Jeff Borenstein

Status: Student
Thesis: No thesis on file.

I spent last summer working with One Laptop Per Child, an organization that promotes low-cost, 1:1 computing solutions for children in emerging markets. My assignment brought me to Montevideo, Uruguay, a country that provides a computer for every child in primary school, and wireless Internet access. In total, over 400,000 children and 2,300 schools are connected (www.ceibal.edu.uy). Uruguay is a world leader in 1:1 computing projects. However, the project is so new and revolutionary that the institutions and government are adapting to the major societal changes.

I was assigned to the Social Impact Group where my interdisciplinary research skills would help the team complete a 3-year study on the project. I traveled to rural towns interviewing volunteers, school directors, teachers, and students. My qualitative research would be incorporated into the final report and presented to the program director and President’s advisors. The CCT program has given me a toolset to approach complex problems in the real world. For example, how does one measure changes in the teacher and student relationships after laptops and Internet are deployed? Why do some communities have higher rates of repair than others? And how can Uruguay develop long-term strategies to ensure the program’s success? These questions require an interdisciplinary and thorough approach in which CCT trains its students.

As my time in the country ended last August, I watched as children boarded the local bus carrying their green and white XO laptops. Together they pointed at the screen, watching an animation on astronomy or playing with the built-in camera. Another group of students sat outside a plaza connected to the Internet, perhaps e-mailing their friends or reading an article assigned by a teacher. Will Uruguay become the next incubator for technological innovation? No one knows, but I hope my contribution last summer helps the nation better plan for its future and undertake this great challenge.