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Google is transforming public education with low-cost laptops and free apps

nytimes.com

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Re: Google is transforming public education with low-cost laptops and free apps

#141

Post by misingnoglic »

tchaffee wrote: post #110
misingnoglic wrote: post #71

Honestly, this isn't a big issue for two reasons: 1. The Google stuff works. I would have loved for that kind of organization and management in my elementary school classes. Google docs is also great and means I don't have to beg my not so wealthy parents for a Microsoft word license (or learn in the 4th grade how to pirate it). 2. Let's not kid ourselves, everyone is going to make a Google account anyway. As long as…

Your 2nd point and obedient acceptance of the inevitability highlights just how much of a monopoly it is and how desperately we need alternatives. Or to just break up the monopoly.

Again,the products are good. It's not like Comcast where I feel screwed when I can only use them. If I want to use a different email provider right now I could very easily, but none of them appeal to me.

Re: Google is transforming public education with low-cost laptops and free apps

#142

Post by WalterBright »

petra wrote: post #95
WalterBright wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Teaching formula plugging is about as useless as teaching history as dates and names. Teaching how to derive the formula, why it works, etc., is very useful (even if one never needs to use it in post school life). Googling for answers is not learning. It's like lifting weights with a forklift is not exercising.

Not sure. Most people won't remember how to derive equations any,nor they need it, if they need to derive equations they could probably use some piece of software(symbolic solver?), and that's just takes time they could use to understand statistics, for example, which seems more useful.

> if they need to derive equations they could probably use some piece of software(symbolic solver?)

The point is to understand. Having some software do it for you does not help with that.

Re: Google is transforming public education with low-cost laptops and free apps

#143

Post by kuschku »

orangecat wrote: post #129
kuschku wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Provide cheap, stable laptops that do not have any bias to any corporation, no integration with Google services, or anything, and this would be true. But this way? Sorry, but after the past years you can’t honestly believe this is pure altruism.

Sorry, but after the past years you can’t honestly believe this is pure altruism. Of course it's not. That doesn't mean all parties can't benefit.

I’m sorry, but that’s not relevant. A child should never have to enter any such arrangement where they have to give up anything.

Anything shy of pure altruism regarding schools for young children should be considered automatically evil. Making profit with children is always bad.

Re: Google is transforming public education with low-cost laptops and free apps

#144

Post by tchaffee »

misingnoglic wrote: post #141
tchaffee wrote: post #110

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your 2nd point and obedient acceptance of the inevitability highlights just how much of a monopoly it is and how desperately we need alternatives. Or to just break up the monopoly.

Again,the products are good. It's not like Comcast where I feel screwed when I can only use them. If I want to use a different email provider right now I could very easily, but none of them appeal to me.

My problem is that it's everywhere you turn. Phone. SEO. Maps. Videos. Browser. Email. Search. The list is endless, and growing and for a phone is there really an alternative? The other choice is another big company who will collect data about you too. Agreed Comcast is worse. That's not exactly a high bar. :-D

Re: Google is transforming public education with low-cost laptops and free apps

#145

Post by johnsmith21006 »

patja wrote: post #83
skybrian wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are Chromebooks subsidized? Maybe they're just cheaper.

Even if the Chromebooks aren't subsidized, Google Apps for Education is free to use which amounts to some kind of subsidy.

Google Classroom is not free and schools pay per recurring per kid.

Re: Google is transforming public education with low-cost laptops and free apps

#146

Post by ivm »

watmough wrote: post #23

I have a daughter in the local school district. They use Lenovo Chromebooks which are built like brick sh*thouses with proper full-travel keyboards and touchscreens. Chromebooks work, and I am a big fan of them in education. I have a pretty good idea how hard our teachers work, and I'd hate to think of the Windows bullshit being imposed them, like it's imposed on me and my coworkers. Chromebooks free up teachers and…

> most of my own notes are accessible to me from anywhere I can get into my Google account.

And inaccessible forever if you lose access or get banned from your Google account.

Re: Google is transforming public education with low-cost laptops and free apps

#147

Post by johnsmith21006 »

dkarapetyan wrote: post #76
skybrian wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are Chromebooks subsidized? Maybe they're just cheaper.

Pretty sure they're subsidized. Plenty of products given to educators are subsidized. That in and of itself is not bad or wrong. It's when we put things in the proper context and ask how exactly does Google benefit from this that things take a wrong turn. I don't see how any positive spin for why Google is doing this actually holds up.

CB are not subsidized and schools pay for Google software recurring per kid.

Re: Google is transforming public education with low-cost laptops and free apps

#148

Post by johnsmith21006 »

bamboozled wrote: post #41
webwanderings wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did the invention of printing press made them a monopoly? Google does not generate information; they facilitate it. The more the information is free, the more it will be converted to knowledge by these same schools and students. Your comparison of it to your values of buying things for yourself, is misleading.

If you don't pay for the product, you are the product. That's how these services are funded, by selling your personal information at scale, which you generate. Now, your kids are the next product.

Tim Cook is that you? Really this line is rather ridiculous. Google charges per month per child for the software.

Re: Google is transforming public education with low-cost laptops and free apps

#149

Post by johnsmith21006 »

dkarapetyan wrote: post #68
WalterBright wrote: post #20

> he said: “I cannot answer for them what they are going to do with the quadratic equation. I don’t know why they are learning it.” He added, “And I don’t know why they can’t ask Google for the answer if the answer is right there.” Wow. Back when I worked for Boeing on the 757 design, there were engineers that were "formula pluggers" who pulled formulas out of manuals and used them. Then there were engineers who unde…

It is not in Google's best interest to have people that think independently of Google. The more woven Google is into the daily fabric of our lives the more profitable it becomes. I don't understand why more alarm bells aren't ringing. A for-profit corporation should not be subsidizing public education. They're not a non-profit. Their motives are always going to be at odds with creating a free-thinking populace. Googl…

What? Google provided a far better solution to our schools that is more efficient in every aspect. They listened and stepped up. Not a good thing?

Re: Google is transforming public education with low-cost laptops and free apps

#150

Post by johnsmith21006 »

samtoday wrote: post #2

Google Classroom has an interesting monopolising effect on schools. Google Classroom has changed the price dynamics hugely; making it impossible for other providers to really compete since they give so much away for free. It is really a shame - Google Classroom (the app) isn't the best LMS as it is quite unresponsive and confusing.

What? Teachers love Classroom and why they pay to use. Something does not dominate as quickly as Google has in k12 unless very good. People do not lime change.
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