[Olpc-mg] Re : A New One Laptop Per Child News Post: Critical condition for XOs deployment

Wed Jun 17 09:57:39 EDT 2009

Hi All! I was struck too by the XO Laptops are Banned in OLPC Ethiopia Classrooms

I think the reason is lying into the lack of global and shared vision as to the role of community in implementing a tool.  If expected, I'll post the conceptual basis of a field action in Africa and Madagascar and developing countries. I have to check the entry "Economistes de la 3ème vague" to-morrow morning at the newly inaugurated virtual library in the building of Ministry of Culture (CEMDELAC).

In a few words, the logical framework approach is to be updated with social
 marketing plan.

Suggestions for Olpc-mg deployment check list: 
[GB] Olpc-mg digest Volume Zero, Issue Zero: XO Deployment needs critically to be fed forward by performing the community global shared vision on the "pertinence" of the educative aim.
[FR] Olpc-mg Manuel Volume Zéro, Article Zéro: La mise en place des XOs doit être rigoureusement précédée de la promotion d'une vision communautaire globale et partagée sur le but éducatif.
[MG] Olpc-mg
 Fomba fias Boky Voalohany, Andininy Zero: Alohan'ny hanaterana ny XOs eo amin'ny sekoly dia fepetra tsy azo ihodivirana ny fampitoviana tadin-dokanga eo anivon'ny fiaraha-monina eo an-toerana momba ny tanjona fanabeazana tianko-tratrarina.

[GB] To be continued...Pls to-morrow for what to be done while awaiting for the long run sensitizing campaign..
[FR] A suivre demain svp pour ce qu'il faut faire en attendant le travail d elongue halein sur la sensibilisation de la communauté locale.
[MG] Rahampitso ny tohiny aza fady momba ny tokony hatao satria ezaka lava be ny fanentanana eo anivon'ny fiarahamonina.
[GB] Olpc-mg digest Volume Zero, Issue First:
Meanwhile extension among the local community, is XO Deployment to be postponed before the the attainment of extension goal?
[FR] Olpc-mg Manuel Volume Zéro, Article Un:
La mise en place des XOs doit être rigoureusement précédée de la
promotion d'une vision communautaire globale et partagée sur le but
éducatif.
[MG] Olpc-mg
 Fomba fiasa Boky Voalohany, Andininy Faharoa:
Alohan'ny hanaterana ny XOs eo amin'ny sekoly dia fepetra tsy azo
ihodivirana ny fampitoviana tadin-dokanga eo anivon'ny fiaraha-monina
eo an-toerana momba ny tanjona fanabeazana tianko-tratrarina.

I am posting to-morrow for instance what Adam Smith, David Ricardo, Amartya Sen, a Japan national Nobel prize 's brain about liberty and freedom
 as the ultimate goals of economics. 

friendly yours
Jean
Jean Joseph Aimé RANDRIAMAHENINA

Enseignant-Chercheur, Ingénierie Sociale en Agromanagement Stratégique

ESSA, Expert en Gestion et Valorisation de projets, Communicateur, Administrateur Civil en Chef

Tel 261 32 02 247 44

--- En date de : Mar 16.6.09, One Laptop Per Child News <wayan at olpcnews.com> a écrit :

De: One Laptop Per Child News <wayan at olpcnews.com>
Objet: A New One Laptop Per Child News Post
À: jean_randria at yahoo.fr
Date: Mardi 16 Juin 2009, 17h02

One Laptop Per Child News

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A New One Laptop Per Child News Post

XO Laptops are Banned in OLPC Ethiopia Classrooms

Posted: 15 Jun 2009 07:27 AM PDT

        While watching David Hollow of ICT4D Collective present his evaluation of OLPC Ethiopia at the recent Africa Gathering I was struck by his observation that teachers were banning XO laptops from their classrooms.

David found a clear perception by teachers and even parents, that the XO laptop is a toy, not a tool, and children's usage of these computers was actually a detriment to their education.  Teachers disliked them enough to ban them from the classroom and parents discouraged their use at home, thinking the laptops were taking away from study time.  

Why XO Laptops are Banned

The Ethiopian school system like Rwanda's, is designed around rote memorization - the teacher copies material to the board and students write it down in notebooks.  Then there is a national test that determines progression in the educational system - a test based on the ability to recalled the memorized facts.  

This model is very teacher-centric.  Teachers should have all the knowledge, and students, by cultural definition are there to listen, not to question, and will not be as smart as teachers until they have passed the national test.

Yet XO laptops were added this rigid system without extensive teacher training or tight integration into the national curriculum.  So as the students progressed past the teachers in computing acumen, the teachers quickly felt threatened by this technology, and unable to control it, felt undermined by it, especially in the classroom.

Instead of memorizing fact, the students were playing.  They were exploring and learning using TamTam and Record.  From a Constructionist perspective, the laptops are a great success - children are self-directing their learning around the teachers.  Yet from the teachers' and parents' perspective, that's play, not studying.  

If the students don't memorize to pass the national exam, they will not progress in the Ethiopian educational system, no matter their abilities with E-toys or Browse.  And while they might be smarter in a Western sense, relative to their own culture, they will be failures.

David's call for more teacher training & better integration of the XO into the national curriculum, is not alone.  Miguel Brechner says, "if you don't include the teachers, the project will fail."  I say we need an OLPC cultural integration plan to flip computers from an educational threat to a learning treasure.

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