Comments for Andy Carvin's Waste of Bandwidth http://www.andycarvin.com Occasional Musings on Internet Culture, the Media and Countless Unrelated Topics Fri, 27 Jan 2006 21:28:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 Comment on Robbed by BrianR http://www.andycarvin.com/?p=938&cpage=1#comment-424 BrianR Mon, 24 Oct 2005 16:00:06 +0000 http://www.andycarvin.com/?p=938#comment-424 I'm sorry to hear about your treo, etc. Have fun on the rest of your trip! :) I’m sorry to hear about your treo, etc. Have fun on the rest of your trip! :)

]]> Comment on My Job Is Done, But No Audio to Prove It by Teemu http://www.andycarvin.com/?p=933&cpage=1#comment-422 Teemu Sun, 23 Oct 2005 13:48:43 +0000 http://www.andycarvin.com/?p=933#comment-422 Dear Andy, Can you explain what did you talk under the line "USA and WSA" ? What is WSA? Is it the World Summit Award? Best regards, – Teemu Dear Andy,
Can you explain what did you talk under the line “USA and WSA” ? What is WSA? Is it the World Summit Award?
Best regards,
– Teemu

]]> Comment on And Bangladesh Makes 50 by Jim Eastman http://www.andycarvin.com/?p=923&cpage=1#comment-420 Jim Eastman Wed, 19 Oct 2005 14:49:58 +0000 http://www.andycarvin.com/?p=923#comment-420 It's been my experience that airline air/environment is not particularly positive for the immune system. Good luck getting well though, none the less. (As an aside, I'm quite jealous - someday I'll hit 50 too :-D ). It’s been my experience that airline air/environment is not particularly positive for the immune system. Good luck getting well though, none the less.
(As an aside, I’m quite jealous – someday I’ll hit 50 too :-D ).

]]> Comment on Podcast of Al Gore’s Speech by Ewan McIntosh http://www.andycarvin.com/?p=906&cpage=1#comment-411 Ewan McIntosh Wed, 05 Oct 2005 17:09:21 +0000 http://www.andycarvin.com/?p=906#comment-411 Is that Chandler from "Friends" in the background..? Is that Chandler from “Friends” in the background..?

]]> Comment on Turning Wikipedia into an Asset for Schools by RobertSharp http://www.andycarvin.com/?p=738&cpage=1#comment-315 RobertSharp Mon, 03 Oct 2005 00:15:13 +0000 http://www.andycarvin.com/?p=738#comment-315 Andy, I found this old post re: Wiki's. You have me interested. I sent you email about Wikipedias recently. I have set up blog software on my .com server and am starting to set up the Wikipedia using MediaWiki. Just experimenting trying to get it secure so it is safe. I'll let you know what I am doing. 6th Grade Science. Bob Andy,
I found this old post re: Wiki’s. You have me interested. I sent you email about Wikipedias recently. I have set up blog software on my .com server and am starting to set up the Wikipedia using MediaWiki. Just experimenting trying to get it secure so it is safe.
I’ll let you know what I am doing. 6th Grade Science.
Bob

]]> Comment on Are Educators Hostile to Wikipedia? by beiffert http://www.andycarvin.com/?p=872&cpage=1#comment-397 beiffert Sat, 01 Oct 2005 21:50:05 +0000 http://www.andycarvin.com/?p=872#comment-397 I've just posted comments on my blog, Librarian in the Middle beiffert.net or http://www.beiffert.net/wordpress/research-literacy/are-educators-hostile-to-wikipedia/ In reviewing the comments above, I fall into the skepics camp. Or the question everything camp. There are plenty of ways to share information; some are more reliable than others. And while sometimes we don't need absolute, authoritative resources; it is important to always be careful to not let 'good enough' be the sole guideline. Most any dictionary provides the correct spelling; not all give a full range of definitions. I’ve just posted comments on my blog, Librarian in the Middle beiffert.net or http://www.beiffert.net/wordpress/research-literacy/are-educators-hostile-to-wikipedia/
In reviewing the comments above, I fall into the skepics camp. Or the question everything camp.
There are plenty of ways to share information; some are more reliable than others. And while sometimes we don’t need absolute, authoritative resources; it is important to always be careful to not let ‘good enough’ be the sole guideline. Most any dictionary provides the correct spelling; not all give a full range of definitions.

