Comments on: The Netbook Fad in Education

By: psikeyhackr

psikeyhackr — Fri, 29 May 2009 04:31:14 +0000

I got a chance to test some netbooks last week. I enhanced a version of a benchmark from Byte magazine, Jan 1983. The reason I use such an old benchmark is because it gives a more absolute perspective. The magazines are mostly controlled by marketing and only compare current machines.

The netbooks I tested using 1.6 GHz Atoms are THREE TIMES as fast as the fastest system from 1983, the IBM 3033 mainframe which cost $3,000,000 in 1978. So what do grade school kids today need with more power than that? Do we let Macro$cam tell us what to do with computers for the sake of their profits? And that mainframe could only take 32 megabytes of memory while these netbooks have at least 32 times that much.

If netbooks aren’t powerful enough to teach kids ANYTHING it just demonstrates gross incompetence on the part of our educational system. The kids exist to serve the educational system.

The parents and kids will just have to learn to use the technology to best serve themselves. IBM would not even tell us that all computers were von Neuman machines. I worked there.

By: Brett

Brett — Sun, 03 May 2009 23:33:15 +0000

Nonsense – I think not…. you see your comparison here is looking at technology that was cutting edge or at least close to it at the time. There was no limitations – students were given the best that could be given at the time. I am simply saying why give technology that is less than what most of these students have at home already?

Interesting links though… thanks,

By: psikeyhackr

psikeyhackr — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:41:08 +0000

I think you are talking complete nonsense.

Check out Vero Beach High School, 1987.

They had computerized education that did a better job than the teachers. Students that were about to drop out did better on GEDs than students that graduated.

http://firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/article/view/500/421

But how powerful were the computers they had to work with in 1987. Intel didn’t introduce the 486 until 1989 and the Pentium came out in 1993.

So it is the information and software that matter not the price and power. But $300 and portable with internet accesss may make school obsolete. Or maybe only the bad students will need the teachers.

psik

By: Time to Shine

Time to Shine — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:40:00 +0000

As for netbook as a fad in education? I think our education system is better off having to incorporate IT or so-called the digital or media literacy in a manner that would be beneficial to the students and teachers alike. Let’s face it life has been great having technology get involved with our daily lives but in education? It should be undergo a thorough study to get the real deal before implementing something in regard with the issue being raised.

By: Brett

Brett — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 10:41:28 +0000

thanks Paul and Mark – check this out for online tools and connectivity

http://blog.brettmoller.com/2009/04/02/wow-what-a-day/

By: Paul Luke

Paul Luke — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 07:40:05 +0000

Great to have the chance to dialogue with you guys through these Web 2.0 tools. Would like to look at these threads in 2-3 years time
I agree with you Mark – there is an ever increasing range of online tools to offer these high-order thinking experiences.
Bring on the time when the bandwidth / connectivity to classrooms (in Aust) where we can fully utilize these tools.

By: Mark Warschauer

Mark Warschauer — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:48:48 +0000

On Scratch vs. iMovie. Yes, of course they don’t do the same thing. I only meant to suggest that, if you want to give children engaging and cognitively challenging experiences in working with multiple media, there are alternatives to video editing.

By: Mark Warschauer

Mark Warschauer — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 05:47:20 +0000

At least we agree on something–that Windows is not a competitor. If you have the funds, go with Mac. If not, go with Linux.

To me the central problem is that, a decade or so after the value of one-to-one computing programs became clear, perhaps two or thee percent (at most) of U.S. public school students are in one-to-one classrooms. The transition to one-to-one is just too slow. Though I love the Mac and can’t argue against the superiority of its software, what advantage does that software hold if children seldom get to use it?

By: Paul Luke

Paul Luke — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 06:34:48 +0000

Interesting follow up comments – I think the issue of durability will be one that will unfold over the next couple of years. A couple of other comments to add to the debate:
- Having owned an Acer Tablet PC for a few years with a 10 inch screen – I feel a smaller screen will be prohibitive to do any form of serious media creation.
- the integration of the iLife tools (Garageband, iPhoto etc) for productivity, workflow and creative output – is way in front (IMHO) of Audacity, Picasa etc (Simplicity of Garageband esp the most recent version 09 – engages kids big time, the export / sharing features enable instant publishing / use in other iLife apps. Have tried Audacity on many occasions with kids – even though the functionality is there – the engagement level is minimal
- Brett – your comment re TCO is spot on – have done similar planning.
- Open Office – yep OK – have you tried Pages / Keynote.
- Also the cost of a Macbook through the DER funding in Aust – came in at just over $1000
- Not sure about last comment about Scratch instead of iMovie (different tools) iMovie 09 is pretty amazing
- Cost of school site licennce for iLife and iWork is just over a couple of hundered bucks. We’re still paying nearly two grand for our annual microsoft agreement.
- Last comment – If I were a school administrator, I would pay $800 for a machine that handles good video editing rather than the $300 one that doesn’t. This is where the real / rich higher-order thinking / learning takes place – where learners are mixing / creating / innovating.

By: Mark Warschauer

Mark Warschauer — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:46:30 +0000

I have been using a Mac forever and I am a huge fan, and I agree that they are great tools for kids. And I agree with you about the added hassle and cost of using Windows. If a school district can afford it, a Mac is great. If not, a $280 Asus EEE w/Linux OS can run Audacity instead of Garage Band, Picasa instead of iPhoto, Scratch instead of iMovie, Open Office, plus Firefox and all online applications.