[kictanet] Laptops for 2014 class 1 entrants

[Brian Munyao Longwe]

Hi Edith,

"Failure" in the context of the OLPC project needs to be clearly defined. I
think that what the media have largely trumpeted as a failure was that the
goal of coming out with a sub $100 laptop was not achieved. The costs of
producing the OLPC devices is higher than $100 per piece.

However, the fact that these devices are designed *from the ground up* with
children (and learning) in mind has been a huge success in terms of
yielding devices that are more appropriately suited to the vagaries of
youth, both in terms of ruggedness as well as look and feel.

The examples I gave earlier where countries like Uruguay with a tiny
population of 3m have rolled out 500,000 over the past 5 years is a
resounding success to me.

Rather than reinvent the wheel - let us take one that works, modify it to
better suit us, and fit it into the right mix of complementary hardware,
software and systems to make the overall undertaking a success.

Best regards,

Brian


On Wed, Apr 10, 2013 at 11:47 PM, Edith Adera <eadera at idrc.ca> wrote:

>  Brian,****
>
> ** **
>
> It appears the “one laptop per child” program (OLPC) failed as widely
> touted, so important to learn lessons from that failure. ****
>
> ** **
>
> Edith ****
>
> ** **
>
> *From:* kictanet [mailto:kictanet-bounces+eadera=
> idrc.ca at lists.kictanet.or.ke] *On Behalf Of *Brian Munyao Longwe
> *Sent:* April 10, 2013 9:34 AM
> *To:* Edith Adera
>
> *Cc:* KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions
> *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Laptops for 2014 class 1 entrants****
>
> ** **
>
> Hi Robert,****
>
> Good points. We actually don't need to look very far. The "One Laptop per
> Child" program has been on this issue for a while now and has a few  models
> of laptop (including a tablet) that can be offer at a price of +/- $100.**
> **
>
> The OLPC project has already delivered over 200,000 laptops in Rwanda and
> over 500,000 in Uruguay via government driven programs. Considering these
> are relatively small countries (7m and 3m total populations respectively).
> The goal of 1 million laptops per year for std1 entrants is not
> unnattainable.****
>
> As for content - this is where the opportunity lies. All of the current
> education materials exist in soft form with the varioius printing presses,
> it would not take much effort to process these into eBook format and push
> them onto a digital library along with related material such as story
> books, dictionaries, encyclopediae etc.****
>
> In addition to the above, there is a huge opportunity to create
> educational games for all school going ages. Research has shown that
> children learn much faster when the knowledge is conveyed in a "fun" way.*
> ***
>
> Kazi kwetu?****
>
> Brian****
>
> ** **
>
> On Wed, Apr 10, 2013 at 7:56 AM, robert yawe <robertyawe at yahoo.co.uk>
> wrote:****
>
> Hi,
>
> I like the confirmation by the President - sworn and his deputy on the
> issue of laptops for class 1 students from next year, it is commendable and
> quite easily achievable but as ICT experts are laptops the ideal items or
> would low power touchscreen tablets be more practical and appropriate?
> However .com that the two principles are I suspect that they might not be
> up to speed on devices.
>
> Here again for the umpteenth time the opportunity for us to become
> relevant presents itself, shall we take action or sit back to carry out a
> forensic analysis when only 80% of the students get the devices?
>
> Regards
>
> PS.  A new dispensation, a new dedication and new vigor ****
>
> ** **
>
>  ****
>
> Robert Yawe
> KAY System Technologies Ltd
> Phoenix House, 6th Floor
> P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200
> Kenya****
>
> Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696****
>
>
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