Do you use YOUR access?
The first thing that I thought about when asked to define “access� was physical access. If access were to mean specifically physical access, then it would mean that almost everyone would have access to the internet. People can use the internet at libraries and school facilities, as well as some cafes and coffee houses. This is not the case, shifting my interpretation of access while relating to the internet. The summary of the PEW findings shows that 24% of adults in the United States are disconnected, or offline (Pew, 3). Because of this, I interpret those with “access� to be those with daily access to a computer and the internet. I do not think that how easily one can navigate the internet has anything to do with whether or not a person has access to the internet.
I do not know very many people that do not have access to and use the internet on a regular basis. My friends, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles all use the internet. One out of four people not having access to the internet seems high to me. This is not to say that I think less of those who don’t use the internet, though I do think it foolish to not at least attempt to learn a thing or two about the internet if you have that privilege. For this reason, I think it would be a good idea to teach at least some basic knowledge of the internet to elementary school children.
I don’t see any problems with the One Laptop per Child program. There are already programs to send other types of provisions to countries that need them, and this different approach could yield surprising results.
Comments
I agree with you that the One Laptop per Child Program is a great idea. There are other programs in place that are geared towards the food and medical aid. I think that this laptop program could have more educational impact on the children. I also think that access has more to do with physical access than technological literacy. I think that the 24% of people that are offline are probably mostly elderly people who have no use for the Internet and those who live in rural areas where they are unable to access the Internet from their local libraries. In today's society, I think that it's crucial that most people become computer literate because by increasing people's technological literacy, we'll be able to further progress our society.
Posted by: Natalya Goncharova | February 28, 2007 09:46 PM
I agree that teaching children at a young age on how to use the Internet is a good idea. The course could involve safety and cautions about using the Internet as well as how the Internet can be helpful and useful. The society in which we live has developed a dependency on the usage of the Internet and I don't see that dependency decreasing in years to come. In actuallity, I think that our dependency is going to become much greater. Hence, all children should have the opportunity to learn about how to use the net. There are some children in school, who come from lower incomed families who cannot afford the Internet; nonetheless, a computer. This way these children are able to learn about it and potentially get some access in using it.
Posted by: Erin M. | March 4, 2007 07:57 PM
I agree with you when you stated, 'it would be a good idea to teach at least some basic knowledge of the internet to elementary school children.'
Not doing this would be a huge disadvantage for children in realms beyond cyber literacy. I will be interested to see if it will ever become a 'required class' for students- especially as we are learning more about the legalities and dangers of the internet. But then- what course would it replace? Music? Social Studies?
I am sure it is not easy deciding how to shape a child's education curriculum in today's world.
Posted by: Julie Swenson | March 4, 2007 08:41 PM
I like your comment Natalya. There are other programs in place to provide sustenance and medical aid. It would be shortsighted to expect one organization (OLPC) to cover everything. If anything, a focused, specific goal, will be much more achievable and realistic.
Posted by: Andrew | March 4, 2007 11:54 PM
I am definitely not convinced as you on the laptop program... I understand that there are plenty of other plans in different domain, but I still don't think that the best way to deal with education is to send computers... I almost never used a computer at school before being at University and I never felt excluded from the world. I am going to repeat myself and I'm sorry, but I see this kind of program as a way to Westernize a little bit more some poor countries. Talking very simply : what can a child in a very poor country benefit from using a laptop? I would rather send people to talk about AIDS, or real teachers... Exposing them to computers later might be great, but right now, I don't think it's the urgent thing.
Posted by: Pierre | March 7, 2007 12:35 AM