Unesco Praises Thai Government's Tablet Policy

[webfact]

UNESCO praises Thai government's tablet policy

BANGKOK, 11 September 2012 (NNT) - The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has praised the Thai government for its one-tablet per child policy, saying technology is important in this rapidly changing world.

According to UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova, her organization is willing to support Thailand in terms of technological development as information and communication technology (ICT) is very important nowadays.

Not only is the knowledge on ICT vital to teachers and students but also to everyone. She expressed that tablet PCs should not be used just for education, but also for occupational purposes.

Additionally, the UNESCO has set up a Mobile Education Learning project, using mobile phone as a tool to increase literacy rate. Ms Bokova said around February next year, a meeting will be held among member countries to discuss ways to efficiently use mobile phones as education tools.

During her visit to Thailand, the UNESCO Director-General also attended the annual Asia-Pacific Ministerial Forum on ICT in Education (AMFIE) 2012 in Bangkok; the event was also participated by Education ministers and officials related to education from 24 nations.

-- NNT 2012-09-11

[josephinebloggs]

I wonder if they're aware of the Thai " expert " who found that they slow childrens brain development.

[theblether]

Before everyone else fires in with the fraud / corruption / blah blah arguments.............anything that's going to improve education levels in Thailand must be applauded, and internet access for all children is a laudable aim.

I can see some bumps in the road but I agree it's a good policy.

[bkkjames]

Before everyone else fires in with the fraud / corruption / blah blah arguments.............anything that's going to improve education levels in Thailand must be applauded, and internet access for all children is a laudable aim.

I can see some bumps in the road but I agree it's a good policy.

what games can you play on these things - thinking of getting one for my half Thai sons?

[Woodcaulk]

There you have it....UNESCO has shown itself to be comprised of truly brilliant people who will no doubt will bestow some sort of award upon the One Tublet program.

[Seri]

What's wrong with books?

[bkkjames]

What's wrong with books?

harder to pawn I imagine?

[asiawatcher]

Who cares what UNESCO thinks?

[Ferangled]

What's wrong with books?

Absolutely nothing at all but you'll struggle to browse the internet or run any software on them... you also have to buy a new book when you finish reading it, on a tablet you can simply download new content, which involves the destruction of less natural resources than printing another book...

[jonclark]

What's wrong with books?

Absolutely nothing at all but you'll struggle to browse the internet or run any software on them... you also have to buy a new book when you finish reading it, on a tablet you can simply download new content, which involves the destruction of less natural resources than printing another book...

Although the materials and energy used in building the tablet in the first place (mining , transportation, refinement of minerals, rare earth metals and plastics, energy used in constructing the tablet, and the constant recharging) are greater than those involved in printing a book . Less destruction of natural resources, eh, not so sure? Fairly sure books biodegrade as well, not so sure about tablets. I won't even start on how much energy the internet uses.

[whybother]

It's a fantastic policy. When do they plan to implement it?

[rubl]

Additionally, the UNESCO has set up a Mobile Education Learning project, using mobile phone as a tool to increase literacy rate. Ms Bokova said around February next year, a meeting will be held among member countries to discuss ways to efficiently use mobile phones as education tools.

I'm an old fart I know, but those mobile phone screens are a bit too much for these old eyes, and my fingers to big for tapping small fields. Now kids tend to have better eyes, but all that staring may have some side effects. Even using a tabletPC for more than one/two hours at a time may be unhealthy.

[LuckyLew]

To date .... how many tablets have they distributed?

[Ferangled]

What's wrong with books?

Absolutely nothing at all but you'll struggle to browse the internet or run any software on them... you also have to buy a new book when you finish reading it, on a tablet you can simply download new content, which involves the destruction of less natural resources than printing another book...

Although the materials and energy used in building the tablet in the first place (mining , transportation, refinement of minerals, rare earth metals and plastics, energy used in constructing the tablet, and the constant recharging) are greater than those involved in printing a book . Less destruction of natural resources, eh, not so sure? Fairly sure books biodegrade as well, not so sure about tablets. I won't even start on how much energy the internet uses.

