Paul Pavlik (pavlik@telusplanet.net)
Sat, 10 Apr 1999 13:03:44 -0600
Date: Sat, 10 Apr 1999 13:03:44 -0600 From: Paul Pavlik <pavlik@telusplanet.net> Subject: Re: ** Implications of INTERNET LEARNING
List address to send message to everyone: ifets-discuss@LISTSERV.READADP.COM
Details of current discussion: http://ifets.gmd.de/discuss.html
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
WileyCCC@aol.com wrote:
> costs of real-world learning. But colleges must realize that a
> technical divide exists, as only 20 percent of low-income
> households own a computer. ***20%!!!? one in 5 poor people in usa have
> computers?! What a country!
Here in the North, home technology is used to access:
#1 World Wrestling Federation
#2 Cartoons
#3 As the World Turns, All My Children
#4 Sega, Nintendo and Playstation.
Most homes have two+ TVs and 2 or more gaming stations. The most watched
TV shows are the most violent, escapists, etc.
"Snuff-Fluff" is my name for it. I have NEVER seen 'The Nature of
Things' on in anyone else's home.
Since kids are given the widest latitude in their upbringing, they are
now out of shape physically and mentally from watching endless hours of
TV-as-babysitting - average 5+ hours per day. I would not call this
non-access to technology. It is quite the opposite.
But what else is expected? Students exit from grade 10 and are over 50%
illiterate, non-numeric, and do not know the difference between atom,
molecule, mixture, element, etc. They HATE computers.
(is there a name for being non-scientific basic?)
If the adults go back to school, they enter at a (tested) gr 4-6 level.
They are then expected to get their upgrading, high school, and a trade,
in FOUR years. They have no studyskills program. But, hey, there are no
jobs out there anyway.
If they make it to University the drop out rate is 80 to 90%!!
The tech divide exists for a reason. Giving out computers will not
solve one thing.
There are many programs out there but they are not being used. We
started a 'Working Computer Museum Society' but it is hard to complete
with TV and Sega.
It is just like in the North here people say we need good housing, more
education, and more jobs.
Here is the results:
People living on welfare/schoolfare have 30 to 40 certificates/diplomas;
live in new houses surrounded by rubbish and old cars. The drug/theives
are the super rich. All the excess money is spent on Supertrucks,
gambling, marijuana, crack, and alcohol. I would mention Bingo as the
most prevalent pastime, except here it is viewed as being a professional
activity. Semi-pro at the least.
The gangs are the de-facto rulers and fashion setters. Who runs them?
The grand-mothers! They know enough math from long practice in Bingos
and cards. So they have control over the money flow.
WE also offered many orgs and schools in town tech help, free software,
videos, CDs etc. Guess what - access to computers, tech help and
software is not the issue. Something else is.
What is access to higher ed and its tech being used for then?
I know the results here. Kids are so overwhelmed that they do not have
any problem solving skills, nor desire to tackle anything. The
old-timers and elders (with no, or little 'education') were almost 100%
self-reliant, would tackle anything, and took a joy in innovating with
what they had.
In a out-in-the-bush ranch, the old-timers used rawhide to emulate
plastic, metal, sheet-metal, welding, soldering, etc. Remember
Geronimo? He made his own guns, gun powder and bullets! Too bad he did
not have the Internet.
Question? What do you think the life expectancy rate is here? And the
top cause of death?
Please do not believe me. Come see for yourself. I have three spare
bedrooms and two full deepfreezers.
-- Paul <Pavlik@telusplanet.net> -hugging the trees in northern Alberta---------------------------------------------------------- Forum website: http://ifets.gmd.de/ Forum's contact person: kinshuk@ieee.org Info on Join/Leave List: http://ifets.gmd.de/maillist.html ---------------------------------------------------------
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.0b3 on Sat 10 Apr 1999 - 21:49:52 MET DST