User talk:Vathsoeun

Global Learning - Empowering children to take control of their own learning

Classroom Technologies Narrow Education Gap in Developing Countries

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/techtank/2016/08/23/classroom-technologies-narrow-education-gap-in-developing-countries/

Description: In this article, it highlights multiple programs that operate in different rural countries in an effort to bring computers and the internet to children. Programs like the One Laptop per Child, Varkey Foundation, and Dubai Cares offer kids in rural areas an opportunity to develop technological skills. I think that this is a nice effort in trying to bring technology to various villages, but the hardware and software they utilize is probably very limited. Kids would have to develop a passion for technology and their family would have to figure out a way to put them in a position to succeed, as what they are shown is quite basic. However, these basic skills are better than no skills at all, and definitely puts them at an advantage over kids in a similar location. The article did end with a key counter argument of how laptops are able to be dispersed, but yet there is a shortage of teachers.

EdTech for the Third World: Tech Tools

https://www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2013/03/edtech-third-world-tech-tools

Description: What I thought was cool about this article was that it highlighted the power or tablets and e-readers. Many articles that I have found so far highlighted the distribution of laptops, but I felt like this article made a great point about the power of having multiple books in a child's hands. The readers can easily be updated with new material, and new books, versus hard copy books that have to be constantly bought for new material. This has translated to higher English scores for kids in Ghana. In addition to e-readers/tablets, this article again highlights One Laptop per Child, similar to the article above, which is probably the biggest third world computer program for children. I am also a fan of the idea of tech centers of which people can go to, to introduce themselves to technology. This is a great idea as people can seek assistance from teachers.

Technology, Education, and the Developing World: As more students in emerging economies use their cell phones as learning devices, mobile technology is poised to revolutionize education

https://bized.aacsb.edu/articles/2013/07/technology-education-and-the-developing-world

As opposed to the other articles that highlighted laptops, readers, and tech centers, this article highlights the use of a cell phone as an educational device. To me, I think this is probably the most common sense way of expanding education via technology, but it is probably not effective in rural areas. It makes sense to me because cell phones can be used for multiple functions, which would justify their cost. However, the technological skills that is learned from a cell phone is lacking. However, as the article highlights, educational material can be easily be distributed and accessed via a cell phone. I like the fact that the Nokia Education Delivery program offers free, open-source software that allows for educational material to be shared by mobile phones via mobile networks. Material can also be shared via a projector so that new teaching material can be used. In addition to the Nokia Education Delivery program, there are the Bridge it Programs and the cloud-based Learning with Vodafone Solution, which allows for more access to content for teaching.