Aye and you'd have to also consider the fact that the number of books you could download & read via a tablet/ laptop are infinite while each book read needs to be transported physically from location to location... With a tablet you can always delete a book you've already read and download another; that would involve a trip to the shops/ delivery with a book, incurring yet more energy costs.

When factoring in all of the production processes involved in any manufacture the impact of the environment greatly depends on the ethics and procedure of the actual companies involved. Given that the internet, mains sockets and tablets already exist however, much like logging companies, specialist machinery and printing presses, this would seem pretty irrelevant to the point I actually made...

Energy use/ environmental impact greatly depends on the methods employed eg. battery charging can be done by solar panels or via mains socket, using power generated by a whole variety of different power stations each with varying impact on the environment. It will vary from user to user but again, seems rather mute given that they already exist and it's now a case of putting them to use...

All considered I would have to maintain that my original statement is correct; downloading new content involves the destruction of less natural resources than printing more books. Given that they are here does it make sense to cut down millions of trees to print books when the same books could be accessed from an existing platform (internet) and technology? Surely we will naturally see another shift away from conventional books, as we did with the advent of the internet, PCs and e-readers etc? That said a recent article I read suggest that Thailand is behind the current trends in this respect.

There's nothing wrong with books and I believe they should still play a part in our lives, there's no tablet that will be able to conjure the same magic as a beautifully written and illustrated child's book. That said we have to embrace the future and use our imaginations to make best use of the changes being increasingly aware of our direct impact on the environment. Daily newspapers for example seem to be an utter waste of resources to me and I would have no issues with their complete disappearance; all the articles can be referenced via the internet, social media and websites.

[rubl]

To date .... how many tablets have they distributed?

On 2012-08-10 about 190,000 units in total were received. Then they get checked, repacked, distributed. No idea of current numbers, it seems to have been a wee bit quiet on this

[jbrain]

What's wrong with books?

Absolutely nothing at all but you'll struggle to browse the internet or run any software on them... you also have to buy a new book when you finish reading it, on a tablet you can simply download new content, which involves the destruction of less natural resources than printing another book...

Although the materials and energy used in building the tablet in the first place (mining , transportation, refinement of minerals, rare earth metals and plastics, energy used in constructing the tablet, and the constant recharging) are greater than those involved in printing a book . Less destruction of natural resources, eh, not so sure? Fairly sure books biodegrade as well, not so sure about tablets. I won't even start on how much energy the internet uses.

So, do you actually realise how much damage YOU did to the environment while posting your opinion?

[Ferangled]

Additionally, the UNESCO has set up a Mobile Education Learning project, using mobile phone as a tool to increase literacy rate. Ms Bokova said around February next year, a meeting will be held among member countries to discuss ways to efficiently use mobile phones as education tools.

I'm an old fart I know, but those mobile phone screens are a bit too much for these old eyes, and my fingers to big for tapping small fields. Now kids tend to have better eyes, but all that staring may have some side effects. Even using a tabletPC for more than one/two hours at a time may be unhealthy.

But you seem to get on ok with a conventional PC & screen... 7,000+ posts and counting!

My Granddad has been using an e-reader for years... 90+, going strong, doesn't seem to have had any negative effects to me! I recall a time when it was fashionable to have the tiniest phone possible but I'd hazard a guess they are referencing the more modern mobile phones which seem to be getting larger each year; current models are already the size of the TV screens we had when I was younger!

[bigbamboo]

To date .... how many tablets have they distributed?

On 2012-08-10 about 190,000 units in total were received. Then they get checked, repacked, distributed. No idea of current numbers, it seems to have been a wee bit quiet on this

So about 20 per cent have so far been delivered which would make the target of every Pathom 1 student getting a tablet before he becomes a Pathom 2 student doubtful, even if you 'Kittiratt' the prediction.

And is this project ongoing with another million ordered for next year's intake or do the kids hand them down?

[phiphidon]

Before everyone else fires in with the fraud / corruption / blah blah arguments.............anything that's going to improve education levels in Thailand must be applauded, and internet access for all children is a laudable aim.

