changing needs… really? kentaro toyama visiting scholar university of california, berkeley...
TRANSCRIPT
Changing Needs… Really?
Kentaro ToyamaVisiting Scholar
University of California, Berkeley
Economic and Social Council 2011 High-Level Segment United Nations – Geneva – July 8, 2011
Can you tell the difference?
Photos: Kentaro Toyama, http://www.livemint.com/images/4D7256D8-409A-41F2-B368-249442FEAB12ArtVPF.gif
Technology in Education
Believed to be...
– Good
– Transformational
– Necessary
Worries about...
– “Digital Divide”
– Falling behind
Photo: Udai Pawar
Technology Is Not Always Good
Technology requires ongoing support– Cost– Cost– Cost– Training– Maintenance– Infrastructure– Curriculum integration
Technology distracts– Students– Teachers– Administrators
Technology can lead to dependence,
addiction, inability to focus
Photo credit: Rajesh Veeraraghavan
Research Shows Mixed Impact
– Mark Warschauer et al. (USA)• PCs amplify existing inequalities
– Leigh Linden et al. (India, Peru)• PCs don’t substitute for teachers
• PCs rarely cost-effective
– Ana Santiago et al. (Peru)• Mixed results with OLPC
– Todd Oppenheimer (USA)• Technology distracts from real
education
– Larry Cuban, Mike Trucano, Wayan Vota, Ofer Malamud, etc.
Good Education is Possible With Little Technology
Finland– 1st out of 57 countries
• OECD’s PISA (2003, 2006)
• Science, math, reading
– “Back to basics” approach– Limited technology
• Blackboards, overhead projectors
• Computer labs only for computer classes
• No mobile phones, iPods in class
– Hi-tech workforce• Linux
• Nokia
Same as mid-1900s USA, Japan, Germany, England, France, etc.
Photo credit: Sanna Schildt
“21st Century Education”
No different than good 20th century education!
Ensure foundation first!– Administration and teachers– Foundational curriculum– Measurable student achievement
Technology cannot substitute for
Institutional foundation.
Technology then helpful for– Computer literacy– Programming– Targeted applications
Photo credit: Joyojeet Pal
Can you tell the difference?
Technology consumerIncome: $1,200
Technology producerIncome: $16,000+
