In a surprising turn of events, Intel has joined Negroponte's One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) Foundation. If you have been keeping up on current education news, you have probably heard about the OLPC project. Basically, OLPC wants to build laptop computers that cost less than $100 for distribution in third-world countries. It's a noble cause with the best intentions and I support the idea. The trouble began when Intel announced that it would be developing it's own "economically priced" laptop aimed at the same market. Obviously OLPC and Intel have differing views about the role of computers in education and how they want to impact education with their technology. It comes as no surprise that Intel and OLPC have argued and butted heads on this topic ever since their inceptions in 2005. The twist comes when Intel announced Friday that it was joining forces with OLPC. I believe that this is a step in the right direction because OLPC has the philosophical understanding to design a laptop that will provide the greatest results while Intel has the financial and marketing resources to build and promote a better product from day one. My only concern with this partnership is that Intel (or OLPC) have joined forces for the wrong reasons. Ultimately, this project is about improving education and providing all students, even in economically impoverished areas, more opportunities for learning. I think this follows closely on the heels of NCLB under the idea that all students should be allowed access to the same materials, resources, and opportunities, regardless of age, race, sex, or economic standing.

Source:
Markoff, John. (2007, July 14). "Intel, in shift, joins project on education." The New York Times. Retrieved July 15, 2007, from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/14/business/14chip.html?_r=1&oref=slogin.

Tags: OLPC, computers, NCLB

New York City Public Schools Chancellor Joel Klein makes a great point in an article titled "How Hard Can It Be To Teach? The Challenges Go Well Beyond the Classroom," written by David Herszenhorn, which ran in The New York Times. Klein states:

“The most important thing in education is the quality of teachers,” Mr. Klein said.” The two major ingredients are what you get paid and a combination of working conditions and job satisfaction.”

A great principal and veteran teachers who can serve as mentors are among the ingredients that Mr. Klein said were needed to create “a dynamic positive feedback loop.”

Herszenhorn finishes this article by stating:

In other words, happy, well-compensated, well-supported teachers make great teachers and great schools, even in the heat.

This is a true statement because the quality of teachers is critical. However, I think there is one other ingredient that Chancellor Klein failed to mention. Another crucial ingredient is that of the experiences and background that the teacher brings to the classroom. The teacher's background will have a far more profound effect on the students' experiences in the classroom than the environmental conditions classroom and school. The teacher's background influences their thoughts, perceptions, and ideals in all aspects. And whether they intend to or not, they pass these perceptions on to their students. The richer the experiences of the teacher, the better chances the students have of receiving a more meaningful learning experience.

Source:
Herszenhorn, David. (2007, July 11). "How hard can it be to teach? The challenges go well beyond the classroom." The New York Times. Retrieved July 12, 2007, from http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/11/education/11education.html?_r=1&oref=slogin.

Tags: NCLB