Nearly all the 380,000 primary school students in Uruguay have received a simple laptop in the past year, but will it actually help the students learn more? The first test comes later this month, when students take online exams in a variety of subjects. According to this article in The Economist:
Sceptics would rather the government concentrate on making teachers more accountable. But most admit the laptops are worth a try. They should prompt a shift away from rote learning towards critical analysis, says Edith Moraes, the official in charge of primary schools.
The program is popular but has had a few glitches. Some children break their laptops and would rather hold on to their status symbols than risk not having it returned if they send it off to be fixed. Some teachers can't use the technology well. The biggest problem: in 70% of schools only half the laptops can go online at the same time.