[Marketing] SciDev article about OLPC Ethiopia circulating

[Sean DALY]

http://www.scidev.net/en/news/study-criticises-laptops-for-children-scheme.html

This article is being picked up this week by the press in Ghana and Uganda.

The ICT4D site is here:
http://www.ict4d.org.uk/

You will note that Microsoft is a major sponsor of ICT4D.

BlankPage (ex-Eduvision), developer of the Akili reader/distribution
platform, was solicited to add 40 "interactive textbooks" to the XO in
Ethiopia (http://www.ecbp.biz/one/olpc-intro.html). BlankPage is an
Intel partner for projects in Africa
(http://blankpage.ch/showroom.html).

On the ICT4D homepage one finds a related study, presented May 11th:
http://www.gg.rhul.ac.uk/ict4d/NinaandTom.pdf

This survey questions clearly show unfamiliarity with Sugar, described
merely as "linux-derived"; laptop activity is assumed to be solitary
(see slide about "play"); the average student age is nearly 13 (grades
5-6).

Other findings are of interest, in particular the impact on students'
motivation in rural areas, the use at home which outstrips use at
school, writing as by far the preferred activity.

This OLPCNews post is of interest as well:
http://www.olpcnews.com/countries/ethiopia/xo_laptop_teachers_training.html

Sean