[ILUG] Thoughts on the provision of a laptop to every secondary school pupil

[Gavin McCullagh]

Hi,

On Mon, 19 Feb 2007, Pádraig Brady wrote:

> John Madden wrote:
> > Mr. Coveney,
> > 
> > As an IT contractor, I read with interest the piece in your most recent
> > weekly newsletter (16th February 2007) about the provision of one laptop
> > to every pupil starting secondary school. I can tell you, I would have
> > loved to have been given a laptop to use in secondary school, instead of
> > lugging around a bag full of books and notepads!
> > 
> > However I would have some reservations about such a plan.

You're not alone in having reservations.  To be honest, my reservations
start way before what software they should be using.

> Have you a link to details of the plan?

http://www.finegael.ie/policy/index.cfm/area/information/pkey/671/PubCatID/16/type/details
http://www.tui.ie/Press%20Releases/PR061127.html
http://www.adammaguire.com/blog/?p=322

> Would the OLPC be appropriate here?
> At least worth a mention:
> http://www.laptop.org/

It's a possibility alright.  The fact that you can wind them up may be
useful as some secondary schools have 4-6 power points and if they're lucky
1 network point per classroom ;-)  What current a laptop draws when on
mains, I'm uncertain, but even the wiring is a big job.

Let's not even think about maintenance and support or the fact that every
student would be carrying Eur400 worth of saleable equipment to and from
school each day.

There's no mention of whether teachers might be given laptops.

Gavin