Computers in Society

Computers in Education

Nagging

Term paper proposals must be in today. It’s better to put something in now and change later than to do nothing at all.

Tyler is my hero.

Blender Time

Questions

What is "technological determinism"?What is "community informatics"?What three experiences were related in this

article?Does making the technology free to users help

or hurt? Should everything cost money?What sort of infrastructure did each of these

projects utilize?

Questions

* What conclusions does the author draw?* Do you think the $100 laptop project has

addressed the issues raised in this paper?* What is (was) the Bush administration doing

for programs that foster access to technology?

Laptops in Schools

When was the “Lessons Learned” paper written?

What is the Concord Consortium?What state has been a pioneer in laptop-based

education? What grades were focused on?What were the stated goals of this program? What did a “limited number of rigorous

studies” provide?

Laptops in Schools

What is the basic lesson learned about using laptops in the classroom?

What three areas are identified as critical? What sort of goals can a laptop program

address? Which goal in Maine did they mention? What should drive a laptop program? What expense other than equipment purchase

is important?

Laptops in Schools

How should such programs be commenced? Why?

What sort of details needed to be addressed?What sort of training do educators need to use

these laptops effectively?Who else needs to be involved besides

teachers and students?

Laptops in Schools

What sort of infrastructure is required? What are the ongoing costs of this?

What is “Professional Development”?What are “stakeholders”? Who are they?What needs to be done as the laptop program

is operating?

Laptops in Schools

• How do they recommend a laptop program be evaluated?

• What is the basic conclusion of this whitepaper?

WSJ Article

• Where was the initial experience in this article?

• What happened?• Does this laptop program seem to have

followed the guidelines in the previous paper?• Who often initiated laptop programs?• Why did the ACLU threaten to sue a California

school district?

WSJ Article

• Why did New Mexico parents want to delay their laptop program?

• What does the WSJ quote as the home penetration rate?

• Is use of laptops growing?• What problem is Larry Cuban worried about?• Why do computer manufacturers support these

programs?• Is the software supplied usually appropriate for

education?

WSJ Article

• What drawbacks do some parents see?• How do laptops allow students to avoid

parental controls?• What do they encourage parents to do to

prevent kids from browsing inappropriate sites?