ONE LAPTOP PER CHILD

A Study of Educational Divide in One Laptop per Child Programs in Secondary Schools



Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION3

Research Questions3

CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS6

Research Question 1: What are the scope and nature of the educational needs of US that the laptop project sought to fulfill?6

Research Question 2: To what extent did the laptop prove an appropriate technology for the expressed educational needs in Research Question 1?9

Research Question 3: What are the scope and nature of the implementation process of the one laptop per child programs in secondary schools in United States?10

Research Question 4: From the perspective of the users and participants in the one laptop per child programs in secondary schools, what led to their discontinuation in US?15

Research Question 5: What lessons for improvement can be learned from the United States one laptop per child programs in secondary schools experience?18

CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION23

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION

Research Questions

This research study pertains to educational divide in one laptop per child programs in secondary schools focuses on five research questions:

Research Question 1: What are the scope and nature of the educational needs of US that the laptop project sought to fulfill?

The study sought to learn the needs as expressed by the target audience and local experts with firsthand knowledge, who are most qualified to determine those needs. This information is vital in determining whether the features of the laptop match the needs expressed by potential participants.

Research Question 2: To what extent did the laptop prove an appropriate technology for the expressed educational needs in Research Question 1?

This question generated data on whether or not the participants consider the laptops appropriate or competent in solving their educational needs; whether they can offer suggestions on how the laptop can be revamped, or validate its current state. To answer this question, student participants are expected to illustrate how the laptop served their educational needs within the period they used them. Also, the financial capability of United States to provide this tool to students will be explored. Past researchers defined appropriate technology as low cost technologies aimed specifically at meeting the most basic needs of the world's poorest people. The design of such technology is expected to consider cost and the environmental, social, cultural, economical, ethical and political characteristics of the users.

Research Question 3: What are the scope and nature of the implementation process of the one laptop per child programs in secondary schools in United States?

This question addresses the processes employed by one laptop per child programs in determining United States as viable site, the length and the breath of student and teacher training as well as the quality of materials used. School records that document the planning and implementation phases were expected to help answer this question.

Research Question 4: From the perspective of the users and participants in the one laptop per child programs in secondary schools, what led to their discontinuation in United States?

Participants were not prompted in how to answer this question; rather, it was asked as ...