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Mina Akrami
Joined: May 20, 2009
Posts: 6 (view all)
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Province/State: Ontario
City: Toronto
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Which tool is better for advancement of education in developing countries: computers or mobile phones?
Jul 17, 2009
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Approximately more than one billion children (majority in developing countries) don’t have access
to adequate education. An adequate education is an essential requirement for these children if they
are to survive in a competitive global economy. The solution to this crisis for numerous educators
and policy makers is computers.
As such, the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) program aims to create educational opportunities for the
world’s poorest children, providing each child with a low-cost and low-power connected laptop for
self-empowered learning. Thus, OLPC has developed an XO laptop, built for children in developing
countries living in the most remote environments. According to OLPC, XO laptop's success is evident
by the dramatic increase in school attendance.
Regardless of OLPC’s success, some would argue that mobile phones are better learning tools in
developing countries. Mobile phones outnumber computers due to their affordability and low
maintenance. The poor acquire mobile phones by themselves without government subsidies. Moreover,
mobile phones are easy-to-use, widespread, and learners have better familiarity with them.
Thus, which tool is better for advancement of education in developing countries: computers or mobile
phones? Could mobile phones produce better results than One Laptop Per Child program in the most
remote environments?
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CHILD RESCUE MISSION CRM
Joined: Feb 26, 2009
Posts: 108 (view all)
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Gender & Age: Other, 30
Country: Sierra Leone
Province/State: Western Area
City: Freetown
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Re: Which tool is better for advancement of education in developing countries: computers or mobile phones?
Jul 19, 2009
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In my personal opinion, computer is the best tool for education. this is so because today the use of
computer is slowly becoming the order of the day for every human being in the world. i see the use
of computer as means by which the human life could be prolong as its reduces delay and help increase
knowlege and resources for sustainability. for instance, with the computer you can even stay at home
and do your work which could give you money which may even help others which is among some of the
new projects i am thinking of estaablishing in my country as a test case whereby people with
disabilities that movement to and from certain workplaces could be given certain tasks so that they
could perform these tasks through their computers at home. The reason why i am seriously convinced
that the use of computer is the best tool for education is that there are so many visually
impaired persons who do not have any form of access to this facility and i thinking of introducing
the concept of the use of computer especially the One Labtop per Child to a school for the blind in
my country Sierra leone where they are just using typewriters which are so difficult and slow to
deal with. i am certain that this project will work with use of orca, a software as an assistive
technology by which visually impaired persons will be train to use the computer as a pilot project
because i intend extending this same project to the neighbouring countries too.
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Chantelle Ennis-Charoo
Joined: Jul 2, 2007
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Country: Canada
Province/State: Ontario
City: Toronto
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Re: Which tool is better for advancement of education in developing countries: computers or mobile phones?
Jul 21, 2009
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With mobile phones acquiring more and more of the same features that desktop & laptop computers
have, I think its safe to say that mobile phones may be the better solution for self empowered
learning and growth for youth and adults alike
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siddiqua
Joined: Feb 20, 2005
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Gender & Age: Female, 31
Country: India
Province/State: Karnataka
City: Harihar
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Re: Which tool is better for advancement of education in developing countries: computers or mobile phones?
Jul 26, 2009
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Both are equally important. Mobile phones though have greater accessibility.
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siddiqua
Joined: Feb 20, 2005
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Country: India
Province/State: Karnataka
City: Harihar
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Re: Which tool is better for advancement of education in developing countries: computers or mobile phones?
Jul 26, 2009
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In very remote environments, I think neither would be a feasible option. There are remote villages
in India where there is simply no electricity. Recently I read about a village in the North-east of
India where people had "experienced" electricty and lights only in the capital city of that state.
The adults and children everyday retired shortly after sunset.
Maybe the OLPC battery could be solar powered because that saves a lot of hassle connecting to a
power supply especially when its erratic.
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