. And if these laptops will not be seen as a benefit by all children, then where will they be disposed?
The educational benefits are high, but will these computers be seen as valuable to someone who may not be able to read. There will need to be teachers involved, possibly Peace Corps volunteers, who can justify the use of these computers to the children.