So this is a new charitable organization called Little Geeks: “Little Geeks is a philanthropic organization and registered Canadian charity that collects, refurbishes and re-distributes donated home computers to children in need.” How about that graphic design - like Toys R’Us on poppers. I feel like Joe Matt must have done the illustrations since no-one has eyeballs. Seriously though, “Little Geeks”? I can’t say I like it.
Though it may seem harsh to take shots at a good-hearted enterprise, I strongly believe that people from the corporate sector, (and take a look at the board of directors if you want to know who’s backing this project) need as much educating about social change as people who barter for used monitors need educating about interest rates and borrowing to save.
Repost: Little What?
Education reform in India
the 100 dollar homework machine
So, here's a post from Slate The $100 Distraction Device: Why giving poor kids laptops doesn't improve their scholastic performance. Wherein the author suggests, that computers alone do not = scholastic achievement, that often computers waste time and are detrimental, if not to intelligence then to manifestations of intelligence such as doing your homework. IWhat the author is missing is that much of the literature around technology and learning is about how playing on a computer is often a learning process that is just not recognized as such.
So done
The OLPC paper #1 is in the bag. I just printed it without double-siding and I feel like a bit of a mean anti-environmental jerk, but I often wonder if professors prefer it one-sided and right now i am into anything I can do to keep my average above the "goodbye grade point average" mark.
Stats:
23 pages including footnotes.
45 footnotes in total (there are plenny ibids though).
5513 words about development and childproof laptops.
If you would like a copy to read please email me.
What goes around comes around
This is an awesome little video the students from James Lyng made as part of the Digital Literacy Project. It's about bullying.
