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Question of the Day: Will you be watching the FIFA World Cup Final?
No internet hope for havenots!
- Thread starter rpm
- Start date
DragonLogos
Expert Member
One or two surprises in the pipeline - but no thanks to Government, or any of the others charged with getting things done
pkid
Expert Member
Depends what knowledge you are gaining. Looking at porn and reading the online tabloids is not really going to help you find a job. So it would be cool if in conjunction with the Internet access there is some form of education with it. Online learning or something like that. So at least at the end of it the person can gain some important skills.
sunsoffun
Expert Member
pmbellis
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Hogwash
Hogwash! How can a teacher "use IT" if it doesn't exist in the school?
It doesn't help that a school here or there gets a few sponsored PCs while the vast majority are still worrying about blackboard chalk, textbooks, and teacher/pupil ratios.
I love IT, I make my living out of IT ... but I cannot believe that suddenly having access to "broadband" -- however you define it -- is going to solve the more basic educational problems we have in SA.
I sit in on the parent/teacher's meetings on 2 separate schools, and believe me, internet access is the least of their concerns. the biggest problem is whether the government subsidies will actually ever arrive, the second biggest problem is discipline -- and the inability to enforce it, followed closely by absenteeism (pupils AND teachers!), drugs, etc.
Until we solve the problems above, broadband and IT at schools will have effect only on the small circle of students who would have excelled anyway.
Hogwash! How can a teacher "use IT" if it doesn't exist in the school?
It doesn't help that a school here or there gets a few sponsored PCs while the vast majority are still worrying about blackboard chalk, textbooks, and teacher/pupil ratios.
I love IT, I make my living out of IT ... but I cannot believe that suddenly having access to "broadband" -- however you define it -- is going to solve the more basic educational problems we have in SA.
I sit in on the parent/teacher's meetings on 2 separate schools, and believe me, internet access is the least of their concerns. the biggest problem is whether the government subsidies will actually ever arrive, the second biggest problem is discipline -- and the inability to enforce it, followed closely by absenteeism (pupils AND teachers!), drugs, etc.
Until we solve the problems above, broadband and IT at schools will have effect only on the small circle of students who would have excelled anyway.
Last edited:
Jabberwocky
Expert Member
Can't believe the negativity on this thread.
I have learned most of what i know and what i do at work on the internet. if you set your goal, somewhere on the internet you will find directions. if you ask it a question you will find several answers.
sure you can't eat broadband, but people don't get empowered by eating
I have learned most of what i know and what i do at work on the internet. if you set your goal, somewhere on the internet you will find directions. if you ask it a question you will find several answers.
sure you can't eat broadband, but people don't get empowered by eating
moosag
Expert Member
I must disagree with you there PMBellis....
On the whole, excellent article. It definitely hits home and holds true for every word written/typed. You know my niece and her family moved to Malaysia about 4 months ago. They have been planning it for a while. In their schooling environment each child gets a laptop. Now obviously it will take time before that happens here.
But the point that I am trying to make is that if you look at the worlds leading developing and developed nations, the Internet and broadband has had the greatest impact on their educational levels which in turn becomes economic gain through some form or the other.
Now as a Policy Maker, Strategist, Leader don't you think it would be wise to start taking measures to increase broadband use amongst the masses.
Personally I think that the only inhibiting factor for the poor's access to the Internet is access to a PC.
At the end of the day you don't march into a modern day warfare with horse and sword against Tank & Jet. The same applies in this regard. If your teaching is outdated today the children become completely complacent before they are even given a chance.
You know tomorrow if there were GVT centers where people could the internet etc, or universities that allow the public to use the internet I would gladly hold free seminars to help train people to effectively use the internet. I personally don't buy books and attend courses anymore because everything you need is on the internet. And the power of a forum and asking questions is far greater than any book or teacher!
It is sad that our leadership don't see the benefit of broadband as an enabling factor across the board with regards to socio-economic conditions.
People either need to sh$t or get off the pot. All these empty promises is not making people any smarter or richer!
Its a cruel world we live in. It is survival of the fittest!
