There are thousands of social entrepreneurship programs in various stages of planning and implementation at any given time. For the most part, these programs start out small with the intention of "scaling up" based on trial and error. One Laptop per Child started out with a very ambitious mission - to provide more information and better education to the world's poor via an inexpensive laptop. Almost immediately this organization garnered attention - the ambition, the caliber of people working on the program and the initial success. This book tells not only the story of this lofty group of pioneers, but also puts the lessons into perspective for future social entrepreneurs - what it means to work in this environment, how to collaborate with educators, organizations, countries, administrators, businesses. Part narrative history of OLpC, part social entrepreneurship lessons and part futuristic look at attaining the education goals it set out, this book offers a real on the ground look at how this group brought together, business, educators, technology, non-profits, and entrepreneurs to help bring an education to the world's underprivileged.
Table of Contents:
Introduction Summary Impact of OLpC The Cambodia Epiphany Organizing for Impact: The Emergence of OLpC Designing for Impact Producing the '$100 Laptop' Fueling Interactive Learning with Sugar Selling the Green Banana Running the Last Mile The Future Appendix A: Background Information on Authors
About the Author :
WALTER BENDER is the Executive Director of Sugar Labs. He is a technologist and researcher who has made important contributions in the field of electronic publishing, media, and technology for learning. Bender is on leave as a Senior Research Scientist at the MIT Media Lab which he led as executive director between 2000 and 2006. He served as president of One Laptop per Child for Software and Content where he coordinated the development of software and content including the Sugar interface for the XO-1 Children's Machine computer. CHUCK KANE is the President of the OlpC Association and has previously served as President, Chief Operating Officer and an Advisor of One Laptop per Child. Mr. Kane serves as Senior Lecturer at the Sloan Graduate School of Business at MIT, USA. He serves as an Adjunct Professor of International Finance at the Boston College Carroll School of Management. Jody Cornish is a Partner at New Profit, Inc., a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based venture philanthropy firm focused on supporting innovation and entrepreneurship to address social problems. She is a social psychologist and strategy consultant with specific expertise in enabling social change and a primary focus on the education sector. Prior to New Profit, she co-managed an international development organization focused on multi-stakeholder collaboration to drive business growth and social development. She worked for over a decade as a strategy and organizational consultant in the education, technology, financial services, and life sciences industries. Neal Donahue the President of Lodestar International, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based social and economic development consulting firm working at the nexus of donor-funded development, market-return investment, and social-impact philanthropy. He focuses on coordinating the collective impact of governments, donors, and the private sector in emerging markets (with a focus on post-conflict environments) and he has lived and worked throughout Africa, Asia, and Latin America. He began his career at Monitor Group, advising corporate clients in both the US and Europe.
Review :
Both the greatest opportunity for social entrepreneurs and the greatest obstacles to be overcome lie in the field of education. "Learning to Change the World" describes the challenges OLPC faced in working in countries where the educational system is most ineffective and entrenched. If our goal is to change the rules to ensure that the poor have a place in this world, the surest way to do so is by giving them the tools they need to help pave their own way. OLPC has been a pioneer in this attempt, and this book is a must read for those who would follow. "Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank"
This book is a must read for entrepreneurs who want to learn the complexities of bringing technology to poor children to improve their lives in real and sustainable ways. Bender, Kane and their colleagues tell the brilliantly crafted story of the innovations they realized and the setbacks they faced in creating, manufacturing and distributing the 'little green laptop' and developing its Sugar learning software. This book will inspire readers by illustrating how OLPC has successfully transformed the lives of young learners throughout the world. "Evangeline Harris Stefanakis, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Development, Boston University"
"Learning to Change the World" is a fascinating story of technology, social impact and entrepreneurship. The breathtaking ambition of the project is almost overwhelming. But it is in the details of the implementation and the lessons learned where great wisdom lies for the reader. The interaction between the bold vision and the operational reality of realizing impact was the best educational take away of all, and clearly highlights the daunting challenge of carrying on the revolution in education. "Bill Aulet, Managing Director, Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship, MIT"
"Learning to Change the World" honestly chronicles the remarkable story of One Laptop per Child. It shares in equal measure the triumphs and challenges along the OLPC journey and provides invaluable lessons learned for what it truly takes to impact the world. This is an important and must read book for social entrepreneurs, leaders in the public and private sectors and most of all citizens who want to use their energy and talent to make a difference in the lives of others. Read it, become inspired and pass the message along. "Alan Khazei, Co-Founder City Year, Founder Be The Change, Inc."
