Comments on: Computers for kids are useless without backup

By: Earnest Gupp

Earnest Gupp — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

We pulled our kids out of an expensive private school that has a policy of a notebook computer for every kid from year 5 upwards - paid for by the parents, of course.

Even in an incredibly well resourced school, after six years, almost no teacher had worked out how to gainfully integrate the technology into the curriculum. At worst, some teachers would set the project, let the kids loose surfing the internet, and then bludge their way through the period.

The kids learnt how to all cut and paste the first five Google hits whether they were bullshit or not. When I asked any question about the content of these slick presentations they were, to an individual, clueless. Masters of cut and paste, but no learning of content was discernible.

For me, this whole issue of a computer - an expensive chunk of technology as a core component of an education is the biggest con job in living memory.

At the new school, computers were available - but not mandatory. They were in the background. Good old fashioned books and great teachers were in the foreground. And there was none of the panic of a week's work going out the window with a crashed disk or a deleted file. Save that crap for the workplace.

By: Connor Moran

Connor Moran — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

I agree with Earnest. Computing now-a-days is promoted as “easy to use”. My grand mother picked up how to email, word process and Skype with the right setup. Heavy duty concepts like file systems, programming, security, etc should be taught in theoretical abstract to middle school. Hands on should be reserved for much later and as a definite tool not a toy (or TV-substitute but more dangerous internet babysitter). Our local high school govt. department IT can’t even keep the staff’s admin network going effectively!

By: garyb

garyb — Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000

another aspect overlooked.

many schools are 1to1 notebook schools.
note: we no longer have laptops because the intelcore2duo run too hot to place on your lap, they are notebooks and replace desktops.

however, the audit by federal education neglected to recognise the situation where students bring thier own computer to school.

consequently bendigo is funded for over 700 computers, but are unwanted as their students bring notebooks to school already. as the funding is linked to a CPU purchase creative methods are being explored to 'hand off' the computers to junior classrooms around Bendigo.
not the only instance, though Bendigo is spectacular example of the Feds being sooo out of touch with school reality.

as for NSW situation, it is the only state inthe dark ages of no technicians.
NSW ed has been so underfunded for so longthey forget to pay their way.

this is catchup time, and the state will have to pay.

no point blaming the Feds on this one, they are at least ten, if not 15 years behind the Vics, SA, Tas and Qld
WA so far away hard to know what they do as they do not visit the east, and the easterners do not visit the west...

the NECC in SanAntonioTX last week illustrated how far ahead Australian ICT is..probably 3~5years well all except NSW...