Google Co-Founder Sergey Brin Pushes for More School Computers

Serger Brin, co-founder of Internet search giant Google, has an important message of educators looking for ways to boost the educational system for students: put more computers in schools.

 

Brin, a high school dropout who also serves as Google’s (News - Alert) president of technology, spoke this week at a conference on Google's campus about advantages of supporting schools with the latest in digital technology, according to a Los Angeles Times report.

 

“It's important for students to be put in touch with real-world problems," Brin said. "The curriculum should include computer science. Mathematics should include statistics. The curriculums should really adjust."

 

According to the LA Times, Brin advocated uploading textbooks on computers to allow easier access and to have high school students write Wikipedia articles and teach technology to senior citizens and middle school students. With the teaching, students will learn, he said.

 

During the conference, Brin predicted that computers would become cheaper, and broadband access would become more ubiquitous. Those two elements would continue to make computers a strong part of education, he said.

 

Google is ramping up its interest in education. For the last three years, the company has given schools a premium version of its Google Apps, which help schools run their business and gives teachers e-mail access and other tools corporations usual pay for, the LA Times said. The donation helps Google reinforce its brand message as well as spread the notion of “universal access” to information, the report said.

 

"The kids who are in school are our future business leaders," said Cristin Frodella, product marketing manager for the Google Apps, Education Edition. "If they like Google Apps now, they'll ask for it by name. There is a value there."