Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Mobiles and computers in India

Every time I land in India I am amazed at how little has changed on the surface and how much has changed in people's daily lives. India still looks the same- shabby and disorganized, congested and confused.  But our maid, a primary school dropout has a child who is college bound, as is every child in his class and age group.   Even though he will not have access to the best schools and therefore the best jobs, perpetuating this society's stratification, he will have a cell phone and computer to keep him sufficiently distracted.  According to his mom he is constantly exploring the limits and bounds of browsing on his cell and is already on facebook.  He is fascinated by mobile technology and knows to take his cell phone apart and put it back.  Now he wants a computer which his mother can ill afford.   In my limited world view we have not explored the potential of telecom and Internet technology with policies that afford opportunities for our poor and less enfranchised to engage in self learning and to explore the world on their fingertips from where they are.  This world is still a hodge podge of devices, services and courses flooding the market with the promise of a good life.  People stumble upon them, are distracted by them and use them in limited ways - to text inane nothings, flirt, listen to popular songs and pay for the odd purchase.  Often relationships build on mobile platforms are aborted since the flirtation is with the device not with the person.  Mobiles and computers are not used to educate. The reverse.  They kindle desires that remain frustrated at best.  How can we sytematically mobilise the power of the web to educate in efficient and effective ways.  Why does Google, which ostensibly wants to change the world, not come up with a system for global education on a mass scale that fascinates, inspires and educates?  Can people through a global portal not reach out and learn "one on one" and in groups through interactive sessions.  Online learning platforms abound now. Let them be made available free, become available in multiple languages and be leveraged by the Indian education system to augment existing school curricula.  They will introduce students to guided study and eventually self learning and  research, thereby setting them on a path of lifelong learning - something the Canadian and American education systems do so well.  Thoughts ? Ideas?

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