What do you think about OLPC program?
When I first learned about OLPC, I said this is an amazing project , that would bring a new perspective to kids in the developing country, as well empowered them not to become parasites but rather bring out change in their own future and to the next generation. Hence, I ended up wishing, I wish I have the financial resources to bring this to the Philippines and support the program and help carry out the goals successfully. That was my initial thought , when I learned about OLPC’s program. As I get curious about the organization, I started to follow and read articles about the organization and do some volunteering stuff for the org. However, there are some articles that really made me understand some of the loop holes of OLPC’s deployments and there are some articles that made me ask more questions and wonder.
What’s your personal take on some articles that you’ve read?
I’ve read positive articles and negative articles…in which I see it as a way to help both the organization and the people behind it to realized things and tried their best to make the vision into a reality.
But part of me, thinking, if only all these people who have the resources help to spread and realize what are the things needed inorder for OLPC’s vision turned into a reality, maybe a lot of people would become aware that this program involves collaboration from both common people, influential people and brilliant people.
Do you have any What if on this?
Well…I was just enviosioning like WHAT IF…
- all these brilliant people who have a beautiful mind can help out and be a part of these amazing program…
- all these media will write and spread on to activism,creating awareness to developing countries about this program and try their best resources to reach as many people as they can to introduce OLPC…
- every single person who find this project amazing and think of how they can help…by any means, as there’s no small things when you’re helping …greater things always comes from small things.
- nobody would dare to take a risk on innovation and change, you think we’ll have the chance to have all these things that we’re enjoying right now.
I believe in general, that we can’t do everything but I know we can do something.
Thus, can I leave one question?
…if you could have one best thing to offer to help OLPC’s vision, what would it be?
of course I can’t help to include Michael Jackson’s quote…as my tribute to him…:)
“In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world filled with anger, we must still dare to comfort. In a world filled with despair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe.”
– Michael Jackson
The negative articles about OLPC tend to be greatly exaggerated. Some have been written by people opposed to the very idea of giving educational computers to poor children, who insist that we should sell them commercial products, or in a few cases that computers are not necessary, and that the children need X, Y, or Z instead. How they are supposed to get together to ask for X, Y, or Z from their politicians without information and communication technology has not been made clear to me.
On the positive side, there are now millions of children using computers for every kind of schoolwork. Almost all such programs use Linux and other Free Software. Early reports have been glowing. Attendance at schools increases, grades go up, the disabled and foreign students tend to catch up to others, and so on. In Ethiopia, where children were not allowed to ask questions in class at all, teachers in laptop programs are adding question time to their lesson plans of their own volition.
We have barely begun to create the new Digital Learning Materials, to replace printed textbooks at far lower cost, and without requiring little children to wear heavy backpacks to and from school. The best is yet to come.
Comment by Edward Cherlin — June 30, 2009 @ 5:04 am |
Thanks Edward! I appreciate comments and insights like this… as this greatly help people, understand clearly what is this vision all about and what it takes for this program to be successful. I hope more people would talk about this and look at this program in a positive way, a breath of fresh air to some people and a great new perspective about this whole thing.
Comment by nosiness — July 1, 2009 @ 1:15 pm |