]]> Comment on Scotch Broth by Linda http://www.andycarvin.com/?p=871&cpage=1#comment-380 Linda Fri, 30 Sep 2005 09:04:48 +0000 http://www.andycarvin.com/?p=871#comment-380 Hi Suzanne I too have made the crossing from Staffa in such weather conditions - there was a moment when I really didn't think we were going to make it back to Iona! But it makes for an unforgettable holiday and reminds us mere mortals that there are forces greater and stronger than we are, as well as scenery to take our breath away! I hope you found the atmosphere on Iona relaxing - I've been there a couple of times now and find it amazing for the rechanrging of spiritual batteries. Hi Suzanne
I too have made the crossing from Staffa in such weather conditions – there was a moment when I really didn’t think we were going to make it back to Iona! But it makes for an unforgettable holiday and reminds us mere mortals that there are forces greater and stronger than we are, as well as scenery to take our breath away!
I hope you found the atmosphere on Iona relaxing – I’ve been there a couple of times now and find it amazing for the rechanrging of spiritual batteries.

]]> Comment on Creating the $100 Laptop by Wesley Fryer http://www.andycarvin.com/?p=874&cpage=1#comment-401 Wesley Fryer Thu, 29 Sep 2005 15:12:51 +0000 http://www.andycarvin.com/?p=874#comment-401 I disagree with the opinion that the one to one laptop pilot initiatives that have taken place in the US with students and teachers are worthless in terms of implementations in other parts of the world. There are lots of things that we have learned and are learning from these projects that can help inform how laptop projects elsewhere, even in the developing world, can be implemented successfully. Certainly situations in Cambodia or China are very different from US educational contexts in many ways, but I think there are some similarities when it comes to helping teachers and students effectively learn to use computer technology in an educational context. <p> The point on needed teacher training is key. Research has shown over and over that educational organizations tend to vastly under-invest in teacher training. And it is vital. So is ongoing teacher instructional support-- and I am not just talking about technical "fix my printer / clean this virus" sort of help. Helping teachers on a day to day basis better utilize available technologies is so important. This is "just in time" support. <p> Having access to wireless digital tools is a key ingredient to a recipe of helping open doors to the future for students everywhere. No, just having a computer is not going to change things by itself (Read Larry Cuban's excellent book "Oversold and Underused" for more detail on that) but it is a pre-requisite for participation in the 21st century online digital economy and culture. I think this project is incredibly exciting, and offers tremendous hope not only for helping improve educational opportunities and outcomes for students, but also huge implications for the causes of democracy, human rights, and free press / open journalism reporting in the world. The implications of this project are staggering, and I think most of them are positive-- at least they appear so theoretically right now.</p></p> I disagree with the opinion that the one to one laptop pilot initiatives that have taken place in the US with students and teachers are worthless in terms of implementations in other parts of the world. There are lots of things that we have learned and are learning from these projects that can help inform how laptop projects elsewhere, even in the developing world, can be implemented successfully. Certainly situations in Cambodia or China are very different from US educational contexts in many ways, but I think there are some similarities when it comes to helping teachers and students effectively learn to use computer technology in an educational context.

The point on needed teacher training is key. Research has shown over and over that educational organizations tend to vastly under-invest in teacher training. And it is vital. So is ongoing teacher instructional support– and I am not just talking about technical “fix my printer / clean this virus” sort of help. Helping teachers on a day to day basis better utilize available technologies is so important. This is “just in time” support.

Having access to wireless digital tools is a key ingredient to a recipe of helping open doors to the future for students everywhere. No, just having a computer is not going to change things by itself (Read Larry Cuban’s excellent book “Oversold and Underused” for more detail on that) but it is a pre-requisite for participation in the 21st century online digital economy and culture.
I think this project is incredibly exciting, and offers tremendous hope not only for helping improve educational opportunities and outcomes for students, but also huge implications for the causes of democracy, human rights, and free press / open journalism reporting in the world. The implications of this project are staggering, and I think most of them are positive– at least they appear so theoretically right now.

