January 1, 2013

Kids and computers: it works

There's an interesting story at Spiegel Online. It's about kids in Ethiopia and how they're learning by using tablet computers.

The thing is, no one taught them anything. Someone simply set up a solar charging station in their village, gave tablets to all the kids, and left. Someone comes by weekly to make sure the charging station is working, and that's it. The kids learned by playing games and singing songs -- in English, no less. And now it seems the children can read and write, despite the fact that no one taught them how to do this. Amazing.

Are there downsides? Perhaps. It may not be kind to teach children about a world they probably can't afford to join. They may want things that are beyond their reach. Then again, with knowledge anything is possible.

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