Wow, thanks Max. You seem pretty nice, too.

I truly appreciate your kind words and I, too, tip my hat to the many, many Moodlers who have made Moodle.org the special, almost magical creature it is.

-- Art

Re: That might mean a pretty tough future for my 16-year old daughter.

I was thinking mostly about economic decline. I sure don't see an upside to that.

Maybe I should think more about the military and political aspects of the article, too. I will take another look.

Thanks,
Art

It’s fairly evident that the American empire is in inevitable decline, like all empires that have gone before it.

Well... Maybe. I guess if things keep going the way they have been lately, we Americans will have to get used to this idea. That might mean a pretty tough future for my 16-year old daughter. Sigh...

I would not count the USA out, though. You never know. Maybe we will bounce right back.

A quarter-century ago, it was "obvious" that the USA was being outstipped by Japan. That seemed like a sure thing, too. I heard it all the time.

Time will tell, I suppose. I am no expert, so I will have to wait and see.

Best regards,
Art

I think you are probably right about the lack of a plan. (Jeffrey W. thinks so, too, I think.)

Anyway, I do not see why simply "having" laptops would improve instruction any more than just "having" Moodle, Smart Boards or any other instructional tool.

For my take on this, see http://docs.moodle.org/en/The_Good_Teacher 

-- Art

Laptops a Bust

Something unexpected happened on the way to the computerized classroom.

It turns out the laptops that were supposed to revolutionize learning, boost test scores and prepare students for the 21st century did nothing of the sort.

Instead, the laptop-equipped students ran cyber-circles around their elders, using them to play games and download music as much as to improve their academic performance...

• http://www.syracuse.com/articles/opinion/index.ssf?/base/opinion-1/1178874934168800.xml&coll=1