Here's my two cents worth regarding all these buzz about OLPC's vision and other Non-profit organization on ambitious projects...I for one is also skeptical about this project, even when I first learned about OLPC project. However, I also thought and realize how technology opportunities change the lifestyles of the Philippines now....like if you compare the opportunities before.....<b>change like this will never transpire without the people who invested higher risk projects</b>...same also in the vision of OLPC ....if nobody will risk higher things like this how do you think these people who would want new perspective and development in life would ever achieved such? I know we can't do everything but we can do something great and small.<br>
<br>I really appreciate that we have the chance to discuss all these as this is very crucial and help us really identify who we are, what we want and where we are.<br><br>Let's keep all these blunders coming.<br><br>
Thanks everyone..<br><br>Cheers,<br>~mafe <br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Jun 18, 2009 at 5:04 AM, Ryan Letada <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:rletada@gmail.com">rletada@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
<p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>into 21^st century learners,<br>
Assuming this mission statement is to last potentially over 90 years,<br>
perhaps something like "tomorrow's learners" or "fully-informed
learners" –Mel Chua</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><br>
First, if our non-profit organization last for more than 90 years, I think we
have failed at our mission. I was told that the greatest flaw of NGOs is that
they never die [or change]. <span> </span>They
desperately try to stay a functioning organization despite their outdated, and
ineffective solution. I hope that we don’t become this. Second, [brace for a
bold statement] I hope we don’t exist in 20 years. “Ownership” of this project
really belongs to the Philippines. As such, we should transfer this project
over to the Department of Education once we have shown why what we are doing is
needed, and how to effectively scale it. One great marker of a social
enterprise is that it changes policy. I hope that one day, a change [or
creation] in policy will help make ITC or innovative technology and learning as
a natural/normal part of the learning environment in schools throughout the
philippines. </span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Lastly, regarding to 21</span><sup style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">st</sup><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> century [I am not an
education expert]– some students are still stuck in 19</span><sup style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">th</sup><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> and 20</span><sup style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">th</sup><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">
century learning. In the Philippines, many don’t have pencils, or text books
[19</span><sup style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">th</sup><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> century]. In many classroom, knowledge is imposed as opposed
to constructed (20</span><sup style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">th</sup><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> century). I hope that our approach will
leapfrog them into the 21</span><sup style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">st</sup> century style of learning. This is an
emerging concept in academia, so please google it.</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">I agree with James on this - "Also, I try to stay out
of religious discussions and I think we should, too" So maybe the
inclusive clause should probably be massaged or just taken out all together.” </span></b></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 20.25pt; text-indent: -0.25in; line-height: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span>-<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal;">
</span></span></span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>Cherry </b></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 12pt 2.25pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">I
think its important to maintain “inclusiveness” as a value/principle. Many developmental
practices in the Philippines disregards the needs of indigenous peoples and religious
minorities such as muslim communities. This does not mean that we will engage
ourselves in religious politics. We are just defining ourselves as an
organization that offers the benefits of innovations to all. </span></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>I would like to keep "Open source" in the
language. Sugar is open source and so are its applications. –Cherry</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">I think we should maintain the language of Open Source as
well. This is what will differentiate us from other organizations who are
utilizing technology for their advocacy work. From a business perspective, being
“open source” will give us a competitve advantage over other non-profit
organizations/CSR initiatives. For starters, we will save money. By offering
our learning curriculums, and technological approach for free, we will be able
to get free, and invaluable feedback, which will help us refine our methodology/approach.
We will be able to help spread our learning/good practices to others as well.
Secondly, Mel keeps reminding us this is a “community driven project.” No one
owns it! Open source will allow us to be transparent and better positioned to
serve the community. </span><br>
<br>
</span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><b>As a father, I can tell you that we transform nobody.
We can only preparethem. :) – James Shield.</b></span></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">I believe that education should prepare and transform the
youth of the Philippines. Prepare, in the sense, that they should have the
tools to compete in an increasingly digital, globalised, and competitive world.
These include leadership, critical thinking skills, digital literacy, math, etc.
Transform, in the sense, of inspiring children to dream bigger for themselves
and their communities. As a researcher that works with urban poor communities
and evicted people, you will observe that many have stopped dreaming, aspiring,
or working for a better life. If u ask a child, what they want to do in the
future – many will say “work in a call center, become a nurse, or go abroad.”
Their dreams are very limited. Hopefully, through our innovative educational
approaches, we can break this widespread belief. I may sound ideological, but I
think we can really do this through technological and learning innovations. </span><span></span><br>
</span><br>
<b>What's the answer? Content for the OLPC. –James?</b></p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">+1. We are
not a laptop project,<span> </span>we are an
education project!!!!! – </p>
<p style="margin-bottom: 12pt; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Anyways, that’s some of my thoughts. Would like to hear for
feedback. Cheers guys! <span> </span><span> </span></span></p>
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<br></blockquote></div><br>