Thai Education Ministry Sets Tablet PC Price At Bt2,400

[webfact]

Ministry sets tablet price at Bt2,400

Wannapa Khaopa

The Nation

Publishers invited to present e-textbooks and learning tools

BANGKOK: -- After the Education Ministry set the tablet price at Bt2,400 on Wednesday, the ministry's permanent secretary said yesterday that publishers would be invited to come in on Monday to present the e-textbooks and other learning material that will be put on the devices as part of the "one student, one computer tablet" project.

The ministry has been discussing the content that will be put on tablets for both primary and secondary levels as well as non-formal education centres, especially since the education minister wants students at all levels to be able to use the devices, Sasithara Pichaichannarong said. The ministry also plans to experiment on creating teaching materials, hence the ministry will use its own budget to purchase 40 tablets - 10 each for primary and secondary levels and 20 for non-formal education - and will propose the setting up of a content-screening committee, she added.

Previously, the ministry decided to create content for Prathom-1 students and assigned the job to the Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA), Sasithara said. So far, e-textbooks for five subjects, namely science, maths, Thai and English language as well as social studies have been created along with 350 learning tools. She said e-textbooks would occupy half of the tablets' 8GB memory, which means students will still have enough space available for homework. Otherwise, she said, the ministry could use this space to provide lessons on morality and ethics.

Meanwhile, Information and Communications Technology Ministry and other related agencies will survey schools to see which are technologically ready. The schools will be divided into three categories: the green group being those that have an Internet connection; the yellow group being those with electricity but a weak Internet connection; and the red group comprising 200 schools that have no electricity. The tablets will be delivered in three lots from May onwards starting with the green group, she said, adding that officials will also survey the school areas to see if there are any tablet-repairing facilities.

"No matter how much money the government has set aside for buying the tablets, it has to provide as much money for training teachers and hiring administrative staff, otherwise the project will fail," Asst Prof Chalermchai Boonyaleepun, president of the Srinakharinwirot University (SWU), warned.

He cited an ongoing study being conducted to observe the impact of similar projects found that most countries that had distributed tablets to their students without first preparing the teachers had failed to achieve proper results.

Since spending more than half of the budget on preparing teachers and administration staff as part of its pilot project had proved a success, Chalermchai said the Education Ministry should do the same when handing out tablets on a national scale.

He said teachers' understanding of the correct usage of the tablets and good content were more important than just distributing the devices.

"The government should consider the study's results and pay attention to the recommendations before making a decision on the distribution of the tablets," he added.

"Former education minister Woravat Auapinyakul had told SWU that he would consider the results once the study has been completed," he said, adding that he was not sure if Suchart Thadathamrongvej would continue with what Woravat had agreed to do.

He said the lecturers had yet to conclude the study and make recommendations because it would take time to decide how the tablet would affect students' health, behaviour and learning habits, as well as the impact it would have on teachers, directors, parents and people in surrounding communities.

"If they find that the tablets are beneficial, they will urge the ministry to go ahead with distributing the devices and provide guidelines on developing the project. However, if they find the devices more harmful, they will urge the government to stop distributing the tablets," Chalermchai said.

The study should be concluded by May this year.

-- The Nation 2012-02-03

[Buchholz]

After the Education Ministry set the tablet price at Bt2,400 on Wednesday, the ministry's permanent secretary said yesterday that publishers would be invited to come in on Monday to present the e-textbooks and other learning material that will be put on the devices as part of the "one student, one computer tablet" project.

Does that mean they already have the tablet manufacturer and model the government selected? If so, why have they not shown it to the public? Let's have a look at this 2,400 baht gem.

Additionally, for accuracy sake, the project needs to be retitled from their false election promise to,

"Some Students, Some Computer Tablets"

to accurately reflect that over 10 million students will not be receiving tablets.

.

Edited February 3, 2012 by Buchholz

[whybother]

When will the yellow and red groups get their tablets?

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

[sirchai]

Previously, the ministry decided to create content for Prathom-1 students and assigned the job to the Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA), Sasithara said. So far, e-textbooks for five subjects, namely science, maths, Thai and English language as well as social studies have been created along with 350 learning tools. She said e-textbooks would occupy half of the tablets' 8GB memory, which means students will still have enough space available for homework. Otherwise, she said, the ministry could use this space to provide lessons on morality and ethics.

