One Laptop Per Child

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The One Laptop Per Child Program (OLPC) is one that I have researched and discussed at length in my career as both a development studies student and now as an educational technology student. The focus of my final paper will be to look at the OLPC initiative through the lens of the readings and module topics discussed in this course.

The official OLPC website can be found here: http://one.laptop.org/ and you can find the founder of the program, Nicholas Negroponte talk about the program when it first begun back in 2006 here on Ted Talks: Ted Talks OLPC

Additionally, there are a few Youtube links that describe the OLPC initiative, they can be found here:
Youtube OLPC Video 1
And
Youtube OLPC Video 2

As the videos describe, the idea behind the OLPC program is both ambitious and noble: to educate the world. But, can such a program be successful? Is the program just another way that Western ideals are being imposed on Indigenous cultures? This is what my final paper will explore.

The weblogs I post here will relate to the OLPC program, the issues that surround it and online sources that criticize the program from an Indigenous culture standpoint.

Edmonton Public Schools Aboriginal Education

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This is a link to the Edmonton Public Schools Aboriginal Education page.  Edmonton has a very high urban aboriginal population (2nd highest in Canada) and according to a Globe and Mail article, may be poised to move ahead of Winnipeg into first spot.

One of the goals of Edmonton Public Schools is to improve and enhance the educational experience of Aboriginal students, families, and staff within the district. Edmonton Public has also committed to including aboriginal outcomes in its curriculum and to include an aboriginal educational perspective.

This website provides information and links to a number of initiatives, among them the Amiskwaciy Academy which is the first urban First Nations high school in Canada.  Besides this school there are wide range of programs customized to the educational needs of urban aboriginal youths as well as training and professional development for staff.

I didn’t find any specific references to the use of educational technology with respect to aboriginal education; however Edmonton Public Schools does have a strategic plan for the use of technology in schools, which addressed the technological needs of barriered populations.  This would presumably include aboriginal groups.

Media Awareness Network

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Here’s a link to an interesting website.

http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotyping/aboriginal_people/aboriginal_broadcasting.cfm

The Media Awareness Network is a non-profit Canadian entity that provides digital resources to support media literacy.  The link I have included is to an article “The Development of Aboriginal Broadcasting in Canada”, which provides an overview of the history of Canadian Aboriginal programming.

While the article covers some of the same ground as the Faye Ginsburg article in the ETEC 521 readings, it focuses only on Canadian content and delivery, beginning in the early days of CBC’s shortwave radio programming in the 1950s through to the launch of the (very successful) Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) in 1999.

The website has an abundance of other material related to the portrayal of aboriginals in the media, under a broad section on Aboriginal People.

Module 3- Mi’Kmaq Elder’s site on American Indian History

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Being a well respected elder and member of the Mi’Kimaq First Nations Community in Nova Scotia, Dr. Daniel Paul has created a website that he hopes will educate all on the “history, hopes, and aspirations of First Nation’s Peoples”.

In doing so, he has collected an array of resources and historical documents and presents them in digital format.  Maps, drawings, paintings, and historical recall of events are all the various types of resources that can be found on the website.

Module 1- Mi’Kmaq Elder’s site on American Indian History

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http://www.danielnpaul.com/index.html

Being a well respected elder and member of the Mi’Kimaq First Nations Community in Nova Scotia, Dr. Daniel Paul has created a website that he hopes will educate all on the “history, hopes, and aspirations of First Nation’s Peoples”.

In doing so, he has collected an array of resources and historical documents and presents them in digital format.  Maps, drawings, paintings, and historical recall of events are all the various types of resources that can be found on the website.

Government of Saskatchewan and First Nations Launch Task Force

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I still have not defined my research interest so I am posting this item of interest that I came across the other day as it relates to indigenous education. The federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations and the Government of Saskatchewan have formed a task force on education and employment. The task force will try to identify ways to eliminate gaps in education and employment outcomes for Saskatchewan First Nation and Metis people over a one year period starting this fall.

Module 1- Alberta Teacher’s Association: Education is our Buffalo

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http://www.teachers.ab.ca/SiteCollectionDocuments/ATA/Publications/Human-Rights-Issues/Education is Our Buffalo (PD-80-7).pdf

This resource serves as a teacher resource for teaching students, creating lessons, and resources that are inclusive for all students.  Although a resource created for Alberta teachers, there are many aspects of the resource that are relevant for all educators.  For example, a history of Canadian Aboriginal culture is included in which definitions of  cultural terms are included.  In addition, explanations of treaties are included as well as a timeline of historical events dating from 1605-2007.  Also, sections on spirituality, cultural traditions, and modern day viewpoints on schooling are included so that educators have a resource to scaffold today’s students.

The Belinda Stronach Foundation

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http://www.tbsf.ca/pdf/OLPC_Presentation_GENERAL_deck.pdf

As mentioned in my previous post, I would do more research on The Belinda Stronach Foundation (BSF). Interestingly enough, I came across more information about the laptop distribution to aboriginal children across Canada. On its website, The BSF states that it “builds partnerships with individuals, non-governemental organizations, businesses large and small, as well as other foundations who work in Canada and around the world to confront global challenges and innovative solutions”. In February 2010, the BSF release a presentation called “One Laptop per Child (OLPC): Creating a Better Future for Aboriginal Children in Canada using Technology”. The presentation gives an overview of what OLPC is, where it is already in use, and why it should be used in Canada for aboriginal children and youth. This presentation does not go into detail about the outcome for Canadian aboriginal users as the evaluation of the program does not occur until October, 2011. I would be very interested to follow up on this.

Aboriginal Children Get Laptops

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http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2010/09/29/aboriginal-children-laptops-929.html

This article from CBC News (September 29th, 2010) talks about Belinda Stronach Foundation giving 5,000 laptops to aboriginal children across Canada. These computers were given to children between ages 6 and 12. Each computer was supposed to be equipped with 8 software programs tha focus on variou issues facing aboriginal youth. What is interesting to me is that the computers come with a virtual library that includes titles by aboriginal authors.

Since this article is from 2010, I am very curious about the outcome of the laptop distribution. I will try to search for more information about the Belinda Stronach Foundation and also see if there are any more recent distribution of technologies to aboriginal children and youth.

Improving Educational Experience of Aboriginal Children

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http://www.ichr.uwa.edu.au/files/user17/Volume3_Frontispieces.pdf

This document addressed education for the Aboriginal children of Western Australia. It claims that education providers have failed, for the last 30 years, to improve the educational outcomes of Aboriginal school children. The author mentions that the purpose of this document is to enable educators and leaders to work together to bring about the necessary changes to improve educational outcomes for Aboriginal students.

Reference:

Zubrick SR, Silburn SR, De Maio JA, Shepherd C, Griffin JA, Dalby RB, Mitrou FG, Lawrence DM, Hayward C, Pearson G, Milroy H, Milroy J, Cox A. The Western Australian Aboriginal Child Health Survey: Improving the Educational Experiences of Aboriginal Children and Young People. Perth: Curtin University of Technology and Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, 2006.