]]> Comment on Creating the $100 Laptop by Teemu http://www.andycarvin.com/?p=874&cpage=1#comment-400 Teemu Thu, 29 Sep 2005 14:35:16 +0000 http://www.andycarvin.com/?p=874#comment-400 Thank you Andy for the great reporting. The MIT $100 laptop is very important initiative, but there are several matters I am wondering – maybe you will find answers to them: (1) What is the MIT plan on what and how the laptop will be used in learning process taking place in schools of developing countries? If the only user scenario is that it can be used to access wikipedia, I am afraid that $100 is too much. If there are more scenarios on the use of the $100 laptop – as I am sure there are – someone should explain how and with what money the teachers will be trained to implement these scenarios in their classrooms? It would be also nice to know the MIT’s scenarios. Anyway for each $100 laptop there should be another $100 to be used for training teachers. Technology – even networked laptops - does not per se make people smart. The way of using it does. (2) Why they want to call the device PC or laptop? I personally think that the device should be dedicated to be a “mobile educational tool” that is technically limited for educational use only. If it is a PC – even a Linux PC – that can be used for whatever computing purposes I am afraid that many children will get mugged and robbed when coming home from school. This is reality. (3) The results and experiences from the pilots in US where laptops have been given for pupils are worthless in the context of developing countries. US is almost the only nation in the world where there is already two generations old culture of using PCs. The PC (Internet as well) is well known and accepted in there and for this reason it is much easier to take in use by pupils in there too. It’s a complex world out (t)here :-) Thank you Andy for the great reporting.
The MIT $100 laptop is very important initiative, but there are several matters I am wondering – maybe you will find answers to them:
(1) What is the MIT plan on what and how the laptop will be used in learning process taking place in schools of developing countries? If the only user scenario is that it can be used to access wikipedia, I am afraid that $100 is too much. If there are more scenarios on the use of the $100 laptop – as I am sure there are – someone should explain how and with what money the teachers will be trained to implement these scenarios in their classrooms? It would be also nice to know the MIT’s scenarios. Anyway for each $100 laptop there should be another $100 to be used for training teachers. Technology – even networked laptops – does not per se make people smart. The way of using it does.
(2) Why they want to call the device PC or laptop? I personally think that the device should be dedicated to be a “mobile educational tool” that is technically limited for educational use only. If it is a PC – even a Linux PC – that can be used for whatever computing purposes I am afraid that many children will get mugged and robbed when coming home from school. This is reality.
(3) The results and experiences from the pilots in US where laptops have been given for pupils are worthless in the context of developing countries. US is almost the only nation in the world where there is already two generations old culture of using PCs. The PC (Internet as well) is well known and accepted in there and for this reason it is much easier to take in use by pupils in there too. It’s a complex world out (t)here :-)

]]> Comment on Are Educators Hostile to Wikipedia? by Sarcastrophe http://www.andycarvin.com/?p=872&cpage=1#comment-396 Sarcastrophe Thu, 29 Sep 2005 14:10:08 +0000 http://www.andycarvin.com/?p=872#comment-396 I teach 20th century US history and I love Wikipedia. It is our librarian, who I adore, who is the constant skeptic. We spend too much time during class talking about how to evaluate sources to then turn around and say that every resource a student picks up must be perfect. Wikipedia is good enough for information 99% of the time, and there are some books that cannot boast that. So I tell my students about it after they get the usual introduction to our library resources and many of them use it, like they would an encyclopedia, to flesh out their ideas. I wouldn’t expect it to be their main sources for a paper just as I would not expect a traditional encyclopedia. I teach 20th century US history and I love Wikipedia. It is our librarian, who I adore, who is the constant skeptic. We spend too much time during class talking about how to evaluate sources to then turn around and say that every resource a student picks up must be perfect. Wikipedia is good enough for information 99% of the time, and there are some books that cannot boast that. So I tell my students about it after they get the usual introduction to our library resources and many of them use it, like they would an encyclopedia, to flesh out their ideas. I wouldn’t expect it to be their main sources for a paper just as I would not expect a traditional encyclopedia.

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