I wanted to share an article that I read on South Carolina's Dept of Education website. I couldn't help but associate this
with Tyack and Cuban and their ideas on school reform. Blue Cross Blue Shield donated $500,000 for the One Laptop per Child program in SC. Because of this, the state is able to expand this program to 12 more elementary schools. I have them listed at the bottom of this article. Two of them are very close to our area. One is just a mile from my home. I couldn't help but think what this is
going to do to our "grammar of schooling" and wonder if this change is going to be so radical that it will fail. The program was piloted in SC last year in a very rural district of Marion, SC. The article states that the pilot program has received positive response from students, partents and community. I notice they didn't mention what the teachers thought of it. The test results of the students have also not yet been reported, but the article does state that the test results should show greater student performance since technology has been integrated into teaching and learning. The laptops are made by the nonprofit group, One Laptop per Child. This group creates and distributes inexpensive technology to the world's poorest countries. The computers cost $200 but are distributed at no cost to the children. Parents are required to atttend one of several seminars offered on the use and care of the laptops and must also sign user agreements. The laptops are spill proof, rain proof, dust proof and drop proof. The article stated that they are equipped with a camera, microphone, speakers and screen that rotates into a tablet configuration. They can be used to draw pictures, compose music, read and listen to books, collaborate on classroom projectes and play games. I think that this is an excellent program and wonderful opportunity for students to become familiar with technology. State Superintendent Jim Rex stated that"We believe that working with a school-issued laptop will help our students improve their academic skills and inspire them to set goals and achieve great things in their lives. Thanks to our partners in this project (Palmetto Project and Blue Cross Blue Shield) , we are making a bold commitment to prepare South Carolina's children to become true leaders in the global economy of the 21st century." I couldn't also help but think that is a good thing because most all 2nd graders were born in the 21st century and never even lived in the 20th century. I think it is funny that "we" are wanting to prepare them for the 21st century which we have lived in ourselves now for over 8 years.
Schools being added for the One Laptop per Child Program this month include:
- Chester Park Technology Center, Chester
- Mountain View Elementary, Taylors
- India Hook Elementary, Rock Hill
- Buffalo Elementary, Buffalo
- Foster Park Elementary, Union
- Monarch Elementary, Union
- Sandy Run Elementary, Swansea
- Vance-Providence Elementary, Vance
- North Vista Elementary, Florence
- Rice Creek Elementary, Columbia
- Port Royal Elementary, Port Royal
- North Charleston Elementary, North Charleston
link to article: http://ed.sc.gov/news/more.cfm?articleID=1195
3 comments:
I agree this is an extraordinary program and essential to aiding the technology underclass. As a Florence native I spent some time observing teachers as well as students at North Vista Elementary School. The school, located in a low socioeconomic area, and more importantly the students will greatly benefit. Many and dare I say the majority of the students that attend this school do not have easy access to computers outside the school setting. Making computers accessible to these students by providing each student with one at home will allow them to develop critical skills necessary in this technological driven society. In many ways, it levels the playing field and allows them to compete with students who are privileged to have computers, and in most cases several, at home. I also liked the fact seminars are held instructing parents how to use and care for the equipment as well as holding them accountable by signing user agreements. I strongly believe providing these students with computers at home will make the parents feel their children are not being left behind or pushed to the wayside. I’m sure the students as well will feel empowered to have a laptop of their own and motivated to achieve their goals or set higher goals. Such a commodity taken for granted by many can make such a big difference in a community such as North Vista Elementary.
Elizabeth,
I believe that this program sounds wonderful! I have never heard of anything like this. I believe that this will be a very exciting program for all of these children to be involved with.I think that the integration of technology will help these children be more interested in whatever the subject matter that they are studying. Also, many of these children may not have computers at home and because these children will be able to take them home they will get the full benefit of having them. I have never heard of a computer that is water, dust, and drop proof but I am excited if this could possibly be true. Lastly, I feel that by having the parents meet about the care and upkeep of the computers is very important. Hopefully, this project will be a success for those children involved.
Nora Stewart-Ricks
This sounds like such a great and well organized program. I've never heard of it... thanks for sharing!
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