OLPCorps HarvardUniversity Kenya: Difference between revisions
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* '''Lawrence Barchok''' - Economics and Computer Science |
* '''Lawrence Barchok''' - Economics and Computer Science |
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== Background Information == |
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We plan to introduce the XO to the children of the 5th grade class in the Bonde Kakoko Primary School. with the help of the Victoria Institute of Science & Technology and the Great Lakes University of Kisumu. While nearly all of us are native born Kenyans, Jonathan has a special relationship with the region since he is originally from the area and has friends and family in the school’s local community. |
We plan to introduce the XO to the children of the 5th grade class in the Bonde Kakoko Primary School. with the help of the Victoria Institute of Science & Technology and the Great Lakes University of Kisumu. While nearly all of us are native born Kenyans, Jonathan has a special relationship with the region since he is originally from the area and has friends and family in the school’s local community. |
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The team also has several members capable of handling the technical aspects of the project quite well due to their academic experience with computing. Mackenzie is the lead director of [http://www.one-for-all.org One for All]. Her skills garnered from organizing and deploying several XO pilot programs in elementary schools within the Cambridge area though this organization will be invaluable to the team when integrating the XO into the children’s curriculum. The rest of us each bring different skills to the table but are united in our passionate urge to do our play our role in fostering better education and community development. |
The team also has several members capable of handling the technical aspects of the project quite well due to their academic experience with computing. Mackenzie is the lead director of [http://www.one-for-all.org One for All]. Her skills garnered from organizing and deploying several XO pilot programs in elementary schools within the Cambridge area though this organization will be invaluable to the team when integrating the XO into the children’s curriculum. The rest of us each bring different skills to the table but are united in our passionate urge to do our play our role in fostering better education and community development. |
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We shall introduce the XO to the children, and organize our work with them into three main stages. |
We shall introduce the XO to the children, and organize our work with them into three main stages. |
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===The First Stage=== |
===The First Stage=== |
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We'll '''introduce''' the XO, and the role of computing in the developing world to the children and the community by holding a general presentation on computing when we arrive. |
We'll '''introduce''' the XO, and the role of computing in the developing world to the children and the community by holding a general presentation on computing when we arrive. |
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===The Second Stage=== |
===The Second Stage=== |
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We'll hold general workshops with the children to teach them the '''basic functionality''' of the XO and get them familiarized with it. We can hold these classes after school for two weeks, and every other day we will assign them fun tasks they can do at home. |
We'll hold general workshops with the children to teach them the '''basic functionality''' of the XO and get them familiarized with it. We can hold these classes after school for two weeks, and every other day we will assign them fun tasks they can do at home. |
||
===The Third Stage=== |
===The Third Stage=== |
||
We'll then completely '''integrate''' the XO into the children's classes, and use it to illustrate specific concepts.Rather than basing the class completely on the XO, the teacher will first explain the concepts of the day, and then the children will work with the XO to explore the concepts just explained. The children will be assigned relevant homework assignments expanding their XO experience and making extensive use of its functionality. We will be available to help the children with these homework tasks after the school day. Since many of the children come from the surrounding areas, we can organize these sessions in central locations or homesteads outside the school, to get closer to the community as well. |
We'll then completely '''integrate''' the XO into the children's classes, and use it to illustrate specific concepts.Rather than basing the class completely on the XO, the teacher will first explain the concepts of the day, and then the children will work with the XO to explore the concepts just explained. The children will be assigned relevant homework assignments expanding their XO experience and making extensive use of its functionality. We will be available to help the children with these homework tasks after the school day. Since many of the children come from the surrounding areas, we can organize these sessions in central locations or homesteads outside the school, to get closer to the community as well. |
||
== Sustainability == |
== Sustainability == |
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For the sustainability of this project, we shall hold fund raising events on campus through the following organizations that our team members are actively involved in, to raise funds for any repair and replacement costs that we may incur. |
For the sustainability of this project, we shall hold fund raising events on campus through the following organizations that our team members are actively involved in, to raise funds for any repair and replacement costs that we may incur. |
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*[http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/hasa/joomla Harvard African Student Association] |
