Of yellow pills and tablets
Tablets? Seriously? Tablets ?
Wait a minute....maybe we’re talking about those little yellow pills that we all need to feel better every now and then.
If that’s the case then maybe I could twist and stretch my imagination enough to justify giving one to all school children. God knows some teachers could use a few too.
But it seems like we’re talking about the little touch screens; the ones that in the developed world are meant to give people access to the world wide web, social media, You
Tube and the works.
The ones that have been designed mainly to facilitate communication wherever we are.
The ones that were never meant to replace text books.
The ones that, as any parent will testify, are practically impossible to child-proof.
With wi-fi so easily available everywhere, and with the android market full of free apps, You Tube links that pop out of nowhere, and social media just a touch away, a tablet is, or rather should be, every parent’s nightmare.
Child psychologists (who know what they’re doing) strongly advice against getting your child anything that lets them connect to the internet, and which they can use in the privacy of their own space, because to date, no child-proof software is actually child-proof.
And, if the solution to this is to disable wi-fi connectivity, then I have only word to say – FACEPALM!
Even kids who can’t read a word; kids who have never seen so much as a calculator or a watch, will manage to get around any attempt to control the use of their tablet.
Late last year, an organisation called One Laptop Per Child tried an experiment in two very remote villages in Ethiopia; and when I say remote I mean seriously remote - about fifty miles away from the closest sign of civilisation, and that’s if you can call Addis Ababa civilised.
One of the villages is called Wonchi and the other is called Wolonchete. People in these places have not even been exposed to road signs, let alone books or gadgets.
As part of an experiment, the One Laptop Per Child organisation dropped off hundreds of sealed boxes containing tablets in these villages, and then watched what happened. The boxes were shut tight with no instructions whatsoever.
Within minutes, the kids opened the boxes, and one of them found the way to turn it on.
Within less than a week they had figured out how to recharge the tablets by solar power and were using 47 apps per child, per day.
Now wait for it, these tablets could not connect to the internet because as you can imagine there is no internet infrastructure in such remote areas, but within five months, the kids still managed to hack the Android in order to enable the camera and customize their desktop – both of which had been locked using special ‘child-proof’ software.
Sure, the kids were also singing the alphabet song that had been pre-installed on their tablets, but I thought we had teachers for that here!
Parents who have never owned or used a tablet themselves might not realise the dangers involved in giving one to their child. Those who have, however, are probably still scooping up their chins off the floor.
I don’t even want to think about the cost involved in doing this, you know the taxes that you and me would rather see going towards more homes for the elderly, more nurses, more residential care for the disabled, better streets, and more resource centres where people with intellectual disabilities get to do more than stare at each other all day.
And I won’t even go into the logistical nightmare of missing tablets, stolen tablets and orange juice-soaked tablets.
The point is - tablets were not designed for writing nor for reading. They were not designed for classroom teaching either.
No one has ever managed to write more than an email on a tablet and when we’re forced to most of us get the urge to jump off the closest cliff.
Tablets are not meant to be used as text books either. Besides the fact that there are other gadgets meant for this, the solution to not having children carry half their body weight in books is simple - it’s called better time-table planning.
So tell me? Would you like extra fries with your tablet sir ?
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Denis de Bernardy
Feb 4th, 01:08
Your views on Addis Ababa are gratuitous -- not to mention repulsive. FWIW, Ethiopia was amongst the (if not the) very first country to adopt Christianity. And it has a very rich culture.
As for kids vs screens you're not merely ill informed; you've been debunked many times over. See the bibliography at page 103 here:
http://www.academie-sciences.fr/activite/rapport/avis0113.pdf
Robert Borg
Feb 2nd, 18:42
What has always concerned me about technology is,and don't get me wrong I LOVE high tech gadgets, we tend to rely on them too much. Case in point, my daughter had problems with spelling in school and the principals solution to the problem was spellcheck on the computer. I believe computers and tablets are useful tools but should not take the place of traditional tools such as books etc
matthew tanti
Feb 1st, 14:15
"and that’s if you can call Addis Ababa civilised". what kind of a comment is that? perhaps you should do some research about ethiopian culture and addis ababa's history before shooting off such comments!
