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**SlyThatGuy** » 2013-01-22 07:03

Morris,In response to your blog/comment,I would just like to say that your suggestion is just a suggestion - It doesn't solidify into a rule. In other words,no one is under any obligation to use them,but I do believe that the authorities take your suggestion into consideration when they come across them. Also, what you think would solve the problem may not really be the solution.

**Reader** » 2013-01-21 22:22

Get your facts right. The students are not getting cellphones - Samsung Galaxy S3 is a cellphone/PDA.

**Morris** » 2013-01-21 20:17

Tenman - we've done the math numerous times to find the true cost, but so far no one is paying attention. The fact that they would continue down this road when much better alternatives exist that have been tested and proven to be much more effective, says alot about the push to complete this plan that is yet to be revealed. It would be great to see what lies beneath when the layers of the onion are peeled back.

Original Independent - I have been preaching smart classrooms for a long time now because I have seen first-hand how effective it can be, but to no avail. I just visited my son's school the other day and was so amazed at the way his science class was using the very same technology to collaborate (in real time) on a science project with students at UNC. Next semester they will be working with some international students. This is the direction of education in the developed world and these guys are stuck on iPads.

**Original Independent** » 2013-01-21 19:13

Invest in ALL our young people by converting our classrooms to smart classrooms. There are a lot of things that could be done using technology to improve pedagogy if this was done. Even by having projectors in ALL the schools would make a big difference. It is very exasperating when you have 1 little computer and trying to set it up in such a way as to show videos, Power Point presentations or educational games for a room full of over 20 students. I keep emphasizing ALL because when anything is being looked at technologically it is often geared only towards secondary schools. The last time I checked primary schools are also in need of technological advancement.

**Observer Overseas** » 2013-01-21 15:25

I can't help but sense a lot of fear about what students will do with these tablets, with all the concern being expressed about access to pornographic materials etc. While risks do exist, it is clear to me from the information provided by the Ministry officials that some effort has been made to mitigate them. Moreover, it would be unreasonable to expect any program design or content filter to be adequate substitute for good parenting. My honest view is that the fear being expressed by some, say more about how we feel about our young people than it says about the Internet or the e-education programme. Does it say how little we trust our young people to be responsible and make good decisions? Does it say we do not value them enough to invest in them, and in so doing invest in our own future? Just thinking....

**tenman** » 2013-01-21 15:18

If one were to take the time to check the number of secondary students in forms 3 - 5, you will see its only about 4400 students (check the Ministry of education, Education Digest.) It is stated that 5th formers will have to turn in the tablets on graduation so we only have a minor amount of new tablets having to be purchased. The retail cost for Samsung Galaxy S3 is 699 USD, so we are talking $8,304,120.00 retail. The reviews on the S3 is that its not worth the cost. Lets admit Digicel is not paying retail prices for these devices. Anyone care to point out where the other at least 60 million is being used? Studies done, up to August last year, on the Samsung tablet by Marie Bjerede and Tzaddi Bondi using the same Samsung tablets(see http://www.learninguntethered.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Learning-is-Personal.pdf) point out the Android platform is too immature for the school environment. Admittedly the study was done with an earlier OS (2.2 vs 4). However there are still reports that the Andriod OS is too fragmented (persons not using the same versions)

..

**KWAME NKOSI ROMEO** » 2013-01-21 13:55

Dr. Edward Mansoor hasty generalization will not benefit Antigua and Barbuda, similar to the IMF agenda,the country will be further pauperized.

Evidently Dr. Mansoor never evaluated Datawind Aakash2 tablet valued at about EC$54.00 each, compared to Digicel's excessive cost! Who benefits?

**Helen Carr** » 2013-01-21 11:46

Good incentive for children even adult education, and that is what the tablets are for, to access info at anytime.
Why having a device and you are not able to access the internet on the go. They should not be any interruption with any of the services they are allow to access. This is info at hand for them.

**Jimmy** » 2013-01-21 11:44

So here's one for you! Get all the young persons who will be reaching voters age at the next re-registration ...give them a Tablet...get their e-mail contacts...send them a reminder to register...send them occasional subliminal messages about the Glory of the UPP who made this "gift" possible...BING O...another term from these new recruits!

**Beachbum** » 2013-01-21 09:59

Antigua Girls High School, St Marys School of Excellence, St Josephs Academy and Island Academy.

