I first ran across the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project while browsing Gizmodo one day. My first thought was why would children in developing countries that don’t have access to schools, textbooks, or teachers need laptops? What will be on these laptops to teach the children? Who will teach them how to use the computers? If the government can afford to spend $100 per child…why not teach them how to develop their community; agricultural, irrigation, water filtration, health care, the list could go one forever.
My biggest criticism of the project is that children, and people in general, don’t have to have computers to be fulfilled, or be productive in a global economy. Sure computers are used everywhere…but if a country doesn’t value or prioritize education enough to have schools and teachers, what quality of education will cool tools have? Don’t get me wrong I like computers, my kids like computers too, they can even learn things on them, but I wouldn’t want my kids offered free exploration of computers in the place of structured reading, writing, arithmetic, science, social studies, art and music. The OLPCs are exploratory toys, they have an wireless network connection, a web cam, and basic applications like word processing and a browser, but there is no content on them. No math or reading applications, no history lessons, or writing (they aren’t tablet pcs). The content is provided through the network, where all the PCs are link together in the community. The theory is that content will be written and distributed via their network. Great concept.
The flaw I see in the logic comes down to content again. I’ve been developing custom training for ten years now, and it’s a lot of work to write and develop. Not a task for people who are not PC savvy, or untrained in cognitive and child development. In a country where they won’t spend for schools and teachers, who will develop the content? If the content isn’t provided with the system when will it arrive?
My biggest fear is this is a loss leader for services by the PC providers, or worse yet a way to train the masses of underdeveloped countries to mindlessly surf the internet and click on ads to generate revenue. Worse still in countries that would benefit most from being the most efficient farmers and environmentalists to retain the precious resources that are dwindling in their country…is the United States the best country to be teaching them how to “advance”?
EDIT: There was a new article published to day on Engadget addressing this subject in US schools. Read More