P Pace Balzan
Jan 30th, 12:19
I agree completely with this article.
I feel that both political parties are completely off track.
It would have been, by far, much better had a political party proposed to digitize ALL educational lessons and have them available, for all, online.
JIMMY ATANASIO
Jan 31st, 14:28
all these computers are doing is making all the kids brain dead.not many of them even can tell you the times table cause they do everything with it.i say get rid of them and go back to the old ways where they have to use their brain to figure things out
Carmel Borg
Jan 29th, 16:02
Alison
I have 5 children of my own between 2 and 15 yrs. Four of them, aged 3, 9, 12 and 15 have their own tablets, each adequate to their age. I can assure you that in all cases are not just used for fun as in just for fun but also as educative means such as learning alphabet and phonics, counting, new words, picture recognition, colours, reading for all ages. You name it you will probably get it
Alison Bezzina
Jan 30th, 09:38
Yes like all gadgets, tablets are great baby sitters,certainly cheaper too.,,,but then with five children....who can blame you :)?
Etienne Bonanno
Jan 29th, 10:42
Alison, I don't agree with your pessimism regarding tablets. I think it's a very exciting development for students. Of course there are logistical problems to overcome and perhaps the very youngest children should only be allowed to use them under strict supervision and perhaps only in the classroom.
But these are details and they can be ironed out in time.
Alison Bezzina
Jan 29th, 11:35
Of course it's an exciting development Etienne.. as is getting cheaper electricity bills. BUT why is it that whilst we're not willing to iron out the details of the energy proposals at a later stage, we're willing to delay the ironing out the details of giving tablets to our children. Quite frankly I value our children's well being more than I value money but I guess that's just me.
Etienne Bonanno
Jan 29th, 17:15
Quite frankly I think there are plenty of details still to be ironed out in the energy proposals too. I'm sure that if it weren't both parties coming out with the tablet proposals we'd see a whole lot more details being "ironed out" on the usual political debate avenues.
There's a huge amount of potential in making closer and better use of modern technology in classrooms. No space here to discuss.
Jennifer Debono
Jan 29th, 09:42
I agree with you Alison but it seems both parties seem to think our kids need another gizmo to play about with. Did they really bother to think of the consequences, apart from the fact that it'll be coming out of the taxpayers' money?
Randolph Peresso
Jan 27th, 00:05
Alison, you are really off mark, and by far. Tablets in the classroom are the immediate future, if not the present. They certainly are the next step in the strategy adopted by the Directorate for Educational Services. Laptops to all teachers was the first step, then interactive whiteboards, followed by the e-platform and now tablets to everyone.
joe micallef
Jan 28th, 10:35
Yes Mr Peresso the PN apparently is the Mr Know all to all ailments and needs this nation of ours expects
without expresing!
Beyond tablets for everyone the PN will offer a state of the art coffin including a monitor to follow Finanzi fis sod while at it !
Grow up man this is 2013 and hogwash is long gone!
Oh on second thoughts what about introducing gas now before 2018?
EU cut off date is 2020?
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jan 26th, 18:13
Is your objection to blue tablets, to red tablets or only to red tablets that change colour to blue?
Alison Bezzina
Jan 27th, 10:52
Francis,
Why is it so difficult to believe that someone could be against or in favour of a proposal no matter who came up with it ?
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jan 26th, 17:53
Is your objection to blue tablets, to red tablets or only to red tablets that change colour to blue?
joe micallef
Jan 28th, 13:05
Dear Francis -The issue is the PN hates being second best and try to outdo labour even if labour says zilg!
The reality issue is the PN is sensing the modern mentality of those tribal maltese that have evolved within the last 15 years can be spoon fed PN fodder and stay put
This is 2013 and not yesterday PN mentality!
Victor Rodenas
Jan 26th, 17:05
Can we have elections every year please,......goodies,goodies,goodies.
