One Laptop per Child (OLPC) in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands
Reflections from Four Site Visits
Dr Laura HosmanIllinois Institute of TechnologyPTC 2011, January 18, 2011
Four Schools / Many Findings
• Overview of the four schools: – PNG: Mt Hagen and Rumginae– Solomon Islands: Patukae and Batuna
• Findings• Questions & Challenges• Recommendations
School 1: PNG Mt Hagen
• Brand New Deployment—1st week• Teachers had never used computers• 1-week training session
School 1: PNG Mt Hagen
• Each school had a pre-loaded server• Individual solar panels to charge XOs• 3rd-5th grades covered (1/2 of school, plans for other 1/2)
School 1: PNG Mt Hagen
• Too soon to talk about impact
• Students & Teachers both excited, enthusiastic
School 1: PNG Mt Hagen
School 2: PNG Kiunga/Rumginae
• Rumginae school 1st pilot in region• Had laptops for ~6 months• 2-day training session
School 2: PNG Kiunga/Rumginae
• Chosen b/c grid electricity• Only grades 3-4 have laptops
• Cause for divisiveness/disagreement
School 2: PNG Kiunga/Rumginae
Questions arose:Who gets left out? Who gets priority?
School 2: PNG Kiunga/Rumginae
School 3: Solomon Islands Patukae
• One of first pilots: Have had XOs for 2 years• Have satellite Internet thru PPP, but no server
School 3: Solomon Islands Patukae
• All grades received laptops• Children seemed very familiar w/them
School 3: Solomon Islands Patukae
• Teachers very enthusiastic• Parents even more supportive!
School 3: Solomon Islands Patukae
• Entire community changed thru project• Challenge: Program in danger of being
abandoned by Solomons Dept of Ed.
School 4: Solomons Batuna
• Have had XOs for 2 years, Tech. School• Used to have Internet—hadn’t for 4 mo.
School 4: Solomons Batuna
• Creative use of XOs very evident• Local technical expert on-site
School 4: Solomons Batuna
School 4: Solomons Batuna• Teachers & Parents very supportive
Preliminary Findings
• At every school: – Teachers want more training– Teachers & students with laptops
universally positive about the program– Electricity/energy in short supply– No clear financial plan for maintenance,
replacement or repair of XOs, or for providing new XOs to incoming classes
Preliminary Findings II
• Each school had unique challenges– Rivalry/jealousy/resentment of “have-nots”– Teachers/Principal had left, taking XOs with
them– Internet Connectivity
• In PNG prospects for getting it weren’t good• In Batuna the repeater was destroyed
– Program abandonment– Desire for local content
OLPC’s Five Principles
• Child Ownership• Low Ages• Saturation• Connection• Free & Open Source
When the core principles can’t be met, which get sacrificed?
Questions and Challenges
• When dreaming up “development” technology solutions in a “developed” environment, it’s nearly impossible to comprehend all that we take for granted
• When bringing technology to places that didn’t have it before and don’t have all the complementarities associated with it, what do we prioritize? What gets sacrificed?
Questions and Challenges
• Is it better to give laptops to a few grades, and neglect the others?
• Or is it better not to deploy if you know you can’t reach all children?
• Or if you know the laptops won’t be replaced or given to future classes?
• What to do about local content?
Not all Gloom and Doom: Profound Social Impact
• Parents conveyed impact on kids, families, schools, communities, etc.
• Unquestionably, lives have been changed• Technology affects aspirations, outlook, realities
Not Answers…but Recommendations
• Try for saturation• Think of energy• Try to develop local content• Think of the future!
– Maintenance– Replacement – Provision for future years– Computer lab or local cyber-learning center, – Continual teacher training
Thank You!
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