OLPC research
Contents
Research, Outcome Monitoring & Impact Evaluation
Introduction
This page provides links to reports related to the OLPC project. We begin by looking at the resources used; share instruments and frameworks as well as white papers and inform about the organizations involved.
We then arrange the reports under three main headings: Research(link), Outcome Monitoring(link), Impact Evaluation(link). Research, Monitoring & Evaluating is not only important as a way of improving, assessing and understanding what is happening in respective OLPC projects around the world, but also to connect this growing community at the forefront of technology integration in education to help build, suggest, and inform this field as it quickly grows and develops. In addition to the work itself, we are also at the apex of rethinking these approaches and models and innovating them to make sure the appropriate information and outcomes are being collected. The OLPC Learning Team, lead by Dr. Claudia Urrea have put forth a paper outlining the need for “Innovation in Evaluation.” (link)
We look forward for OLPC communities to continue contributing and sharing their work as well as welcome those looking for information on OLPC projects.
Please see also Experience, Constructionism, Reviews of OLPC, and Class Acts (a FLOSS Manuals community publication) for articles and other anecdotal works.
Resources
Instruments & Framework
to be added
White Papers
Urrea & Bender, Innovation in Evaluation
Assessment and Overview of international M&E Reports, by the the OLPCF Learning Team.* OLPC Foundation Learning Team: Assessment and Overview of Existing M&E Reports Recently published assessment of existing international M&E literature by local and government actors on OLPC distributions
Ghana: The One Laptop per Child Project and Its Applicability to Ghana (BOA), Buchele & Owusu-Aning (pdf). Designed as an academic overview of work in Ghana so far, providing data and raising questions for anyone considering a national implementation. The assessment refers to Ghana as a country most suited for OLPC collaboration. Challenges for implementation and funding, and questions for the government to answer, are discussed.
Proposals (works in progress)
Research
Research(link) is defined as the intent to add new general knowledge to the field using gathered information and data, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research http://journals.cluteonline.com/index.php/JBER/article/viewFile/2532/2578
Literature
Proposals (works in progress)
Outcome Monitoring
while Outcome Monitoring(link) is a form of evaluation or assessment. It allows programs to determine what is working, and what is not working, based from expected results, so that it may be addressed and improved on an on-going basis. http://www.endvawnow.org/en/articles/340-evaluation-monitoring-outcome-and-impact.html
Literature
- Early OLPC experiences in an Uruguayan School (pdf)
This report on the first Uruguayan XO pilot, with 150 students in a rural school, provides a good observational overview of XO activities in the classroom.
- Ceibal Assessment 2010 Summary Document .doc
English translation of Evaluación del Plan Ceibal 2010 DOCUMENTO RESUMEN http://www.anep.edu.uy/anepweb/servlet/main004?403
File:Ceibal Assessment 2010 Summary Document .doc
- Síntesis del informe de monitoreo del estado del parque de XO a abril de 2010.
Executive Summary of the 2010 OLPC monitoring report (Spanish) (http://www.ceibal.org.uy/docs/Plan_Ceibal____Informe_Estado_XO__Abril_2010.pdf)
- Monitoreo y evaluación educativa del Plan Ceibal
- Primeros resultados a nivel nacional
Plan Ceibal 2010 Monitoring Report (Spanish) Salamano, I., Pagés, P., Baraibar, A., Ferro, H., Pérez, L., & Pérez, M. (http://www.ceibal.org.uy/docs/evaluacion_educativa_plan_ceibal_resumen.pdf)
- One to One Laptop Schools review
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/One-to-One_Laptop_Schools Excerpt: High-level overviews of the major 1:1 projects around the world, including the Magellan project and many OLPC projects.
- OLPC Haiti pre-pilot evaluation report (IDB)
The Education Division of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) conduted an assessment following their partial funding of the current program in Haiti. The report provides an analysis of usage trends and outcomes for grades 1-5 after studying 50 students, assessed by interviews and observations. Gains were observed particularly in literacy (reading and writing) and student preparedness for the future (research about / envisioning their future work options). Teachers, technical staff, and administrators were also interviewed. Data analysis and interview guides are included in the document.
- Eduvision Ethiopia Implementation Report, Sep-Dec 2007
Ethiopia Implementation Report, September - December 2007,
- Bjorn Everts, Matthew Herren, David Hollow, Eduvision, February 2008
See the discussion about this document.
The study involved 12 teachers trained to teach XO basics to classes of 2d, 7th, and 8th graders. After distribution and use for 2 months, students were given batteries of activity tests, task completion tests, and questionnaires. Structured interviews were then held with students and teachers. Positive changes observed and tracked included
- productive changes in teaching styles (of teachers)
- increased student collaboration and dialogue
- support of eachother's learning process and objectives
Student motivation improved, and introducing gaming was cited as a way to promote attention to the curriculum.
- First Experiences with OLPC in European Classrooms
First Experiences with OLPC in European Classrooms describes early programs in Graz, Austria. 10/30/2009
Proposals (works in progress)
Impact Evaluation
“Impact Evaluations(link) are a particular type of evaluation that seeks to answer cause-and-effect questions. Unlike general evaluations, which can answer many types of questions, impact evaluations are structured around one particular type of question: What is the impact (or causal effect) of a program on an outcome of interest.” http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTHDOFFICE/Resources/5485726-1295455628620/Impact_Evaluation_in_Practice.pdf http://www.endvawnow.org/en/articles/340-evaluation-monitoring-outcome-and-impact.html