I can see some bumps in the road but I agree it's a good policy.

what games can you play on these things - thinking of getting one for my half Thai sons?

Try sending him to school.

[Ferangled]

Before everyone else fires in with the fraud / corruption / blah blah arguments.............anything that's going to improve education levels in Thailand must be applauded, and internet access for all children is a laudable aim.

I can see some bumps in the road but I agree it's a good policy.

what games can you play on these things - thinking of getting one for my half Thai sons?

Try sending him to school.

I skipped over this post earlier, raising a metaphorical eyebrow as I did. For the life of me I can't work out why anyone would refer to their own children in such a manner.

Were they born half over the border, with one leg in Thailand the other in a neighbouring country perhaps?

Surely "thinking of getting one for my sons" would have sufficed although perhaps not in attempting to make some sort of vague hidden point about Thais/ games?

Lost me...

[jerrysteve]

I couldn't agree more that school age children should be knowledgeable and have access to computers...and I would also agree there is no

substitute for books as well.

Be that as it may, I do not have to high of an opinion concerning Unesco.

[Bagwan]

Before everyone else fires in with the fraud / corruption / blah blah arguments.............anything that's going to improve education levels in Thailand must be applauded, and internet access for all children is a laudable aim.

I can see some bumps in the road but I agree it's a good policy.

what games can you play on these things - thinking of getting one for my half Thai sons?

Try sending him to school.

Not that that will do him any good.

[Buchholz]

Additionally, the UNESCO has set up a Mobile Education Learning project, using mobile phone as a tool to increase literacy rate. Ms Bokova said around February next year, a meeting will be held among member countries to discuss ways to efficiently use mobile phones as education tools.

I'm an old fart I know, but those mobile phone screens are a bit too much for these old eyes, and my fingers to big for tapping small fields. Now kids tend to have better eyes, but all that staring may have some side effects. Even using a tabletPC for more than one/two hours at a time may be unhealthy.

Will there be a One iPhone Per Child scheme next year?

.

[geriatrickid]

Before everyone else fires in with the fraud / corruption / blah blah arguments.............anything that's going to improve education levels in Thailand must be applauded, and internet access for all children is a laudable aim.

I can see some bumps in the road but I agree it's a good policy.

what games can you play on these things - thinking of getting one for my half Thai sons?

Why do you need to mention that your sons are 1/2 Thai? Does that make them 1/2 son?

Now I'm sure you love them just as much as if the were 100% farang, but your statement does read as a might bit odd.

It conjures up an image that perhaps they were not complete and have to be returned to the shop for some finishing work.

[Buchholz]

To date .... how many tablets have they distributed?

On 2012-08-10 about 190,000 units in total were received. Then they get checked, repacked, distributed. No idea of current numbers, it seems to have been a wee bit quiet on this

So about 20 per cent have so far been delivered which would make the target of every Pathom 1 student getting a tablet before he becomes a Pathom 2 student doubtful, even if you 'Kittiratt' the prediction.

And is this project ongoing with another million ordered for next year's intake or do the kids hand them down?

Additionally, the Yingluck government also announced earlier that they would have the tablets in place at schools at the start of the school year.... which began four months ago.

Of course, with the same announcement, they also announced that not only Prathom 1 students would have them. They said all primary and secondary students would have a new tablet computer in May 2012. That would include some 11 million students.

In the context of that number, the percentage of tablets thus far delivered dwindles to less than 2 per cent.

p.s. something I note that UNESCO didn't mention that in their praise, but hey, no real surprise.

The OP is just normal meaningless sound bite. Clearly, they aren't looking at the flop in depth.

.

.

Edited September 11, 2012 by Buchholz

[geriatrickid]

Additionally, the UNESCO has set up a Mobile Education Learning project, using mobile phone as a tool to increase literacy rate. Ms Bokova said around February next year, a meeting will be held among member countries to discuss ways to efficiently use mobile phones as education tools.

