By: Doug Belshaw

Doug Belshaw — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 21:40:58 +0000

Yes, that does concern me as well. I think governments have a responsibility to step in here through initiatives such as the One Laptop Per Child Project. The digital literacy/skills divide could prove to be even larger than the existing inequalities we see in our society. And it's all to do with access... :-(

By: Diana Brodie

Diana Brodie — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 18:00:13 +0000

Interesting quote. Yes, I agree we must become “designers and makers of our own tools”, but I have an issue about equal access to these new tools for the less-than-well-off majority of people on this planet. As long as technology is cost-prohibitive for the poorer members of society, it will never really fulfill any of the promise it holds. I just went to Second LIfe to check it out, and discovered that one has to have a pretty fast computer and ‘net connection to participate. Satellite connections are no good- guess that leaves me out. We can barely get everyone using fairly modern computers- much less the latest and greatest. Access at libraries is being curtailed in various ways, and the promise of the fast and cheap computer has failed to materialize. While I find this concept exciting, I also think it is just one more way to further divide our society based on income & class.
If our nation could just find a way to really support the educational opportunities of all the citizens, rich and poor, and make the necessary expenditures to ensure that happening- then these new systems would really make a huge difference in this ongoing paradigm shift we are in. If not, this will just be one more “literacy” the poor have no access to. I love Moodle for the very reason that it is so affordable and egalitarian- something that can be used by people all over the world, even in poor countries.
One other thought- I feel like higher education is very much a “do-it-yourself” proposition.

Comments on: A quotation about schools and radical change

By: Doug Belshaw

By: Diana Brodie