Victor Rodenas
Jan 26th, 16:54
In a few months time unfortunately,more than half of the Tablets will finish in the dustbin,....broken.
Eric Soames
Jan 26th, 15:04
Hmm. I thought as a young modern you'd be more ahead of the curve. Here's some reading:
http://www.apple.com/education/ipad/
http://www.tuaw.com/2012/11/16/ipads-in-the-classroom-re-invigorate-teachers/
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/blog/ipads-in-the-classroom
Where were you on the change from slate boards to paper?
Anthony Farrugia
Jan 26th, 16:44
Eric Soames : The writer of this blog wanted to be quick off the mark and dumb down the tablet proposal. Unfortunatelly she did not do her research and fell flat on her face !
Eric Soames
Jan 26th, 18:30
Anthony Farrugia: That seems to be the case, sir. That makes at least two bloggers as far as I'm aware in this newspaper, one doing it twice for good measure.
Mario Grech
Jan 27th, 10:31
Oh what reliable sources you've researched Eric..... Apple propaganda at its very best. But we can't really blame you for falling for it. We all know how good Apple are at creating demand for their products. Sad thing is that both our political parties seem to have fallen for it too...except of course, the tablets proposed will be a far cry from the Apple iPads we all aspire for.
Eric Soames
Jan 27th, 12:07
Mario Grech: You obviously didn't check out the links for yourself, because along with the Apple site I included two educational sites. Also because I'm alive in this modern world and my head not buried in sand I'm aware of what the trends are and where they're going. Funny that you seem to be miffed at Apple for doing a good job of marketing AND at the possibility of not getting an iPad.
joe micallef
Jan 28th, 10:40
Paying hard earned taxes through my nose Mr Soames!
What are you after troglodite politics?
Bad news to you mate-it is no longer available - the PN has made sure this is defunct but to its own detriment as we have learnt in the process to go paperless!!!
Mario Grech
Jan 28th, 11:47
@ Eric Soames
So according to you just because an article appears in another publication (not Apple owned) then it can't possibly be part of Apple's marketing and is definitely an objective review. You might be alive Mr. Somes but the sand is getting higher and higher.
Eric Soames
Jan 28th, 14:20
joe micallef: I don't understand your comment, also I don't pay taxes in your country, so, indulge me and please explain.
Mario Grech: Whether it's the result of Apple's marketing or not, the results are that School Districts in the US are going for it. Claiming all studies are devious Apple strategies is a refusal to see reality. Turning the metaphor I used around doesn't work, by the way.
Mario Grech
Jan 28th, 15:47
@ Eric
So sorry, I had missed the point you were trying to make initially. Yes of course, if they're going for it in the US then we should too.... of course (NOT)!
A Attard
Jan 26th, 13:20
Tablets, as you say, "were not designed for writing or for reading". How come that this evening, to be precise before nodding myself to sleep I will be reading page 50 of Treasure Island". Please try and be objective for once.
ANTHONY PAVIA
Jan 26th, 15:46
It is obvious that Alison meant serious reading and writing, not e-book reading. Imagine needing several textbooks simultaneously and having just a tablet for access! There are some tablets that have keyboards and these mitigate the problems somewhat, but not enough to solve problems arising. Of course, tablets may serve as another tool, but let us not go overboard and believe them salvation.
Anthony Farrugia
Jan 27th, 10:24
Of course tablets are made for reading and writing, and sbreadsheets and anything you can think of.. Perhaps the blog writer and some who have posted here are mistaking them with mobile phones , be they smart or not !
PS These tablets are definitely not available from the Pharmacy of your choice LOL
Alison Bezzina
Jan 27th, 12:39
Anthony,
you might be right. I might be confusing tablets with mobile smartphones. After all I've only been working in the telecomms industry for the past 10 years.
Giovanni Carmelo aka John Carmel Navarro
Jan 26th, 10:29
As always a witty infusion of common sense, just one thought hope these tablets are not being collected from the pharmacy of your choice as they are always out of stock!
Anthony Borg
Jan 26th, 17:57
:-) witty comment Mr Navarro - well done, or should I say, well said!
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