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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>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 <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Chicago</st1:place></st1:City> page for Illinois Laptop Legislation?
We can use it as a central place for resources and discussion. Sound good? <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Karen Smith<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=2
color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>St. Charles</span></font></st1:City><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>, <st1:State
w:st="on">IL</st1:State></span></font></st1:place><font size=2 color=navy
face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
olpc-chicago-bounces@lists.laptop.org
[mailto:olpc-chicago-bounces@lists.laptop.org] <b><span style='font-weight:
bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Kevin Crews<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Friday, March 21, 2008 12:26
AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> Jason Rock<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Cc:</span></b> OLPC chicago mailing list;
OLPC IMSA List<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> Re: [OLPC-Chicago]
Children's Low Cost Laptop Bill</span></font><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>To let everyone know,
IMSA and not, this is, as Jason mentioned, extremely exciting.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
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. <br>
<br>
Thoughts?<br>
<br>
Kevin<br>
<br>
<br>
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>On Thu, Mar 20, 2008 at 10:48 PM, Jason Rock <<a
href="mailto:jrock@imsa.edu">jrock@imsa.edu</a>> wrote:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>Hi,<br>
Mel brought some fairly recent <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Illinois</st1:place></st1:State>
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 <a
href="http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=5000&GAID=9&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=35963&SessionID=51&GA=95&SpecSess=0"
target="_blank">http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=5000&GAID=9&DocTypeID=HB&LegID=35963&SessionID=51&GA=95&SpecSess=0</a>.
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.<br>
<br>
Thanks,<br>
Jason Rock<br>
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
OLPC-Chicago mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:OLPC-Chicago@lists.laptop.org">OLPC-Chicago@lists.laptop.org</a><br>
<a href="http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/olpc-chicago" target="_blank">http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/olpc-chicago</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><br>
<br clear=all>
<br>
-- <br>
--Kevin Crews<br>
(815)341-8119<br>
<a href="mailto:kcrews25@gmail.com">kcrews25@gmail.com</a> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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