A number of PC makers are targeting netbooks at schools. But one of the most education-oriented netbooks around is the Dell Latitude 2100 which features a rubberized case, optional anti-bacterial coating, an optional shoulder strap, and bright, kid-friendly colors. Dell put together an interesting promotional video for the netbook a while back, showing a theoretical school where all the kids and teachers seem to have the laptops.
The vision is pretty cool, and showcases why some of the features are useful, like the network activity light that lets a teacher spot if a kid is goofing around online when he’s supposed to be doing something else. But there’s something a bit creepy about watching a bunch of young children interact with computers instead of one another.
Check out the video for yourself after the break and let us know what you think. Is this a Utopian or Dystopian idea?
via NetbookNews.de
Although I’m an IT professional, I’d like to add my voice to the “more teachers, smaller classes” side of the argument. There are several teachers in my family and all long for the days when teachers taught instead of chased after targets.
Not only can a teacher impart knowledge more effectively in many cases, by adapting the teaching to the child and communicating on a human level, but these new, high-tech visions of the classroom often seem to forget that school is about social development, not just academic development.
when paper came out, some problems eventualy arise so
one can expect the same thing with the todays technology.
corporate remote control is the novelty and a not welcomed
IMHO.
I’m used to having Mac laptop carts in use in my high school classes, and they are definitely a mixed bag. Not just issues with the wireless going down, individual laptops losing battery power, etc. but also with getting the kids to stay on the assigned task. Nothing like having a classroom of kids surfing the net, shopping, emailing, etc. — and believe me, they are very quick to flip back to the “assignment” when the teacher walks by. There are some wonderful things you can accomplish, but it’s just not the solution some people think — I’m with the poster who said “smaller classes, more personal interaction”.
Both my daughters were provided laptops in high school and it did nothing but create more headaches, lost work, tests given online that didn’t work, etc…Hire more teachers and reduce class size, the kids will learn much more that way. JMHO.
I’m one of the biggest proponents of school laptops around, but yes, that video is definitely creepy!