Formidable adversaries oppose the OLPC. Does it really stand a chance to breach the "digital divide," and can it really help solve the deep educational inequities that confront developing nations?
Can access to a machine that is powered by solar or kinetics really "breach" the divide? No, but it can slowly create peninsulas of hope wherein learners are able to find the knowledge that can better their own communities.
Case in point, rural Palestinians were provided with renewable energy plants such as solar panels and wind turbines by a German company which was initiated by Israeli volunteers. Recently, Israeli government officials want to demolish the plants due to the lack of process.
Only after having the plants installed and experiencing the potential benefits of the plants, did the people look up on their own how these machines worked and how to maintain and improve them.
I can see a machine much like the $100 laptop being the conduit to such information. And in that way, I feel that the educational inequities which are nested in economically inequities can be addressed.
Give a person a fish and s/he eat for a day, teach a person to fish and s/he feed themselves and others for life. In the 21st century, give a person access to the internet and s/he can make a better fishing pole!
Can access to a machine that is powered by solar or kinetics really "breach" the divide? No, but it can slowly create peninsulas of hope wherein learners are able to find the knowledge that can better their own communities.
ReplyDeleteCase in point, rural Palestinians were provided with renewable energy plants such as solar panels and wind turbines by a German company which was initiated by Israeli volunteers. Recently, Israeli government officials want to demolish the plants due to the lack of process.
Article here. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=147394057
Only after having the plants installed and experiencing the potential benefits of the plants, did the people look up on their own how these machines worked and how to maintain and improve them.
I can see a machine much like the $100 laptop being the conduit to such information. And in that way, I feel that the educational inequities which are nested in economically inequities can be addressed.
Give a person a fish and s/he eat for a day, teach a person to fish and s/he feed themselves and others for life. In the 21st century, give a person access to the internet and s/he can make a better fishing pole!