ISTE and OLPC
Saturday, December 6, 2008 at 12:54PM
Cranky person, Gary Stager, criticizes ISTE for not doing more to promote the OLPC project:
Since ISTE seeks to be the premiere educational technology advocacy group in the world, it seems curious they have done nothing whatsoerver to promote the efforts of One Laptop Per Child or the Give One, Get One promotion ending at the end of the year.
Why not take a minute to contact some of the folks listed here on the ISTE web site or its Board of Directors and ask them why the International Society for Technology in Education is silent on connecting the world's poorest children to the 21st Century?
My response left on Gary's blog:
Hi Gary,
I can't let this one slip by unchallenged.
While I am no longer an ISTE board member, I do know that during my tenure on the board, our organization invited Nicholas Negroponte to be a Keynote at NECC – one of the most visible live speaking opportunities there is in the global ed tech community – to talk about the OLPC initiative. NECC has also had full labs of the OLPC computers available for people to use in workshop settings. ISTE has actually done a tremendous amount through NECC to support this initiative.
May I ask you in return what you have done to work with ISTE on getting the word out? Or is your only role criticizing the work of others?
Doug
Somehow I don't think the world will be made a better place by writing snarky blog posts - no matter how many XOs are floating around.
Oh, I will agree with Gary about one thing. Please DO contact your ISTE board members and executive officers if there is an issue that concerns you. I've always been proud that ISTE is an organization that listens and responds to its members.
Cranky person Doug's XO that he got last year as a part of the Give One, Get One Program
Reader Comments (7)
I like you, Doug. Always have, and this post demonstrates yet another reason why. Specifically, I like how you tell it straight.
Keep up the great work - doing rather than just saying,
Cranky Drape
Hear, hear!
Cranky Ninja
Dear Doug:
You do an admirable job of defending ISTE's honor.
I will limit my comments to your arguments.
1) Inviting Dr. Negroponte to speak at NECC is not an act of charity. It is the responsibility of ISTE to introduce its members to the most profound thinkers of our age.
2) ISTE says that it is concerned with advocacy. Surely that recognizes that advocacy is an ongoing effort and not limited to one speech several years ago. Point #3 makes this argument even more accute
3) The One Laptop Per Child Give One, Get One promotion providing laptops for the world's poorest children only lasts six weeks. That makes all of our voices more critical if the effort may achieve maximum success.
4) Major television networks and magazines have donated time/space to advertise the Give One, Get One promotion. Surely, ISTE could find a way to place a link on their web site.
You make the assumption that I have been passive. First of all, using modern technology to urge ISTE members to ask their organization for assistance is action. Mr. Knezek and I recently keynoted the same conference. At least one member of the audience asked him why ISTE was not promoting Give One, Get One.
My colleagues at the One Laptop Per Child Foundation are finalizing an appeal letter for distribution to the US educational technology community regarding G1, G1. I hope I can count on you to help me convince ISTE to send the letter to all of its members. Your relationship with the organization can change the lives of children.
Be well,
Gary
I also want to point out that SITE 2008 also included a wonderful, well attended keynote and after keynote group discussion by Antonio M. Battro, the Chief Education Officer, OLPC, One Laptop Per Child. Educators in attendance were very anxious to know what they could do to help but outside of purchasing on a large scale (which is difficult with freezes and budget cuts) we were left wishing we could do more. Our individual universities, have continued to discuss OLPC and try and come up with ways we can help.
Cynthia
Hi Gary,
Thanks for the response. Are you telling me that you approached ISTE directly and they refused to participate in this G1G1 promotion? If so, I’d be interested in knowing who you talked to there. In my conversations with the ISTE people, they have expressed support for the OLPC initiative. If I can be of help in spreading the word about your project in any way, I’d be happy to do so. As you know, I also put my money where my mouth is LAST YEAR and participated in the G1G1 program.
All the best,
Doug
Thanks, Cynthia, for this information.
All the best,
Doug
It turns out that the Give One Get One program is not six weeks long this year, but in fact has no end date.
http://wiki.laptop.org/go/G1G1_2008
This year's Give 1, Get 1 campaign launches in November and will
become an on-going program.
...
While the promotion has no scheduled end date, the advertising will
run from Nov 17 to Dec 26, to take advantage of the holiday giving
season.
HI Edward,
Thanks for the information. I was under the assumption this was a limited time only deal.
A place to spend one's Christmas money!
All the very best,
Doug