Comments on: OLPC: How Not to Run a Laptop Program

By: Roy Privado

Roy Privado — Mon, 17 Jan 2011 19:08:14 +0000

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By: OLPC vs OLPT… « Learning Ideas for Life

OLPC vs OLPT… « Learning Ideas for Life — Sat, 04 Dec 2010 21:41:36 +0000

[...] One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) initiative’s been under scrutiny in the Educational Technology Debate recently and results and comments point toward meaningful insights that can be gleaned for [...]

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 04:36:50 +0000

[youtube 4T3GMJuQp24 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4T3GMJuQp24 youtube]

I applaud what OLPC is doing in inspiring millions of people to change the world. By no means was the product line above developed for poor countries, but i think that a centralized approach to computing would be very valuable for all involved, namely with respect to controlling support costs which seems to be the achilles heel of all computer programs.

With some funding from a OLPC-type funding source or local governments, the finished laptop dispensing system could be extremely cost-effective and of course, the system could be offered free for users. My company would be happy to get involved and customize things if there is interest.

You can reach me by following the video above to our company site.

Best,
Jonathan

By: Wayan

Wayan — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 20:07:49 +0000

Sebastian, are you implying that only Uruguayans should be commenting on this post? Or that a specific poster is not Uruguayan enough to comment? Or that there would not be English-fluent Uruguayans who have opinions about OLPC?I would strongly disagree with any of those assertions. First, there are many people interested in ICT for education, and of them, many are very highly regarded experts in their respective fields. I am honored they partake in EduTechDebate discussions, regardless of nationality. Next, any self-identifying Uruguayan, fluent in any language, with a well-thought opinion is welcome to join our discussion. That includes you, regardless of your identification with any nationality, language group, or ICT4E disposition.Yet I will not tolerate veiled accusations that EduTechDebate commentary should only be reserved for a certain group. All those that are interested in education, in technology, where the two meet, and wish to add to the discourse, are welcome. Only those that wish to stifle conversation or disparage others will be asked to leave.

By: Sebastian Z

Sebastian Z — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 15:40:24 +0000

Oddly, there seems to be a good number of people from Uruguay that live in Uruguay that write really good English with an american style of writing. Better English that I have found from the small population on Uruguay that can speak and write english in a very understandable way, and somehow they have found this site. There is also an odd ratio of several people writing on this forum. Some people write to the forum more than ten times and take up most of the forum. I hope there is no perpretrators and posers coming to this site.

By: W Yohai

W Yohai — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:23:22 +0000

I live in Uruguay with two school children at home. As they go to public school, both have their XO.
one of the main tasks of their home staying mother is to keep them from television and their XO´s, playing computer games or chating with their mates and actually studying instead.
If she were an out of home working mother, the kids would be completely spoiled by, not only, of course by XO´s.
We live in a medium class neibourhood, but classes are overcrowded, more than 30 kids in each.
The decission to come into OLPC was taken solely, in a quite monarchich way by the president Vázquez, without consultation with education participants be them teachers or local education authorities.
Every body seems to be pleased, except more conscious fathers and teachers who are begining to take notice to the fact that money, tens of millions of dollars could have been spent in much more useful ways.
Our local school depends heavily on father´s free work and money for such things as school painting, cleaning, heating (currently winter temps. are sometimes below 0 C) and provision for basic teaching material.
Public schools in really poor places fare far worse, parents not having time, disposition or money to help local schools.
OLPC is just a waste of public scarce resources and mainly a public relations political operation. And, probably, a source of grafts money as well.
W Yohai Montevideo.

By: yamaplos

yamaplos — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 16:27:03 +0000

I second Oscar that the evidence for those programs being successful is objectively not much more than hearsay. Impressions on impressionable people wishing to be impressed is not really valid.

Sam e goes for Peru, BTW…

By: Saurabh

Saurabh — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 16:04:11 +0000

Clearly Sonya's argument merits some comments. India does not have 1% of the teachers it needs. How do you get 3 million new teachers. There are no teachers. Period. Teacher is someone who has the talent to teach. If there are any, they are absorbed by the private school system. Some belong to the government schools as well. But there are few who can meet the country's expanding needs. OLPC helps where there are challenges of resources, infrastructure and teachers. Let us get real: In the past 6 decades India has added more illiterates than the population it inherited at independence. OLPC is ONE WAY to clear that backlog in 5 years! As Satish Jha of OLPC would say: A mind is a terrible thing to waste. Let us help the minds India and developing worlds produce have an opportunity to discover themselves. Not like what Sam Carlson wants: by NComputing way- an idea that was relevant when computing was expensive. Let Sam come forward and embrace OLPC. That will good for the children Sam. May be for you as well.

By: Oscar Becerra

Oscar Becerra — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 07:39:37 +0000

What you say is simply not true. I have been working with OLPC for almost 4 years and am responsible for the olpc impolementation in Peru. Never had OLPC people even implied we should give children laptops and get out of their way. This might be an extrapolation of thgeir finding thet "even if you just give children laptops and get out of their way, some wonderful things happen in terms of learning" but we have found that if you support them and their teachers more wonderful things happen as long as teachers are good, not only "trained".

By: Oscar Becerra

Oscar Becerra — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 07:33:12 +0000

According tyo your metrics the Peruvian OLPC program should be considered highly successful. "The test score gains have been modest in these programs, but the programs are all very popular with teachers, students, administrators, and parents, and the improved learning outcomes achieved by students are not easily measured by tests. They include improved quantity and quality of authentic …". Peru also tried 100% pay rise to teachers between 2001 – 2006 with 0 increase in educational results