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Educator's Workshop(under construction)

Welcome message

Welcome to the Educator's Workshop! When it is complete, we hope you will use this section to help you learn to use the XO laptops in your classroom.

We are including sections on getting started, getting connected, and using the activities. There will also be sections where you can share lesson plans and discuss successes with other teachers from around the world. We will include a special discussion section as well.

This Educator's Workshop will be your section. We hope you will take the time visit the site and to share with your colleagues. Bookmark this page! Come back often to see what is new, and please, contribute to its content.

The XO around the world

The OLPC project has been introduced in schools in several countries around the world. If you would like to see what some of these students and teachers have been doing with their XO machines, you will want to be sure to visit the Educators page. Just click on the word "Educators" and it will take you there. (When you have finished, just click on your "Back" arrow in your browser to come back to this page.)

Online in-service training

It would be great if all the teachers involved with the OLPC project could meet together face-to-face to learn about the XO machine and how to use it with their classes. Since that isn't possible, we will try to provide a similar experience here online. We have many resources to help you, and this section is designed to assist you in finding just the right information for your needs. So, grab snack and a cup or glass of your favorite beveredge and join us in exploring this wonderful new educational tool!

Get help getting started

If you have already received your XO machine and need some help getting started, you have come to the right place! Regardless of your prior computer experience, you should take a look at some of this section which applies to all users: http://www.laptop.org/en/laptop/start/

New to computers

                   (a short welcome, simple instructions, links)

Experienced but new to XO

If you have used a laptop computer before, you will immediately notice some differences in the XO computer. For example, it has no disk drive, cd drive or dvd drive. However it has 3 USB ports that will accept flash drives and one SD port (hidden under the screen). There is just 1 GB of memory, so programs need to be tidy. Here's where to find out more about the technical specifications of the XO: http://laptop.org/laptop/hardware/specs.shtml

The XO uses a form of Linux which is an open source programming language which allows you to modify programs to fit the needs of your class. Here is where to find out more about the software: http://www.laptopgiving.org/en/software-and-interface.php

The XO keyboard may be a little different from the ones you are used to. Not only are the keys designed for fingers of small children, they are customized for the languages of the countries where they will be used. To see information about the keyboard layout for English go here: http://wiki.laptop.org/go/OLPC_Keyboard_layouts#US_International_keyboard If you would like to see Spanish, Portuguese, and several other languages, go to this section: http://wiki.laptop.org/go/OLPC_Keyboard_layouts

Unlike other computers you have used, the XO does not currently (January 2008) support printing directly from the machine. It is planned to add this feature later this year through a software update. Meanwhile, you can save files to a flash drive, plug it into another computer, and print.

The XO comes with a wonderful built in camera, capable of taking still shots and video. These can be useful for students who wish to illustrate their stories and projects, video chat, and send photos in emails. Here's where to find out more about using the camera to Record.

How to use a wiki (links)

Help connecting

Using the mesh network

                    (explain, simple instructions, links)

Using a wireless connection

                    (explain, simple instructions, links)

Connecting to T-Mobile

                  (explain, simple instructions, links)
   

Help using the activities

Activity Name

(Short discription of each activity)

See it in action

(links)

Learn to use it

(simple,non-technical instruction, links to more

                       technical information

Educator's Roundtable

Lesson Plan exchange

     (instructions for submitting...organize by activity, list other materials and supplies          
     needed, ages of students, include photos and/or videos and examples of projects)

Success Stories

(include photos, stories, videos)

Teachers Lounge

                    (a chat page/room)...exchange of ideas for application and   
                    use, help and the like.)