XO Korea/Core Ideas/Culture

OLPC is not just an educational project, but a collaborative one: even that on open source. So, OLPC is, at its core, a cultural movement; helping each other rather than stand-alone personal achievement, open rather than closed, and creativity rather than training. If OLPC surely is a cultural project, XO Korea is localizing it and establishing an OLPC-like culture; thin, small, and fast.

From educational aspects: learn learning, not training

Current educational systems in Korea is to train children for future labor forces of which role was set about 250 years ago when the Industrialization Age began in England. As discussed in detail at XO Korea/core ideas/economics, the role is no more valid. As excavators have displaced enormous shovel based labors, uniform labors for mass production and for standardized managements also are being displaced by various IT-driven technologies. In Korea, the educational model of memorizing as much as possible, and of being trained to follow orders has been very effective to production systems depending on simple and intensive labor forces for last 30~50 years. But, it isn't anymore.

XO Korea will present children with all details about the changes in labor and economic environments of Korea, and with what Korea is pursuing.

All details about changing the role of schools in Korea will be described here.

From political aspects: direct democracy, not indirect one

Because there can't be direct democracy or decision-making system available until now, the indirect democracy based on parliaments, administration, and justice system have been used as an alternate one.

Now, with OLPC, XO Korea hopes to establish direct democracy system, every citizen participating in every social decision via XO and Korean Mesh Network.

All details about creating a direct democracy system in Korea will be described here.

From economic aspects: sustainable welfare, not growth-oriented

It's clear that the USA can't be a TO BE model of currently developing nations. If some (even not all) of those developing nations become to enjoy USA-like production and consumption lives, the earth will be totally destroyed. We should dig the earth to the core to obtain raw materials to produce 1.5 billion automobiles for Chinese only.

Therefore, it's clear. Current developing nations Can Not and Should Not be developed. What an irony it is!!

We need some new development model, and have fortunately found it; OLPC. XO and Sugar can be utilized by all people on the earth without destroying the earth. We need OLPC-like business entities, governmental organizations, and cultures.

All details about creating a sustainable developing model in Korea will be described here.

Government: small on the web, not large in buildings

Like computing business, the government of Korea also is expanding day to day, with currently 1 million employees and about USD 2,380 billions' budget in 2007'. We think only a third of it is really necessary, and may two third are expenses just to manage the former 1/3.

Through OLPC-like reforming the Korean government, we hope to reduce the governmental budget to 1/3 of the current till year 2010. Open sourcing is the core of this reformation, and XO Korea will disclose all details of these reformation processes to provide learning materials to worldwide children and citizens and to attract their participation.

All details about establishing a web based government model in Korea will be described here.

Schools: for collaboration, not training

Schools are key of the current educational system all over the world; its birth, growth, and expansion having been with those of the Industrialization. Yes, schools are for industrialization; mass production and mass consumption.

However, the current mass production systems of the USA and Western nations are only possible under the condition of developing nations NOT having the same mass production system. If not, the entire resources in the earth will be eaten at one gulp; rather than in bite by bite of current developed nations. So, it's apparent that we need a new school system for children to learn both sustainable consumption and IT based content.

Ordinary children begin their educational tour at the age of 7, which is a heritage of the Industrialization Age. Is it still valid for Korean children who are much taller and brighter than 100 years ago? For our opinion, not at all.

XO Korea hopes that children start regular education at the age of 4 to 5.

Our current school system is based on school years - k12. However, every child has different interests and intellectual capabilities. Is it valid to keep fixed stone-like school years? For our opinion, not at all.

XO Korea pursues a school system without school years - k0.

Isn't it desirable for children to select their own interests rather than to be given by the school administration? If desirable, why not attempt it? Because there is no reason not to do so;

XO Korea will provide children an Open Curricula, where anyone can compose his/her own learning subjects.

If education is to produce future labor forces, to stimulate creativities, and to nurture lives of people, then why not integrate school system, industry, and research system all in one? We know those separate systems are resulted from the social divisions of labor, stimulated by the birth of machine-based production system about 250 years ago. But, now, we are living in the totally new age, linked and collaborate each other via Global Mesh Network XO Korea is now prototyping a 3-to-1 integrated model; School, Industry, and Research, or even 4-to-1 including Home.