Letting Children Learn – Hole in the Wall Computers
Posted on July 19, 2010 Comments (7)
The hole in the wall experiments are exactly the kind of thing I love to lean about. I wrote about them in 2006, what kids can learn.
Research finding from the Hole in the Wall foundation:
…
The sociometric survey found:
- Self-organizing groups of children who organize themselves into Leaders (experts), Connectors and Novice groups.
- Leaders and Connectors identified seem to display an ability to connect with and teach other users.
- Key leaders on receiving targeted intervention, play a key role in bringing about a “multiplier effect in learning” within the community.
- Often girls are seen to take on the role of Connector, who initiates younger children and siblings (usually novices with little or no exposure to computers) and connects them to the leaders in the group
I believe traditional education is helpful. I believe people are “wired” to learn. They want to learn. We need to create environments that let them learn. We need to avoid crushing the desire to learn (stop de-motivating people).
If you want to get right to talking about the hole in the wall experiments, skip to the 8 minute mark.
Related: Providing Computer to Remote Students in Nepal – Teaching Through Tinkering – Kids Need Adventurous Play – Science Toys You Can Make With Your Kids
Categories: Education, K-12
Tags: amazing, appropriate technology, cool, curiouscat, Education, India, innovation, John Hunter, K-12, learning, Research, scientific inquiry, Technology, webcasts
7 Responses to “Letting Children Learn – Hole in the Wall Computers”
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July 21st, 2010 @ 4:35 am
What a great idea. I agree that people are “wired” to learn.
July 22nd, 2010 @ 12:08 pm
I’d be more apt to say that children are wired to learn. Some adults i know seem ot have had that wiring torn out of their heads along the way.
Great video there, and it was very informative.
July 28th, 2010 @ 7:03 am
The finds of this research should be a boost to the much marginalized girl child, particularly in developing countries like Kenya.
December 24th, 2010 @ 1:27 pm
[…] great stuff. This is how to engage kids in science. Engage their inquisitive minds. Let them get involved. Let them […]
March 23rd, 2011 @ 5:30 pm
“I hadn’t done any building like that. The whole day was fun. It was a very open learning environment. You were experimenting with things you had never done before. I would definitely do it again,” Sarah said. And she will – next year…
April 2nd, 2011 @ 8:39 am
People learn because they are curious to know things. But sticking to usual system is something I find monotonous. We need some changes in the system for the good obviously.
May 3rd, 2013 @ 6:28 am
Earlier this year, OLPC workers dropped off closed boxes containing the tablets, taped shut, with no instructions…