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Necessary but not Sufficient
by Andrew McCaskey
Om Malik created a pair of essays concerning one of the main objective of the Obama administration – using broadband to both jumpstart the economy and fix the education system. In the enthusiasm of the moment, I’d like to believe, but I think that there are a lot of disappointments ahead unless Mr. Obama gets expectation setting right on this topic.
First, some obvious benefits: Government involvement and policy could quickly affect the level of employment in some sectors by providing strong financial incentives to fully cover the country with broadband – at least to move us from 15th place up to a more respectable 6 or 7. As we mentioned on the show last night, Computerworld columnists are already calling for a “Space Race” level of effort in mobile broadband to move the US even higher on the list.
Remote telecommuting and medical applications come to mind as a benefit. No quarrel there.
Education ? A place to tread very carefully. Just as in the case of physical structures, improvement in school outcomes simply by providing bandwidth is not likely. Just as the OLPC was greeted with a skeptical eye from many educators and administrators in the third world, the newly found bandwidth wealth will have to be harnessed into a school system that can provide teenagers with some reason to learn.
The kids are not the problem. Teaching to the Test, metrics and performance testing and social promotions are the problem. Throwing broadband at the problem is going to be no more effective than continuing to throw money. Unlike AIG, the kids won’t take the money and convert it into an offshore annual meeting with bailout funds. Broadband is a part of the need for education reform. But it is not even a big part.
Unfortunately, it’s the easiest part.
CES 2008 Coverage for Tech Podcast Network
Chris Rault Templator
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