Tablets thrust Thai classrooms into digital era

[katastrophic]

And after school, a lot of the older kids use a different kind of tablet.

[rubl]

I really hate to disappoint people, but the government seems to be willing to pay US$100 per tabletPCs even when buying them in four lots totalling 1.7m. Mind you I'm not sure if the $100 includes the programs which are made by Thai companies.

[Thai at Heart]

I an genuinely tired of caring.

The kids just went to bed with one hour of Chaucer. They didn't get it.

Opt out, opt in for what you want.

[Thai at Heart]

I an genuinely tired of caring.

The kids just went to bed with one hour of Chaucer. They didn't get it.

Opt out, opt in for what you want.

[hellodolly]

This money used to buy the tablets could have been used to renovate and better old schools while building new ones in places that need new schools. Instead kids have tablets! They'll probably use it to download porn and play games. Tax payer money well spent!

The price that they paid per tablet would possibly be well under 500B per unit, so how many tablets would it take to build a new school?

It was the rest of the money went into Politicians pockets here and in China.

[rubl]

I an genuinely tired of caring.

The kids just went to bed with one hour of Chaucer. They didn't get it.

Opt out, opt in for what you want.

Chaucer? I was fed Angle-Saxon literature starting with Beowulf. Mind you the visual version might be easier and more to Thai kids' liking. Either the 2005 "Beowulf and Grendel" movie, or the 2007 "Beowulf" American motion capture computer-animated version would surely make them 'get' more of 'it'

[Noistar]

".....

"Some of them dare not ask questions. It's easier when they listen to the tablets."

But using devices that would normally be out of reach for the kingdom's poorest children is progress, even if it is only just one hour a day, he said.

....."

The first point is Thai culture - teachers cannot and must not, have questions asked of them.

The second point made me shudder. They're not thinking of increasing the amount of time students spend with these devices, are they?

As in a previous topic, the ability to access information has no benefit if you can't assimilate it.

Tablets are perceived as toys - calling them an educational benefit is a bit naive at this time.

Give a student a text book and everyone knows what it is. Give them a tablet, and whatever the environment, it's just a games machine.

Thailand needs an education system with goals to benefit students and thereby Thailand. This government especially can't see beyond the next lunch break, so gimmicks are obviously a god-send.

[Cuban]

What is missing from what I have read on this subject is some details about if this investment is a one off purchase or will it be required for each new influx of students each year? (Nice backhand earner)

Will the cost on investment be increased year on year to match price inflation and product development?

The software costs?

There are too many holes in the project and it has the feeling of being lead by people that don't understand the problem.

I pose a question for the minister in charge: "You are about to undergo major open heart surgery, you have a choice between two surgeons, one was taught only on the tablets your polices introduced into the education system the other learnt from books using a pen and paper, who do you choose to carry out your heart operation?"

[Skytrain2hell]

I pose a question for the minister in charge: "You are about to undergo major open heart surgery, you have a choice between two surgeons, one was taught only on the tablets your polices introduced into the education system the other learnt from books using a pen and paper, who do you choose to carry out your heart operation?"

With all due respect, you're missing the greater point. The government wants to keep its people stupid. The minister in charge can afford the best care, so he doesn't give two sh*ts how the kids are taught. Keep them dumb, and they will follow the leader.

This will work here for at least another generation before the people get angry.

[Card]

What is missing from what I have read on this subject is some details about if this investment is a one off purchase or will it be required for each new influx of students each year? (Nice backhand earner)

Will the cost on investment be increased year on year to match price inflation and product development?

The software costs?

There are too many holes in the project and it has the feeling of being lead by people that don't understand the problem.

I pose a question for the minister in charge: "You are about to undergo major open heart surgery, you have a choice between two surgeons, one was taught only on the tablets your polices introduced into the education system the other learnt from books using a pen and paper, who do you choose to carry out your heart operation?"

Well, quite frankly, I wouldn't trust either as sole methods of training. But both methods have their place - and both should be used before the next step. First the pencil and paper generate imagination and the need to record data and thoughts. The tablets help research and animation. But they both need the next step, which is to train on models, then cadavers before being let loose on the real thing. You can't compare pencil and paper with tablets - they do different but complementary things and all educational tools are needed and should be used as aids to learning.

The problem with digital tools is that they are used to keep kids engaged and active - an excellent thing, but sometimes kids should be bored and only have a pen and paper because it helps to stimulate imagination.

Edited June 19, 2013 by Card

[vijer]

They are still trying to prod this dog into action. Only the naive would believe Thai classrooms have been thrust into the digital era.

[Cuban]

I agree with both above points.

Tablets may have a place but they are seen as an all curing panacea to all education problems.

There is too much that they can not do and within the context of ~90% of Thai students are simply a path to consumerism not innovation or revenue generation.

Tablets in Thai education is about backhanders not education.

[Noistar]

The sad thing is that the tablets are nothing to do with education.

Raise the "improve education flag" and bolt on something, and you have a nice "we'll done the Government".

Unfortunately I believe education is ALL about back-handers.

Keep the people uneducated without the ability for independent thought and the Thaksin.

Machine will carry on. Who needs to think when you're told by your leaders, what the answer is?