On the whole, excellent article. It definitely hits home and holds true for every word written/typed. You know my niece and her family moved to Malaysia about 4 months ago. They have been planning it for a while. In their schooling environment each child gets a laptop. Now obviously it will take time before that happens here.
But the point that I am trying to make is that if you look at the worlds leading developing and developed nations, the Internet and broadband has had the greatest impact on their educational levels which in turn becomes economic gain through some form or the other.
Now as a Policy Maker, Strategist, Leader don't you think it would be wise to start taking measures to increase broadband use amongst the masses.
Personally I think that the only inhibiting factor for the poor's access to the Internet is access to a PC.
At the end of the day you don't march into a modern day warfare with horse and sword against Tank & Jet. The same applies in this regard. If your teaching is outdated today the children become completely complacent before they are even given a chance.
You know tomorrow if there were GVT centers where people could the internet etc, or universities that allow the public to use the internet I would gladly hold free seminars to help train people to effectively use the internet. I personally don't buy books and attend courses anymore because everything you need is on the internet. And the power of a forum and asking questions is far greater than any book or teacher!
It is sad that our leadership don't see the benefit of broadband as an enabling factor across the board with regards to socio-economic conditions.
People either need to sh$t or get off the pot. All these empty promises is not making people any smarter or richer!
Its a cruel world we live in. It is survival of the fittest!
priorities, if you poor like some people are food is more important that internet. Schools should have it to teach young kids some IT skills.
Realistic post this. Putting the cart before the horse simply won't work, and I think a couple of posters missed the points being made here altogether.
pmbellis
Well-Known Member
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Disagree on what?
Hmm, sounds like you didn't read my post.
1.) The point I labelled Hogwash it the one where "teacher training" is seen as the no. one priority in "bridging the digital divide". That doesn't mean I'm against broadband or the internet as an educational tool ... I just think it's futile without addressing the more pressing concerns.
2.) Teachers (in most middle to lower class model C school) aren't interested in "the internet" ... they are interested in keeping their jobs in an environment where politics is way more important than education.
3.) Yes, it would be great if each child would get a laptop ... I fully support the One Laptop per Child project ... but "broadband" is meaningless if it is not understood and directed ... and kids seldom do that on their own.
4.) The personal experiences of yourself and most other people here on MyBroadband are meaningless in the broader scheme of things ... most of us here are geeks, and by definition we drive our own education and will use any means (library in my childhood, internet in yours) to self-eductate. The other 99.9% of children will use the internet for music, videos, social interaction ... and nothing else (I've watched my two kids 17 & 13, and watch all their friends who frequent our house to use up my available bandwith [I "watch" via proxy reports!])
The point is not that Internet will make a difference, it will. The point is not that broadband is desirable, it is. The point is that in our current educational situation, internet is not the single most important aid in education, neither is it a magic bullet to solve our more pressing problems.
Hmm, sounds like you didn't read my post.
1.) The point I labelled Hogwash it the one where "teacher training" is seen as the no. one priority in "bridging the digital divide". That doesn't mean I'm against broadband or the internet as an educational tool ... I just think it's futile without addressing the more pressing concerns.
2.) Teachers (in most middle to lower class model C school) aren't interested in "the internet" ... they are interested in keeping their jobs in an environment where politics is way more important than education.
3.) Yes, it would be great if each child would get a laptop ... I fully support the One Laptop per Child project ... but "broadband" is meaningless if it is not understood and directed ... and kids seldom do that on their own.
4.) The personal experiences of yourself and most other people here on MyBroadband are meaningless in the broader scheme of things ... most of us here are geeks, and by definition we drive our own education and will use any means (library in my childhood, internet in yours) to self-eductate. The other 99.9% of children will use the internet for music, videos, social interaction ... and nothing else (I've watched my two kids 17 & 13, and watch all their friends who frequent our house to use up my available bandwith [I "watch" via proxy reports!])
The point is not that Internet will make a difference, it will. The point is not that broadband is desirable, it is. The point is that in our current educational situation, internet is not the single most important aid in education, neither is it a magic bullet to solve our more pressing problems.
