Just put a computer in urban slum and see what happens. That’s exactly what education researcher Sugata Mitra did. A computer, with internet access and a touch pad, was installed in a hole in the wall in a slum in New Delhi. It was about three feet above the ground, and a video camera was placed so Mitra and the other researchers could watch what the children would do. The result is nothing short of phenomenal: Even in the absence of any direct input from a teacher, an environment that stimulates curiosity can cause learning through self-instruction and peer-shared knowledge. This was further demonstrated when Mitra had 10-12 year old students non-English speakers find answers to questions on Google and learn biotechnology, in English. Just goes to show that we don’t give children the credit they are due.

[via TED]

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