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I honestly think the OLPC project is extremely naive and quite stupid. I cannot say that owning a computer has contributed to my overall academic performance. S

I honestly think the OLPC project is extremely naive and quite stupid. I cannot say that owning a computer has contributed to my overall academic performance. Sure it has enabled me to chase links for hours about marginally important information on wikipedia, or read the latest blogs about the OLPC, but it certainly hasn't helped me to get better grades or learn more of what is academically valuable. Think about PG's essay "disconnecting distraction" and the copycat essays that followed. These clearly show that a computer to most is more of a distraction than a resource when it comes to learning. The only reason many on this forum can't part with a computer is because that is their source of income. The internet is wonderful resources, and many Americans were thankful to be some of the first in the world to have access to it from its very inception. How did our early exposure to the internet help us acamdemically? We are still quite a ways behind European and East Asian countries in quality of education and sheer intelligence. I just don't see the connection between academic success and owning a laptop. Not owning a laptop right now is probably doing more to better my grades and peformance in school than anything.

j2d2 18y ago
Think about PG's essay "disconnecting distraction" and the copycat essays that followed. These clearly show that a computer to most is more of a distraction than a resource when it comes to learning. The only reason many on this forum can't part with a computer is because that is their source of income. PG also mentioned having a work computer and an internet computer. His point was there are distractions and they must be dealt with. Not that the computer is a distraction. On top of this, an essay from PG along with some copycats is not proof. Anecdotes is not plural for data. I just don't see the connection between academic success and owning a laptop. A fair point but this depends on the field of study.
Chocobean 18y ago
That's rather short-sighted of you. The OLPC's goal has never been to enhance academic performance of illiterate children in poverty stricken countries, and its goal is most certainly not to enhance your academic success. The internet is indeed a wonderful resource, one which a lot of us have utilized for personal enrichment. A great number of non-US countries have made very good use of computers as a learning aid. Just because it (in your opinion) failed to increase quality of education in America doesn't mean the technology is worthless or the goal of making the technology available to the poor "naive and stupid." Semi-related article: when slum children in India get free internet access -- http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2000/oct/17/itforschools.schools5 http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2000/oct/17/itforschools...

j2d2 18y ago

Think about PG's essay "disconnecting distraction" and the copycat essays that followed. These clearly show that a computer to most is more of a distraction than a resource when it comes to learning. The only reason many on this forum can't part with a computer is because that is their source of income. PG also mentioned having a work computer and an internet computer. His point was there are distractions and they must be dealt with. Not that the computer is a distraction. On top of this, an essay from PG along with some copycats is not proof. Anecdotes is not plural for data. I just don't see the connection between academic success and owning a laptop. A fair point but this depends on the field of study.

Chocobean 18y ago

That's rather short-sighted of you. The OLPC's goal has never been to enhance academic performance of illiterate children in poverty stricken countries, and its goal is most certainly not to enhance your academic success. The internet is indeed a wonderful resource, one which a lot of us have utilized for personal enrichment. A great number of non-US countries have made very good use of computers as a learning aid. Just because it (in your opinion) failed to increase quality of education in America doesn't mean the technology is worthless or the goal of making the technology available to the poor "naive and stupid." Semi-related article: when slum children in India get free internet access -- http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2000/oct/17/itforschools.schools5 http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2000/oct/17/itforschools...