8 GB!

Edited February 3, 2012 by sirchai

[x5david]

After the Education Ministry set the tablet price at Bt2,400 on Wednesday, the ministry's permanent secretary said yesterday that publishers would be invited to come in on Monday to present the e-textbooks and other learning material that will be put on the devices as part of the "one student, one computer tablet" project.

Does that mean they already have the tablet manufacturer and model the government selected? If so, why have they not shown it to the public? Let's have a look at this 2,400 baht gem. Additionally, for accuracy sake, the project needs to be retitled from their false election promise to, "Some Students, Some Computer Tablets" to accurately reflect that over 10 million students will not be receiving tablets. .

At that price it must be made locally and have an expected life of about 3 weeks before needing major repairs....

[Thaddeus]

The study should be concluded by May this year.

Just the study then.

[jonclark]

Previously, the ministry decided to create content for Prathom-1 students and assigned the job to the Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA), Sasithara said. So far, e-textbooks for five subjects, namely science, maths, Thai and English language as well as social studies have been created along with 350 learning tools. She said e-textbooks would occupy half of the tablets' 8GB memory, which means students will still have enough space available for homework. Otherwise, she said, the ministry could use this space to provide lessons on morality and ethics.

8 GB!

I'm be more concerned with how the teachers are going to mark the homework - Imagine having to mark homework on for a class of 50 and each homework is on a tablet. I'm sure teachers can't wait!!!

Power on. username, password, "<deleted> caps lock is on" password again, wait 30 seconds to boot, now where has the homework been saved and under what file name....(1 - 10 minutes) ....aw <deleted> this for a game of soliders. turn off.

Next... (repeat 49 times)

A great idea in principle, but without the MoE setting up comprehensive and clear objectives for their use and providing the aging teacher population with training and support doomed to failure.

Somewhat akin to a man who has never played a musical instrument being asked to conduct an orchestra.

[Buchholz]

The study should be concluded by May this year.

Just the study then.

Yes, shortly after all the tablets have been distributed.

.

Edited February 3, 2012 by Buchholz

[Moruya]

This project is doomed to failure. It has been whittled down so much, time after time, from the day that Yingluck held up a Samsung Galaxy Tab on the election trail and announced that all students would receive a tablet "like this one".

The timing was put back, the qualifying classes chopped, now just the few schools who have both electricity and internet qualify and will get some awful cheap tablet - probably similar to this:

http://www.lightinthebox.com/7-inch-Epad-VIA8650-800Mhz-Android-2-2-OS-Tablet-PC_p189753.html

Whilst I wish them luck, I can't believe that this will be anything other than a waste of time and money and that the parents will end up wishing they still had the school uniforms paid for instead.

[LivinLOS]

The ministry also plans to experiment on creating teaching materials, hence the ministry will use its own budget to purchase 40 tablets - 10 each for primary and secondary levels and 20 for non-formal education

WOW.. They are going to use its own budget.. For a grand total of less than 100k baht..

They must really have confidence in this idea.

[KKK]

Additionally, for accuracy sake, the project needs to be retitled from their false election promise to,

"Some Students, Some Computer Tablets"

to accurately reflect that over 10 million students will not be receiving tablets.

Which amounts to about 90% ...

[Buchholz]

Additionally, for accuracy sake, the project needs to be retitled from their false election promise to,

"Some Students, Some Computer Tablets"

to accurately reflect that over 10 million students will not be receiving tablets.

Which amounts to about 90% ...

A 90% failure rate is considered a success with the PTP,

.

[orpheus454]

Previously, the ministry decided to create content for Prathom-1 students and assigned the job to the Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA), Sasithara said. So far, e-textbooks for five subjects, namely science, maths, Thai and English language as well as social studies have been created along with 350 learning tools. She said e-textbooks would occupy half of the tablets' 8GB memory, which means students will still have enough space available for homework. Otherwise, she said, the ministry could use this space to provide lessons on morality and ethics.

8 GB!

I'm be more concerned with how the teachers are going to mark the homework - Imagine having to mark homework on for a class of 50 and each homework is on a tablet. I'm sure teachers can't wait!!!

Power on. username, password, "<deleted> caps lock is on" password again, wait 30 seconds to boot, now where has the homework been saved and under what file name....(1 - 10 minutes) ....aw <deleted> this for a game of soliders. turn off.

Next... (repeat 49 times)

A great idea in principle, but without the MoE setting up comprehensive and clear objectives for their use and providing the aging teacher population with training and support doomed to failure.