I'm an old fart I know, but those mobile phone screens are a bit too much for these old eyes, and my fingers to big for tapping small fields. Now kids tend to have better eyes, but all that staring may have some side effects. Even using a tabletPC for more than one/two hours at a time may be unhealthy.

Will there be a One iPhone Per Child scheme next year?

.

Were you hoping to try and pass yourself off physically as a child in hopes of obtaining a new i5?

It is no secret that Apple is promoting its technology in the education sector, but the costs are too much for most countries at this time.

Ten years ago, my nephews were given Apple notebooks in their western elementary schools, which were not private, but standard government funded.

[eeeya]

so many poo poo'ers on here. Tablets are evolving quicksmart and they're getting pretty dam_n cheap.. except the ipad.

and for the developer there is now a massive market for content for the recipients of these devices.

Business idea anyone??

[Buchholz]

Additionally, the UNESCO has set up a Mobile Education Learning project, using mobile phone as a tool to increase literacy rate. Ms Bokova said around February next year, a meeting will be held among member countries to discuss ways to efficiently use mobile phones as education tools.

I'm an old fart I know, but those mobile phone screens are a bit too much for these old eyes, and my fingers to big for tapping small fields. Now kids tend to have better eyes, but all that staring may have some side effects. Even using a tabletPC for more than one/two hours at a time may be unhealthy.

Will there be a One iPhone Per Child scheme next year?

< unnecessary personal snapping snipped >

It is no secret that Apple is promoting its technology in the education sector, but the costs are too much for most countries at this time.

Ten years ago, my nephews were given Apple notebooks in their western elementary schools, which were not private, but standard government funded.

I agree that iPhones are probably a non-starter due to financial considerations.

Perhaps OTP10C program ScoPad tablet manufacturer, Shenzhen Scope, also makes mobile phones and can get the contract to supply... a ScoPhone? .... to pre-K's next year.

.

Edited September 11, 2012 by Buchholz

[Soutpeel]

I agree that iPhones are probably a non-starter due to financial considerations.

Perhaps OTP10C program ScoPad tablet manufacturer, Shenzhen Scope, also makes mobile phones and can get the contract to supply... a ScoPhone? .... to pre-K's next year.

.

Think of it this way...now all these tablets have been handed out, households will now be able to receive up to date information about flooding very quickly, another plus for the program...provided they have wifi at home of course...

[jayboy]

To date .... how many tablets have they distributed?

On 2012-08-10 about 190,000 units in total were received. Then they get checked, repacked, distributed. No idea of current numbers, it seems to have been a wee bit quiet on this

So about 20 per cent have so far been delivered which would make the target of every Pathom 1 student getting a tablet before he becomes a Pathom 2 student doubtful, even if you 'Kittiratt' the prediction.

And is this project ongoing with another million ordered for next year's intake or do the kids hand them down?

Additionally, the Yingluck government also announced earlier that they would have the tablets in place at schools at the start of the school year.... which began four months ago.

Of course, with the same announcement, they also announced that not only Prathom 1 students would have them. They said all primary and secondary students would have a new tablet computer in May 2012. That would include some 11 million students.

In the context of that number, the percentage of tablets thus far delivered dwindles to less than 2 per cent.

p.s. something I note that UNESCO didn't mention that in their praise, but hey, no real surprise.

The OP is just normal meaningless sound bite. Clearly, they aren't looking at the flop in depth.

.

.

For the usual suspects the praise given by UNESCO doesn't and can't compute.How can an initiative by the current goverment make sense, let alone be praised by the UN's leading educational organisation.

"They aren't looking at the flop in depth" etc.Perhaps they had better write to the UN experts and explain their views.I'm sure Geneva would like to hear from a few foreign oldsters.

If they had any self awareness they would know how unhinged they sound.It's same incoherent ranting we heard when Thnaksin travelled to the US when the usual suspects had been assuring us he was limited to visiting third world hell holes.Laughable.

That doesn't mean the tablet programme has proceeded smoothly:it hasn't but the basic idea is a good one.Let's see how the government handles it over the next year or so.