[OLPC-Chicago] Children's Low Cost Laptop Bill

Fri Mar 21 14:19:12 EDT 2008

My six-year-old and I would be happy to demonstrate what it looks like when
an actual child uses a low-cost laptop for learning purposes. True, he's not
using it everyday in his school classroom (yet) - but he's a pretty
compelling demonstrator. Larry, your message this morning made some great
points - anyone writing letters or calling legislators should emphasize the
power of child ownership. My son acts differently about this laptop than the
other technology tools he has available to him at school or even at home. It
is HIS. There is a big difference. 

We're on spring break next week and have Thursday free until 1 PM. If anyone
thinks we can move that fast, sign us up, or maybe we can finally come down
to IMSA and collaborate for a bit while. We're travelling before and after
and not available again until Mar 30. 

I have some materials I've started putting together to make the case for a
laptop for each child in an educational setting, I'll look at that and see
what is useful. I will post whatever I find to the OLPC Wiki. Can someone
create a page off the main Chicago page for Illinois Laptop Legislation? We
can use it as a central place for resources and discussion. Sound good? 

Karen Smith

St. Charles, IL

  _____  

From: olpc-chicago-bounces at lists.laptop.org
[mailto:olpc-chicago-bounces at lists.laptop.org] On Behalf Of Kevin Crews
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 12:26 AM
To: Jason Rock
Cc: OLPC chicago mailing list; OLPC IMSA List
Subject: Re: [OLPC-Chicago] Children's Low Cost Laptop Bill

To let everyone know, IMSA and not, this is, as Jason mentioned, extremely
exciting.

Thanks to Larry and Steve out of MVCC for pointing this out as it emerged
through the technology committee--I went ahead and started doing some of my
own research after that.

My uncle, Jack Franks, is in the House.  I contacted him about this bill,
and he was so excited he is now one of the sponsors.  Max McGee, the IMSA
President and former State Superintendent of Education, is equally excited
about this and has it on his radar.  

We are planning some sort of presentation and/or follow-up in the near
future, either with some of the sponsors or other interested parties.  I
think that we can work to all prepare the information available and make
easily accessible to the legislators.  

Thoughts?

Kevin

On Thu, Mar 20, 2008 at 10:48 PM, Jason Rock <jrock at imsa.edu> wrote:

Hi,
Mel brought some fairly recent Illinois legislation to my attention.  The
legislation creates, "A low-cost laptop pilot project whereby low-cost
laptop computers are provided to each student, teacher, and relevant
administrator in a participating elementary school and the use of
open-source educational software and computer skills training is
implemented."  If anyone wants to they can read more at
http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=5000
<http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=5000&GAID=9&DocTypeID
=HB&LegID=35963&SessionID=51&GA=95&SpecSess=0>
&GAID=9&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=35963&SessionID=51&GA=95&SpecSess=0.  Personally
I will be writing a letter to congressmen and women asking for their support
of this bill.  It would be great if you would join me, as the passing of
this bill would obviously help advance the OLPC project.

Thanks,
Jason Rock

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-- 
--Kevin Crews
(815)341-8119
kcrews25 at gmail.com 

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