Somewhat akin to a man who has never played a musical instrument being asked to conduct an orchestra.

Or perhaps akin to someone commenting negatively on this project when they clearly haven't the slightest clue how these types of devices are used in education.

Do you think that when currently a student does some sort of assessable work on a computer, the teacher then needs to sit at the same computer to mark it?

Even printing or emailing work to markers is old-hat now. Cloud based, selective file sharing is easy and costs nothing. Zilch.

You're a goose.

[SomTumTiger]

Three cheers for another bullsh$t Thaksin scheme to sucker the poor rural folks into voting for him! This will really boost their quality of life!

[PoorSucker]

Or perhaps akin to someone commenting negatively on this project when they clearly haven't the slightest clue how these types of devices are used in education.

Do you think that when currently a student does some sort of assessable work on a computer, the teacher then needs to sit at the same computer to mark it?

Even printing or emailing work to markers is old-hat now. Cloud based, selective file sharing is easy and costs nothing. Zilch.

You're a goose.

You think they will have WiFi?

2000 schools still have no electricity.

[Buchholz]

Or perhaps akin to someone commenting negatively on this project when they clearly haven't the slightest clue how these types of devices are used in education.

Do you think that when currently a student does some sort of assessable work on a computer, the teacher then needs to sit at the same computer to mark it?

Even printing or emailing work to markers is old-hat now. Cloud based, selective file sharing is easy and costs nothing. Zilch.

You're a goose.

You think they will have WiFi?

2000 schools still have no electricity.

They are almost fully stocked with chalk, however.

.

[Thaddeus]

Do you think that when currently a student does some sort of assessable work on a computer, the teacher then needs to sit at the same computer to mark it?

Even printing or emailing work to markers is old-hat now. Cloud based, selective file sharing is easy and costs nothing. Zilch.

You're a goose.

With older students maybe, but hardly manageable with the age of the kids that this was aimed at.

Ducky.

[sparebox2]

2,400 baht?

Only the Chinese and Afican are interested to bid.

[SouthernMan3]

Previously, the ministry decided to create content for Prathom-1 students and assigned the job to the Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA), Sasithara said. So far, e-textbooks for five subjects, namely science, maths, Thai and English language as well as social studies have been created along with 350 learning tools. She said e-textbooks would occupy half of the tablets' 8GB memory, which means students will still have enough space available for homework. Otherwise, she said, the ministry could use this space to provide lessons on morality and ethics.

8 GB!

My daughter's phone has twice that !

[kimamey]

Previously, the ministry decided to create content for Prathom-1 students and assigned the job to the Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA), Sasithara said. So far, e-textbooks for five subjects, namely science, maths, Thai and English language as well as social studies have been created along with 350 learning tools. She said e-textbooks would occupy half of the tablets' 8GB memory, which means students will still have enough space available for homework. Otherwise, she said, the ministry could use this space to provide lessons on morality and ethics.

8 GB!

I'm be more concerned with how the teachers are going to mark the homework - Imagine having to mark homework on for a class of 50 and each homework is on a tablet. I'm sure teachers can't wait!!!

Power on. username, password, "<deleted> caps lock is on" password again, wait 30 seconds to boot, now where has the homework been saved and under what file name....(1 - 10 minutes) ....aw <deleted> this for a game of soliders. turn off.

Next... (repeat 49 times)

A great idea in principle, but without the MoE setting up comprehensive and clear objectives for their use and providing the aging teacher population with training and support doomed to failure.

Somewhat akin to a man who has never played a musical instrument being asked to conduct an orchestra.

Or maybe akin to a woman who has never been a politician being asked to be prime minister.

[warfie]

If they've set a price they must already have decided exactly what it is (make and model) and what software is going to be purchased for each unit... no?

[PoorSucker]

If they've set a price they must already have decided exactly what it is (make and model) and what software is going to be purchased for each unit... no?

Yes, It's a ThaksinPad with JatupornSoft.

[Bagwan]

Previously, the ministry decided to create content for Prathom-1 students and assigned the job to the Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA), Sasithara said. So far, e-textbooks for five subjects, namely science, maths, Thai and English language as well as social studies have been created along with 350 learning tools. She said e-textbooks would occupy half of the tablets' 8GB memory, which means students will still have enough space available for homework. Otherwise, she said, the ministry could use this space to provide lessons on morality and ethics.

8 GB!

I'm be more concerned with how the teachers are going to mark the homework - Imagine having to mark homework on for a class of 50 and each homework is on a tablet. I'm sure teachers can't wait!!!

