User:Ndoiron/Content

While I was doing research for OLPCorps Africa, I collected a good set of links and content. I hope this material can be shared with all schools in the OLPC program.

There is content on a level for younger students, older students, and adult instructors/volunteers/technicians.

Other Collections

• I made lists of embeddable YouTube videos in several categories. These can be viewed in the default YouTube playlist view. You will need to install Adobe Flash on the laptops to make YouTube work. I am developing a YouTube site for OLPC users.

• Videos can be downloaded from Fora.tv as MP4 and converted to OGG with ffmpeg2theora. YouTube video download sites exist, but I know of none that let you download directly in OGG format.

• The best free images from WikiMedia are listed in quality images and featured pictures and valued images.

• I recommend The Big Picture, which has many large-scale photos on several topics, from Chinese New Year to Eid al-Adha, from World's Animals to The World at Work. Download once to save on bandwidth.

• Dozens of free e-Books from Project Gutenberg have public domain OGG audiobooks at Librivox.org. I am developing a system to display the audio player and the text on the same page.

• The New 7 Wonders project has information about their buildings contest and has an ongoing contest for natural wonders of the world. The natural wonders each have a short description and a photo. Resources on the site include classroom projects, environmental guides, and a form to enter the contest.

• The BBC has a Learning English site with regular updates and lesson plans for teachers. Topics include slang, words in the news, idioms, business English, and some information about new technology. They also have a YouTube channel.

• eHow has a series of articles on writing and a continuing series of YouTube videos (try queries for writing and stories)

Lessons

• MeetMeAtTheCorner: Kid-produced virtual field trips
• National Parks resources
• New 7 Wonders project
  • Environmental lessons
• Challenges to Wikis in Classrooms
• Posters (PDF) explaining Google Search and services

Language

• BrainyFlix: user-made vocabulary flashcards
• BBC Learning English: resources for teachers and students
  • Their YouTube Channel
• eHow's writing tutorials
  • videos about writing

Science

• PBS: DNA lab: DNA fingerprinting, other information
• Google Moon
• History of Computers: PBS documentary, 3GB of MP4 or 1.5 GB of OGG with ffmpeg2theora (use -p preview)
• NatGeo: Ocean Now: blog from a marine biology ship - e-mail can be sent to crew
• PeriodicVideos: video of each element in the periodic table
• OLPC Heartrate monitor
• ASCEville: civil engineering for kids (Adobe Flash)
• Project Budburst: citizen science on flowers and plants
• Whyville Reef: virtual coral reef
• PhotoSynthesis blog: new blog showing photos from scientists

Math

• Google Charts API: Make chart images
  • Useful tools and APIs
• Free Math Books

Mapping / GIS

• Mapping Technology: simple explanation of GIS mapping with interesting examples
• Developing a simple introduction to GIS/mapping technologies with Google Maps API

• GIS in Education
• GIS in the Congo
• Map Data Download: User-submitted maps of Kenya
• Heat Maps: Google Maps API
• GeoPlace: slow site but has some good articles
• AGCommons: agriculture and technology in Africa
  • AGCommons Projects

Development Technology

ICT4D stands for "Internet and Communication Technology for Development"

Blogs

• AfriGadget: named one of the best websites by Time magazine
• Appfrica
• Google Africa: official blog for Google initiatives in Africa (French and English)
• Future Perfect: blog about Jan Chipchase, global researcher for Nokia
  • New York Times article on Chipchase
  • New Scientist article on Chipchase
• BuildAfrica: ICT coordinator for Millenium Villages Project
• Tim Unwin: author of ICT4D
• AGCommons: agriculture and technology in Africa
• WhiteAfrican: one of the writers for AfriGadget
• ICT-KM: ICT manager for International Livestock Research Institute
• AidWorkerDaily

Books/Long PDFs

• F/LOSS Concept Booklet: Wikibooks on free/libre/open-source
• ICT4D: by Tim Unwin
• Beginning Google Maps Mashups: from Apress

Organizations

• Help Kenya Project: computers and training for Kenyan schools
• AGCommons: sharing information about agriculture and technology in Africa
• Official eGovernment in Kenya
• Architecture for Humanity
  • Open Architecture Network - site for sharing designs for houses usable for disaster relief, community needs, etc
  • TED Video Presentation
• txtEagle: blog and video discussion of txtEagle service
• Salaam Garage: brings content-creators to developing nations to help organizations tell about peoples' stories and needs
• Ghana's Open Design Studio
• Literacy Bridge: talking books

Conferences

• Web4Dev conference: (YouTube videos)
• African Tech Events: list
• MakerFaire: art show in Africa
• TED Africa: videos posted of several influential speakers

Twitter/Microblogging

Microblogging, through Twitter and other services, is a low-bandwidth version of social networking that has caught on in countries with many mobile phone users but few computers.

• AidWorkerDaily: why microblogging is a good fit for aid workers
• Twitter topic #afridev
• Twitter topic #ict4d
• Appfrica.net Article: Somali musician using Twitter for lyrics ideas
• Laconica: Open-source tool for microblogging
  • Laconica's usefulness for aid agencies

Programming

• Lethain: Global popularity of programming lanaguages
  • Appfrica Article: Popularity of programming languages in Africa
• Hex-color-namer

Python

• Invent Computer Games with Python: CC-BY-SA introduction
• Sugar Almanac: OLPC Operating System
  • Sugar Code Snippets: Additional tips and tricks
• How to Give a Python Talk: video from PyCon

SMS/Text Messaging

• FrontlineSMS: free text-messaging system
  • Guide for the XO
• Kenya poised for huge growth in mobile services

Grants and Contests

• ESI: Grants for digital-divide groups

Web

• Deitel's Dive Into Web 2.0: guide to web technologies
• Google Charts API: Make chart images
  • Useful tools and APIs
  • Google Charts Update
• HTML Canvas Tutorial: useful for HTML apps for the laptop
  • Note: use deprecated methods (such as mozillaDrawText instead of fillText)
• Forumotion: free forums in open-source PHP

Other

Local TV news posted on YouTube

• YouTube: NTV-Kenya
  • News-discussion site

This is a new journal that may be interested in women's role in technology in the developing world:

• International Journal of Gender, Science, and Technology

People (have multiple videos on YouTube):

• Chris Abani: stories of humanity / from Africa / etc
• Euvin Naidoo: businessman and investor in Africa
• Ashraf Ghani: political scientist on dev. countries, failed states
• Jacqueline Novogratz: activist, speaker for Africa business
• Iqbal Quadir: researcher, discusses mobile phones in ICT, development

More other:

• MakerFaire: art show in Africa

• OLPC Nepal's charging rack

• future of Internet connectivity in Africa

• Creative Commons: producing free and shareable content
  • first CC meeting in the Arab world