UK government pays £300m to get families online
In one of the worst kept secrets of the summer, the DCSF has announced a credit-crunch-beating £300m to buy laptops and broadband for the neediest kids in England.
Is this good news?
It is great news! Evidence is mounting that kids perform better at school if they can take some of that school work home, and share it with their families. Several recent reports seem to be converging on this from different perspectives:
- DCSF's Children's plan (benefits of access to technology at home)
- Byron report (on managing e-safety)
- Denham's consultation on Informal Adult Learning (drawing in the parents)
- Becta's Harnessing Technology (on how to use it well for learning)
From Extending Opportunity (the final report of the minister's taskforce):
Strong evidence exists for the potential educational, economic and wider benefits of home access to technology. Despite this growing body of evidence, approximately 35 per cent of families still do not have access to the internet and the digital divide is not being narrowed. It is clear that cost is a major barrier to access and, whilst costs of home access are falling, they will not do so quickly enough to prevent a large number of low-income families from being excluded from the educational and wider benefits of home access. This exclusion of low-income families results in an inequitable exploitation of home access and means that it is impossible for all learners and their families to experience these educational benefits without some intervention.
Needless to say, technology providers are already limbering up to promote their wares. It looks like families will be given vouchers they can spend on eligible technology and connectivity - though debate is already starting up on what types of devices should be included.
Is it just about "laptops"?
What about "mobile devices"?
How about games consoles?
Not sure about the answer - though as a mobile blog, our vote is with the "as many methods as possible" camp!
- Mobile Stats For 2010 And 2011
I can?t help but be bowled over when I try to get my head around exactly how many people are doing useful tasks on their phones. There are always a flurry of stylish YouTube presentations around this time of year, showcasing the ?growth of mobile? ?...
- App-fatigue? There?s An App For That!
Feeling overwhelmed by the total onslaught of apps that sound a lot like ? other apps? Nielsen estimates that 24% of US Adults use apps on their phones. They see mobile apps as ?an important new part of the technology world of many Americans? But if you...
- Introducing The $35 Tablet!
I had the honour of meeting one of the Global VPs at TATA today, and getting a small insight into the extraordinary power of the Indian market for technology. One part of our discussion was about the recent announcement of a $35 Android powered tablet...
- M-learning In The Usa
The USA has been punching way below it's weight in m-learning for quite some time, but it feels like the giant is slowly awakening: 1: I am on my way to meet the US Navy, who have invited us to run a mobile learning project with them the details...
- Geoff Stead Shortlisted For Handheld Learning Award!
Cool! I just found out that I have been shortlisted for a Handheld Learning Award. I doubt it is for my blog writing skills, which are sporadic at best - much more likely it is to do with the many mobile learners out there that have been helping us refine,...