This is the sort of thing that has publishers, and the likes of HP and
Microsoft, licking their chops. Control of curriculum, technology, content,
distribution, etc. Wikimedia can see to it that content is free, open source
software and hardware vendors can see to it that interoperability and
transparency are the order of the day. If this can be accomplished - and it
will - we won't see learners chained to ever-more-expensive and cumbersome
systems like this one in the future.
Note that this is happening in Florida, one of the "big three" curriculum
states. California and Texas are also slated for rollouts like this from
MSFT and other vendors. Other states will follow. Now is the time to show
public educators that there's a better, cheaper, more flexible way to do
things.
Sanford
******
Read on... (from
www.dailywireless.org)
Students at Ocoee Middle School in Florida will be among the nation's first
to experience round-the-clock fingertip access via a joint project involving
Microsoft Corp.; Holt, Rinehart and Winston; and HP.
http://www.stockworld.de/msg/570392.html
The first-of-its-kind educational project, will gauge how well students
learn using a Tablet PC and a Web-based curriculum with computers and
full-time Internet access for everyone. Microsoft Class Server
http://www.microsoft.com/education/?ID=MobileSchools enables students and
teachers to log into their Tablet PC, notebook PC, or Pocket PC for anytime
access to assignments and work management.
Using the wireless Tablet PCs, students will have practically-anywhere
access to their Holt Online Learning curriculum and a host of Microsoft
tools, including Producer for PowerPoint(R), Movie Maker 2, Windows Media(R)
Series 9 and Encarta(R) Reference Library 2004. Students will be able to
take handwritten notes, make and share journal entries, and electronically
complete exercises, homework assignments and tests on a single device.
Ocoee is one of the first four showcase sites for the Schools
Interoperability Framework (SIF) in the nation. A student ID card is used
for a keyless entry system as well as library checkout and cafeteria
purchases. Students logon to the wide area network and immediately access
their desktop from anywhere in the school. Technology is integrated
throughout the school into the teaching and learning process.