Mansoor, how many of these schools are Government owned? Something smells here! Poor Baldwin is ignorant to this whole deal!

Where is D. Giselle Isaac/Arrindel in all this? Shouldn't she have been part of the decision makers? Her silence on this is deafening!

**IT Guru** » 2013-01-21 09:41

@Dr Edmond Mansoor try this doc http://www.virtual.gmu.edu/pdf/ascd.pdf.The government obviously spending $71.6 million for naught. Extract “ Unless other simultaneous innovations in pedagogy, curriculum, **sment, and school organization are coupled to the usage of instructional technology, the time and effort expended on implementing these devices produces few improvements in educational outcomes—and reinforces many educators’ cynicism about fads based on magical machines. However, even without educational technology, classrooms are already drowning in data, and an overcrowded curriculum puts students and teachers on the brink of intellectual indigestion. What if instead much of the presentation and motivation that is foundational for learning occurred outside of classroom settings, via information technologies part of home and workplace and community contexts? Students would arrive at school already imbued with some background and motivation, ripe for guided inquiry, ready for interpretation and collaborative construction of knowledge”.

**Fair Antiguan** » 2013-01-21 09:22

I would have been happy to see Digicel sponsor the Digicel E-Learning Centre at the "waiting to be completed" public library, that is a designated area with computers, Internet access, printing facilities, and e-learning programmes readily available for all students to access in a controlled, clean and study conducive environment every day of the week. I also would have been delighted to see similar centres set up at the State College and all of the secondary schools with extended library hours for our youths. That Dr. Mansoor is vision.

**Young analyst** » 2013-01-21 08:46

So out all this uproar only one entity i am seeing here gets the benefit and that is digicel. They got free concessions but the students only get free internet from 6am-6pm of which that are in school most of these times so they can not be researching as they say the tablets should be used for and packages are being put in place for the weekend, so again digicel gaining. This initiative is not by any means free for us Antiguans so who really benefits?

**Morris** » 2013-01-21 07:58

"The government obviously scored a big win in this area," he said. The minister said the first 6000 devices under the e-education computer tablet and e-education connectivity programme are valued at $14.3 million annually. Overall, the cost of connectivity for the five years has been estimated at $71.6 million.

Not even here in the great USA are they equipping every student with iPads; however, if you go to the schools you would notice how equipped they are with smart technology in the classrooms. Smart technology is very cheap, effective, and easy to monitor. I guarantee that every classroom in ANU could be converted for $71.6 million. This program by Mansoor needs some deep investigating.

**IT Guru** » 2013-01-21 07:39

@Dr Edmond Mansoor. The students need some technology but $71.6 million for this? WOW! I posted this piece last Thursday and I was hoping for some feedback/debate from you. In 2003, Niue (located in the Pacific, East of Australia visit: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niue and click on Media and then read their Information Technology section), about the same size as Antigua, 100.4 square miles became the world's first "WiFi nation", where free wireless Internet access is provided throughout the island. Everyone in Niue can get online without having to sign up with an Internet provider. Also, eTourists on yachts can connect to the WiFi from their on-board computers. That money you paid for those junkets could provide every Antiguan with free island-wide WI-FI and OLPC XO-1 subnotebook or netbooks. Why not send some IT teachers or IT techs to pay Niue a visit. Dr. $71.6 million could do this and more for all Antigua.

**skyewill** » 2013-01-21 07:11

It can never be a bad idea to give kids educational tools and although something is missing in this equation I have to give the minister for a good vision. He was consistant and obviously can get a job done. Now Mr. Minister we do have to prioritize things so how about working on the countries infilstructure like Police and Hospital and a network that will connect the government so their will be more synergy. Please stop allowing computer illiterates to explain your program. A locked on desk, desk top could be shared by more students and would be less expensive, more functional with more practical uses, easier to repair, upgrade and replace. With that said. What is the application that takes the student to school or eBooks they will use that matches the curriculum? Are there special cl** and do teachers have the lessons plans in place to facilitate the planned lessons on the tablet because all that comes first before the tablet is useful.

**Seriously?** » 2013-01-21 03:28

"The government obviously scored a big win in this area," he said.

I'm sure "The government" did quite well, they always have (Dato Tan, Allen Stanford, John Allen Mohammad, Gerald Bull, Robert Vesco, et al)

But did Antiguans "score" anything?

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