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Wi-Fi Woods

Posted by michael on from the using-pine-and-elm dept.

Mr]-[at writes "School kids in southern England have been given PDAs and pocket radios to track down and record plants and wildlife, as part of the Ambient Wood Project. The feedback has been overwhelming positive."

4 of 85 comments (clear)

  1. What about teachin them some math, physics and ... by melted · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...and chemistry instead of wasting money on PDAs and WiFi? What about giving them some real knowledge and skills that may help them understand the world better and be more successful in their future lives? Isn't this the goal of education? How exactly being in the woods with a PDA supposed to improve their understanding of ecological concerns, their causes and possible remedies? How is it better than a good ol' book with a bunch of color pictures commented by a bunch of gray-haired scientists?

    I can't freakin' believe some shcools are wasting money this midlessly.

  2. hmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful
    This is cool except for a couple things:
    • I read no compelling reason why they could not have used more traditional inexpensive technologies, for example walkie-talkies and notepads.
    • this was an experiment on children.
  3. Re:What about teachin them some math, physics and by Inda · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Maybe they are teaching the children that life isn't just about boring book studying. They are probably teaching the children how to interact with each other and the world around them. I would hazard a guess that the children might actually enjoy a break from the classroom once in a while and it probably makes school a bit more interesting.

    School doesn't have to be long training course for a job.

    --
    This post contains benzene, nitrosamines, formaldehyde and hydrogen cyanide.
  4. Re:What about teachin them some math, physics and by metatruk · · Score: 4, Insightful
    I can't freakin' believe some shcools are wasting money this midlessly.

    I dunno. Technology is cheap relative to the cost of paying teachers, administrators, etc. Like it or not, technology is becoming more and more a part of our world. Pervasive technologies such as 802.11 and PDAs will continue to grow. Giving kids technology like this at a young age will only make them more comfortable with it when they are older.

    Just because that's the way school was for you when you were growing up does not mean it has to be that way for kids now. Just because things are different does not mean they are worse.