US Laptop Shortage Could Derail Remote Learning:
As students and teachers prepare for a return to in-person learning for at least some of the time this fall, many of the nation's schools are facing shortages and delays for laptops and tablets needed for online learning, an Associated Press investigation revealed.
Lenovo, HP and Dell, the nation's largest computer companies, have informed school districts that they are short nearly five million laptops.
[...] Last month, at the request of President Donald Trump, the U.S. Department of Commerce imposed sanctions on 11 Chinese companies, including Lenovo, AP reported. School administrators have asked the Trump administration to devise a solution because remote learning without laptops is impossible.
Lenovo has informed school districts of the supply chain delays and the trade controls set by the Commerce Department, which would cause another slowdown. Lenovo declined to respond to an inquiry from AP.
Have any Soylentils run into this?
(Score: 3, Informative) by JoeMerchant on Sunday August 30 2020, @04:52PM (1 child)
We had somewhat rational remote learning at the end of last year: flexible schedules, same work but work at your own pace, get help as you need it. Teachers were able to do a single prep video, reshoot it 3 times to get it right, then play it for all 5 classes, use the two extra periods to help kids 1:1. Teach from home, no commutes, etc.
This year the administration got their nose in deeper to the process. This year it's about verified attendance, ensuring the kids are "paying attention" during the entire period every period, etc. and the teachers are all on-site in the schools even when they're conducting online classes. I feel like it's less than 50% as effective at teaching, while simultaneously being more than 2x as much busywork for both teachers and students.
🌻🌻 [google.com]
(Score: 3, Insightful) by barbara hudson on Sunday August 30 2020, @05:24PM
SoylentNews is social media. Says so right in the slogan. Soylentnews is people, not tech.