List: Like others, I really grew weary of the $100 laptop debate, but the
latest turn that asked what are the needs of kids sparked my interest.
Activities for kids are, to my mind, overwhelmingly internet based, as it
opens the door for so much distance learning. These activities are not
exclusively traditional education subjects, but also enriching afterschool
activities. In a relatively short period of time, very rewarding, creative,
mind stretching activities are available. I had a group of 2-4th graders who
loved seeing the shark, penguin and other live video at the Monterrey Bay
(CA) Seaquarium, when they tired of math and reading homework. It opens up
a lot of discussion on the widest array of subjects. The kids took lots of
these sorts of virtual visits to zoos and museums, downloading images and
writing summaries to make their own private museums or zoos with their
favorite animals or painting, explaining why they liked them (a group of the
older kids turned them into coloring books for the younger kids). It wasn't
just a visual activity.
But after an afterschool program ends, needs shift home and most of the kids
in an urban afterschool program do not have a computer when they leave. In
the evening, these machines would be family machines, with wider needs, but,
again, I would focus on the information sharing activities (email, distance
learning), but acknowledge that other general activities would also be
raised.
This sounds like a fast processor/big memory machine (which I worry becomes
a games machine, not the best use of scarce dollars for kids and schools),
but is it possible that these activities could be met by a less
robust/functional (and more widely deployable) machine, drawing down
capability as needed through some sort of "thin client" arrangement? I
suppose, but while I haven't heard it yet, I'd welcome it.
Kevin Cronin
Formerly with University Settlement, Magic Johnson/HP Inventor Center
Cleveland, Ohio
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
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