The challenges associated with trying to scale the impact of a social entrepreneurial venture have never been described so clearly and compellingly. The One Laptop per Child team had audacious ambitions and have made significant progress toward their goals by building the capabilities needed for collaboration (with governments, high tech manufacturers, and financial institutions), cost reduction, and stimulating market forces. There are numerous lessons here for others eager to change the world. "Paul Bloom, Faculty Director at the Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE) at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business"
"Learning to Change the World" documents a project at the intersection of educational reform, learning theory, technology and business innovation, and personal creativity. As such, this book might be as important for technology managers, heads of non-profit organizations, students in MBA programs, and government policy-makers as it is for teachers, instructional designers, or educational psychologists. Whatever your discipline, you will likely resonate with more than a few anecdotes and ideas in this book. "Dr. Curtis J. Bonk, Educational Technology magazine""
"Both the greatest opportunity for social entrepreneurs and the greatest obstacles to be overcome lie in the field of education. "Learning to Change the World" describes the challenges OLPC faced in working in countries where the educational system is most ineffective and entrenched. If our goal is to change the rules to ensure that the poor have a place in this world, the surest way to do so is by giving them the tools they need to help pave their own way. OLPC has been a pioneer in this attempt, and this book is a must read for those who would follow." - Muhammad Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank
"This book is a must read for entrepreneurs who want to learn the complexities of bringing technology to poor children to improve their lives in real and sustainable ways. Bender, Kane and their colleagues tell the brilliantly crafted story of the innovations they realized and the setbacks they faced in creating, manufacturing and distributing the 'little green laptop' and developing its Sugar learning software. This book will inspire readers by illustrating how OLPC has successfully transformed the lives of young learners throughout the world." - Evangeline Harris Stefanakis, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Development, Boston University
""Learning to Change the World" is a fascinating story of technology, social impact and entrepreneurship. The breathtaking ambition of the project is almost overwhelming. But it is in the details of the implementation and the lessons learned where great wisdom lies for the reader. The interaction between the bold vision and the operational reality of realizing impact was the best educational take away of all, and clearly highlights the daunting challenge of carrying on the revolution in education." - Bill Aulet, Managing Director, Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship, MIT
""Learning to Change the World" honestly chronicles the remarkable story of One Laptop per Child. It shares in equal measure the triumphs and challenges along the OLPC journey and provides invaluable lessons learned for what it truly takes to impact the world. This is an important and must read book for social entrepreneurs, leaders in the public and private sectors and most of all citizens who want to use their energy and talent to make a difference in the lives of others. Read it, become inspired and pass the message along." - Alan Khazei, Co-Founder City Year, Founder Be The Change, Inc.
"The challenges associated with trying to scale the impact of a social entrepreneurial venture have never been described so clearly and compellingly. The One Laptop per Child team had audacious ambitions and have made significant progress toward their goals by building the capabilities needed for collaboration (with governments, high tech manufacturers, and financial institutions), cost reduction, and stimulating market forces. There are numerous lessons here for others eager to change the world." - Paul Bloom, Faculty Director at the Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE) at Duke University's Fuqua School of Business
""Learning to Change the World" documents a project at the intersection of educational reform, learning theory, technology and business innovation, and personal creativity. As such, this book might be as important for technology managers, heads of non-profit organizations, students in MBA programs, and government policy-makers as it is for teachers, instructional designers, or educational psychologists. Whatever your discipline, you will likely resonate with more than a few anecdotes and ideas in this book." - Dr. Curtis J. Bonk, "Educational Technology "magazine
