Leapfrogging Global Education
What if the ambitious youth of developing countries had a better understanding of banking, finance, and physics than the typical adult in the developed world? We’ll see examples of such individuals emerge within five years… despite a lack of properly resourced educational institutions in their area.
What will they need?
1) Affordable/ubiquitous internet access (ETA 2010, see my last post)
2) A device capable of streaming online video (MIT’s $100 laptops may not be cheap enough, but mobile phones are proliferating all over the developed world… throw Android into the equation and we’re gold.)
3) Free educational videos covering all topics from basic kindergarten/first grade math up through calculus, linear algebra, finance, physics, etc.: Khan Academy
Access to high quality education is no longer a luxury for the affluent. It’s exciting to imagine the world of opportunity that will open to the coming generations of children & entrepreneurs in the developing world as the playing field levels…
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Good point. Along with education, it’s important to remember basic health care, sanitation infrastructure and lack of physical are crucial as well. A smart, ambitious youth can accomplish much with the right educational tools, but not if he’s stuck in Maslow’s basement.
Initial efforts to spread global education – which will require initial philanthropic or exploratory investments – must be coordinated with helping the target community achieve and maintain a baseline standard of living so that motivation for personal growth and education have room to grow and flourish.
This may sound common-sensical, but all we need to do is look at international food donating efforts (hampered by bureaucratic red tape) and see that eliminating hunger involves more than the availability of resources; it involves either ensuring or infusing an awareness, willingness, and desire throughout the culture.
Khan academy is wonderful! I’ve been looking for something like this for months. Thank you SO much for sharing.
David – agreed.
Also, np re: Khan Academy.
I think Kiva micro-loans are a decent way to help lay the foundation you speak of.
“…than the typical adult in the developed world?”
Yaaaaah, for sure. But isn’t that a pretty low bar??
C-Rex – nice catch. I had to word that carefully.