*[http://www.hcs.harvard.edu/hasa/joomla Harvard African Student Association] |
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The teachers will send feedback on the successes and drawbacks of the project to us directly and also to the NGOs since they have agreed to remain closely affiliated with the project. We will also remain in personal contact with the children and form pen-pal relationships with them. To expand their vision of the XO and computing, we will set up art/creative writing competitions on the current and future impact of the XO in the community. The winning classes will |
The teachers will send feedback on the successes and drawbacks of the project to us directly and also to the NGOs since they have agreed to remain closely affiliated with the project. We will also remain in personal contact with the children and form pen-pal relationships with them. To expand their vision of the XO and computing, we will set up art/creative writing competitions on the current and future impact of the XO in the community. The winning classes will receive a desktop computer that will be left behind for the incoming class, expanding technology in the community. |
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==Impact == |
==Impact == |
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This project will have a tremendous impact on the children and the community. Through the XO’s designed programs, the children will have an enhanced learning experience and will expand their imagination and their goals. This will empower them with the tools required to transform their local communities, their country Kenya and Africa. |
This project will have a tremendous impact on the children and the community. Through the XO’s designed programs, the children will have an enhanced learning experience and will expand their imagination and their goals. This will empower them with the tools required to transform their local communities, their country Kenya and Africa. |
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Revision as of 06:44, 27 March 2009
The Team
We are team of 7 Kenyan undergraduates from Harvard University and Boston University.
- Mudiurasul Hassan - Applied Mathematics
- Jonathan Kola - Electrical Engineering
- Mackenzie Sigalos
- Paul Byatta - Government
- Glenn Getonga
- Dennis Mwaura - Economics and Government
- Lawrence Barchok - Economics and Computer Science
Background Information
We plan to introduce the XO to the children of the 5th grade class in the Bonde Kakoko Primary School. with the help of the Victoria Institute of Science & Technology and the Great Lakes University of Kisumu. While nearly all of us are native born Kenyans, Jonathan has a special relationship with the region since he is originally from the area and has friends and family in the school’s local community. The team also has several members capable of handling the technical aspects of the project quite well due to their academic experience with computing. Mackenzie is the lead director of One for All. Her skills garnered from organizing and deploying several XO pilot programs in elementary schools within the Cambridge area though this organization will be invaluable to the team when integrating the XO into the children’s curriculum. The rest of us each bring different skills to the table but are united in our passionate urge to do our play our role in fostering better education and community development.
Our Proposal
We shall introduce the XO to the children, and organize our work with them into three main stages.
The First Stage
We'll introduce the XO, and the role of computing in the developing world to the children and the community by holding a general presentation on computing when we arrive.
The Second Stage
We'll hold general workshops with the children to teach them the basic functionality of the XO and get them familiarized with it. We can hold these classes after school for two weeks, and every other day we will assign them fun tasks they can do at home.
The Third Stage
We'll then completely integrate the XO into the children's classes, and use it to illustrate specific concepts.Rather than basing the class completely on the XO, the teacher will first explain the concepts of the day, and then the children will work with the XO to explore the concepts just explained. The children will be assigned relevant homework assignments expanding their XO experience and making extensive use of its functionality. We will be available to help the children with these homework tasks after the school day. Since many of the children come from the surrounding areas, we can organize these sessions in central locations or homesteads outside the school, to get closer to the community as well.
Sustainability
For the sustainability of this project, we shall hold fund raising events on campus through the following organizations that our team members are actively involved in, to raise funds for any repair and replacement costs that we may incur.
- Youth Alliance for Leadership and Development in Africa
- One for All
- Harvard African Student Association
The teachers will send feedback on the successes and drawbacks of the project to us directly and also to the NGOs since they have agreed to remain closely affiliated with the project. We will also remain in personal contact with the children and form pen-pal relationships with them. To expand their vision of the XO and computing, we will set up art/creative writing competitions on the current and future impact of the XO in the community. The winning classes will receive a desktop computer that will be left behind for the incoming class, expanding technology in the community.
Impact
This project will have a tremendous impact on the children and the community. Through the XO’s designed programs, the children will have an enhanced learning experience and will expand their imagination and their goals. This will empower them with the tools required to transform their local communities, their country Kenya and Africa.
Have a look at our descriptive mindmap here(Click and drag any box to center the diagram)