elsewhere

Essentially a Microsoft promo video on the NSW DET deploying Windows 7.

Are you interested in what is happening with the Digital Education Revolution in NSW? The DET has released a public web-site with lots of information like the machine specs and software. Also check out the slightly kitschy video:

STUDENT absenteeism is to plummet in high schools as wayward pupils are lured back to class by free laptops.

Source: Laptop of learning in luxury

he he… yeah right.

I work in a school with daily absenteeism of 25% or more. Laptops are not going to change this updated: I should say, they are not going to make this figure plummet, the reasons for this absenteeism are social.

The DER as it is unfortunately named, is about to hit NSW schools. This letter provides a convincing statement of what I’ve been thinking. In my school, equipping every teacher with a computer, projector and IWB (or even just the projector) – and a couple of days of professional development (formal or informal) would have been a better investment.

Vendor for the 220,000 $500 DET Learning Devices (netbooks, sort of) will be chosen from:

ASUSTek, Acer, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Lenovo and local technology supplier Anabelle Bits Pty Ltd, a division of ASI solutions