[xmca] wikis, textbooks, developing countries, impoverished US schools

From: Tony Whitson (twhitson@UDel.Edu)
Date: Tue Sep 12 2006 - 11:58:09 PDT


I see that I should have done a better job with the SUBJECT line of that
post. It's about inequality and opportunity, not just about media and
technology.

On Tue, 12 Sep 2006, Tony Whitson wrote:

> See

http://tonywhitson.edublogs.org/2006/09/12/wikis-textbooks/

> for links
>
> An article in Teachers College Press reports on the lack of adequate
> textbooks in California’s public schools — especially in financially less
> well-off communities. The authors have been sharply critical of high-stakes
> consequences being imposed by NCLB on students in schools without the
> resources needed for an education that measures up to the state’s standards.
>
> Meanwhile, NewScientist online reports that ‘Students in developing countries
> are to get free textbooks written using “wiki” technology that lets anyone
> add to or edit an online document.’
>
> This suggests two possibilities:
>
> 1. Maybe California students would be better off ; and
>
> 2. Maybe all students would be better off if they could use wiki-style
> textbooks developed by, say, scientists and science teachers, or historians
> and history teachers, instead of the textbooks being marketed by commercial
> publishers. There are people who would be terrified by this prospect; there
> are also legitimate concerns.
>
> What do you think?
>
> Tony Whitson
> UD School of Education
> NEWARK DE 19716
>
> twhitson@udel.edu
> _______________________________
>
> "those who fail to reread
> are obliged to read the same story everywhere"
> -- Roland Barthes, S/Z (1970)

Tony Whitson
UD School of Education
NEWARK DE 19716

twhitson@udel.edu
_______________________________

"those who fail to reread
  are obliged to read the same story everywhere"
                   -- Roland Barthes, S/Z (1970)

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