Computers in Society

1
Computers in Society

• Computers in Education

2
Nagging

• Term paper proposals must be in today. Its
  better to put something in now and change later
  than to do nothing at all.
• Tyler is my hero.

3
Blender Time
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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?

5
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?

6
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?

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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?

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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?

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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?

10
Laptops in Schools

• How do they recommend a laptop program be
  evaluated?
• What is the basic conclusion of this whitepaper?

11
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?

12
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?

13
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?