Power on. username, password, "<deleted> caps lock is on" password again, wait 30 seconds to boot, now where has the homework been saved and under what file name....(1 - 10 minutes) ....aw <deleted> this for a game of soliders. turn off.

Next... (repeat 49 times)

A great idea in principle, but without the MoE setting up comprehensive and clear objectives for their use and providing the aging teacher population with training and support doomed to failure.

Somewhat akin to a man who has never played a musical instrument being asked to conduct an orchestra.

Or perhaps akin to someone commenting negatively on this project when they clearly haven't the slightest clue how these types of devices are used in education.

Do you think that when currently a student does some sort of assessable work on a computer, the teacher then needs to sit at the same computer to mark it?

Even printing or emailing work to markers is old-hat now. Cloud based, selective file sharing is easy and costs nothing. Zilch.

You're a goose.

Is being a goose better or worse than being a buffalo? Or did you mean ghost?

[Siam Simon]

Do you think that when currently a student does some sort of assessable work on a computer, the teacher then needs to sit at the same computer to mark it?

Even printing or emailing work to markers is old-hat now. Cloud based, selective file sharing is easy and costs nothing. Zilch.

You're a goose.

With older students maybe, but hardly manageable with the age of the kids that this was aimed at.

Ducky.

My 3yo is now starting up Firefox on his mum's laptop, selecting a youtube video "The ABC Song" from the favourites list and surfing on from there to find all sorts of stuff interesting to a 3yo. Don't do The Kids down. Give them a chance, and they'll show far more intelligence than the older generations.

[HAL9000]

Has there been any discussion of what OS will be used and what software vendors are ready with apps to do the things they envision for these tablets?

[whybother]

Has there been any discussion of what OS will be used and what software vendors are ready with apps to do the things they envision for these tablets?

Android is the only realistic option for OS ... and:

The ministry also plans to experiment on creating teaching materials, hence the ministry will use its own budget to purchase 40 tablets - 10 each for primary and secondary levels and 20 for non-formal education

[Scott]

A post with personal insults has been deleted.

Please exercise care in your references to other posters.

[Thaddeus]

Do you think that when currently a student does some sort of assessable work on a computer, the teacher then needs to sit at the same computer to mark it?

Even printing or emailing work to markers is old-hat now. Cloud based, selective file sharing is easy and costs nothing. Zilch.

You're a goose.

With older students maybe, but hardly manageable with the age of the kids that this was aimed at.

Ducky.

My 3yo is now starting up Firefox on his mum's laptop, selecting a youtube video "The ABC Song" from the favourites list and surfing on from there to find all sorts of stuff interesting to a 3yo. Don't do The Kids down. Give them a chance, and they'll show far more intelligence than the older generations.

I'm not doing the kids down, the part of your post that I would highlight is "your 3yo"

A class full of children headed by a teacher with no experience of the technology is no way the same situation.

[longway]

A sneak preview of the tablet they will be supplying; they have ingeniously found a way around the problems of lack or electricity or wifi at many schools.

[sirchai]

Previously, the ministry decided to create content for Prathom-1 students and assigned the job to the Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA), Sasithara said. So far, e-textbooks for five subjects, namely science, maths, Thai and English language as well as social studies have been created along with 350 learning tools. She said e-textbooks would occupy half of the tablets' 8GB memory, which means students will still have enough space available for homework. Otherwise, she said, the ministry could use this space to provide lessons on morality and ethics.

8 GB!

I'm be more concerned with how the teachers are going to mark the homework - Imagine having to mark homework on for a class of 50 and each homework is on a tablet. I'm sure teachers can't wait!!!

Power on. username, password, "<deleted> caps lock is on" password again, wait 30 seconds to boot, now where has the homework been saved and under what file name....(1 - 10 minutes) ....aw <deleted> this for a game of soliders. turn off.

Next... (repeat 49 times)

A great idea in principle, but without the MoE setting up comprehensive and clear objectives for their use and providing the aging teacher population with training and support doomed to failure.

Somewhat akin to a man who has never played a musical instrument being asked to conduct an orchestra.

Free WIFI for all villages. Thais don't need Anti virus software, because they don't know what a virus is. We haven't got one Thai teacher being familiar with a shitty tablet from China.

Hello kids now please click on www.thaivisa.com, read the posts and reply. Sometimes I truly believe the kids already got their tablets....