Yep I have to agree there.
You can never go wrong with investing into infrastructure. No matter how bad things are, having the ability to provide your family with an otherwise in accesible world of information is something you can't take for granted.
The entire eastern europe who were far poorer than South Africa, all invested into Broadband and even though they don't have the worlds best educational standards they seem to thrive online.
No one can Judge who may and may not have access to information, that is what ignited the protests against apartheid. Yet its the same liberating anc who's been prohibiting their voters from this right for the last 15 years. I believe if it wasn't for the 2010 world cup the anc would not have allowed any fibre cables land for another 20 years.
DragonLogos
Expert Member
The point is not what people will or will not use the Internet for, it is about being denied a chance, life is tough enough without people playing silly buggers with communications. How many times do schools have to resort to photocopying books because they have not pitched up in time (or never) when they could download the text and network it on PCs - How many PCs stand idle in schools because they are so messed up with Viruses from memory sticks, because they cannot afford, either basic protection or to get up-dates.
DoC had written submissions as far back as 2005 asking that schools in rural areas be allowed un-metered Local calls so that they might have a least some hope of getting a foot hold into the Internet, AFAIK they are still bogged down with The Telkom half price parastatal or parasite sale
There just seems to be a mindset of Deny and Rule... to try and stop Internet sharing with Data Caps, poor data speeds, VoIP crippling and looking for money to bank roll expansion into the rest of Africa
Closing the UK's digital divisions
By Jane Wakefield
Technology reporter, BBC News
With broadband available on a monthly basis for less than £10 and laptops being given away free with some packages, there seems little reason for people not to be online
But 17 million people in the UK are not and the digital divide is increasingly cutting people off both socially and financially.
The government has shown renewed willingness to tackle the issue with the appointment of the first ever digital inclusion cabinet minister in January 2008
"From disaffected youngsters to older people it should be about improving people's lives, whether that be searching for jobs, paying bills, shopping or using government services," he said.
Increasingly broadband schemes up and down the country are targeting those in the most deprived areas - a new fibre optic test bed in Manchester aimed at some of the city's poorest neighbourhoods
Being online makes huge financial sense as well as socially, according to a recent survey from the Post Office.
It found that an average household could make annual savings of £840 simply by doing their shopping online in a broad range of categories including utility bills, clothing, travel and home entertainment
"Many have the false impression that broadband is a luxury item but we are seeing how increasingly it is actually a money-saving utility- critical in times of economic uncertainty," he said
Full article
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/technology/7736389.stm
DoC had written submissions as far back as 2005 asking that schools in rural areas be allowed un-metered Local calls so that they might have a least some hope of getting a foot hold into the Internet, AFAIK they are still bogged down with The Telkom half price parastatal or parasite sale
There just seems to be a mindset of Deny and Rule... to try and stop Internet sharing with Data Caps, poor data speeds, VoIP crippling and looking for money to bank roll expansion into the rest of Africa
Closing the UK's digital divisions
By Jane Wakefield
Technology reporter, BBC News
With broadband available on a monthly basis for less than £10 and laptops being given away free with some packages, there seems little reason for people not to be online
But 17 million people in the UK are not and the digital divide is increasingly cutting people off both socially and financially.
The government has shown renewed willingness to tackle the issue with the appointment of the first ever digital inclusion cabinet minister in January 2008
"From disaffected youngsters to older people it should be about improving people's lives, whether that be searching for jobs, paying bills, shopping or using government services," he said.
Increasingly broadband schemes up and down the country are targeting those in the most deprived areas - a new fibre optic test bed in Manchester aimed at some of the city's poorest neighbourhoods
Being online makes huge financial sense as well as socially, according to a recent survey from the Post Office.
It found that an average household could make annual savings of £840 simply by doing their shopping online in a broad range of categories including utility bills, clothing, travel and home entertainment
"Many have the false impression that broadband is a luxury item but we are seeing how increasingly it is actually a money-saving utility- critical in times of economic uncertainty," he said
Full article
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/technology/7736389.stm