Re:Step 1: give every kid a laptop. Step 2: learning begins?
by brudgers on Tuesday February 14, 2012 @09:58AM
(#3590215)
The metrics for determining the success of OLPC and similar programs should be long term, not short term.
I suspect that few of the HN'ers who started out typing BASIC from magazines into a VIC-20 suddenly had better grades because of it.
Instead, they were learning and developing interests which have had long term benefits - and that's what education should be about (at least in so far as one buys into Dewey).
It could be that those teachers who are spending thirty minutes getting students set up with their computers are spending that time because the computer makes it obvious which students are not prepared for class - i.e. it is easier to ignore a student who shows up without their notebook than one without a computer.
I suspect that few of the HN'ers who started out typing BASIC from magazines into a VIC-20 suddenly had better grades because of it.
Instead, they were learning and developing interests which have had long term benefits - and that's what education should be about (at least in so far as one buys into Dewey).
It could be that those teachers who are spending thirty minutes getting students set up with their computers are spending that time because the computer makes it obvious which students are not prepared for class - i.e. it is easier to ignore a student who shows up without their notebook than one without a computer.