The OLPC laptop in a Nigerian classroom

Hi all,

while surfing the web I stumbled upon this picture that I'd like to
share with you:

http://news.com.com/2300-1041_3-6175025-4.html?tag=ne.gall.pg

Kudos to all the OLPC hackers, thinkers and revolutionaries.

        Giovanni

On 11/04/07, Giovanni Corriga <[hidden email]> wrote:
What a great image! The photos in that set do a great job of showing
the human side of the children who will be using these machines, and
the communities in which they live - well done cnet!

If you're interested in seeing what these kids are experiencing you
can download a live-cd from RedHat:
http://olpc.download.redhat.com/olpc/streams/sdk/build1/livecd/
It's got some rough edges when running on the wrong hardware, but it's
still a good introduction.

The OLPC community have focussed attention on two ideas: they're
getting people to focus again on the idea that computers can be
devices to help children learn; and they are also challenging the MHz
treadmill,  we've got to the point where commodity hardware can is
'good enough'.

It's great to see these ideas coming to fruition, especially with
Squeak in the mix!

Michael

Giovanni,

Thanks for the link, wonderful pictures. It is exciting times and a priviledge
to have Squeak on it. I wonder if there is effort to move content/curriculum
on the laptop, judging from those pictures this school does not have books,
and it is so easy and virtually free to distribute curriculum/books
electronically. (I still prefer to sit with a book, but given the alternative
of no book or book on a laptop I know which I'd take).

Milan


On 2007 April 11 16:44, Giovanni Corriga wrote:

Milan Zimmermann <[hidden email]> writes:
> Giovanni,
>
> Thanks for the link, wonderful pictures. It is exciting times and a priviledge
> to have Squeak on it. I wonder if there is effort to move content/curriculum
> on the laptop, judging from those pictures this school does not have books,
> and it is so easy and virtually free to distribute curriculum/books
> electronically. (I still prefer to sit with a book, but given the alternative
> of no book or book on a laptop I know which I'd take).

Yes, thanks Giovanni.  OLPC is inspiring in general, and the actual
hardware is really cute!!

Milan, IMO the ability to distribute information via these things is
one of the most exciting aspects to me.  The WWW is changing society,
and because of OLPC, these changes should more quickly reach the
countries that participate.  It's especially fascinating to consider
that OLPC countries might well develop Internet-friendly education
systems faster than the developed world.


On this note, is there any groupware around for people who would like
to help out with teaching materials for OLPC countries?  Sort of like
Hands Across the World, but for teaching material?


Lex

On 2007 April 20 14:19, Lex Spoon wrote:
Hi Lex,

I was also wondering about it, and do not remember any OLPC related article
mention developing content.  Perhaps this is a good question for the olpc
mailing list.

Milan

> Sort of like
> Hands Across the World, but for teaching material?
>
>
> Lex