[OLPC-Philippines] questions

Mon May 11 08:43:18 EDT 2009

Jerome and Janet,

I have had roughly the same questions for some time now and I think we have spent too much time on internal organization and not enough on developing a working pilot.  I am both a teacher and engineer.  School dynamics are unpredictable each school has it own paradigm.   I think would help us to have a pilot created somewhere - anywhere! Doing something - anything! onto which we can expand and build.  
This would allow organizations such as Janet's to see the type of laptop, how it is used and what its capabilities are.  

If we don't have a working unit to give them, I need to know why not.  I'll buy one for this purpose.  In fact I'd buy more if I knew what they would be used for.  

As a teacher I am quite anxious to develop animations, video and benchmark lessons to supplement the 40 year old textbooks I saw in the classes in the provinces.  The schools in Manila have a bit more resources but most are pitiful.  We Throw Out 8 truck loads of book a year.  All of which are far more modern than the ones I saw there.  After trying to figure out for some time now how to ship those to Philippines, I realize the Holy Grail would be digital.  I can send this stuff for virtually nothing  and provide them with copyright free material in the venue of choice.  That is my interest in this project.

Lets' start by asking Janet where she would like to see the project work.  Lets get her and her boss a laptop - at my expense if necessary.  Lets get that school a class set and see what we can do to meet their needs.  Don't make the mistake of telling them what it can do, Ask them what they need it to do.  I know what I need it to do, but I won't speak for the school.  Lets ask the developers to make the software needed to display video, flash animations, textbooks or other materials.   Network them to internet so they can use it to see the rest of the world or allow teachers like me to send to them what they request.  

Even the provinces have microwave based broad band receivers.  In Manila I can get moderate speed out of a P999 Smart bro transmitter and I would not hesititate to ask SmartBro for a school based connect at discount or free.  I have a soft spot for Liloan in Southern Leyte because of my relatives there.  I have spoken with the principals there about what they have now and I would be willing to build a working pilot there.   I would evaluate the program based on teacher and students feedback.  Again my purpose was to replace 40year biology text that students were copying onto paper so that they didn't damage them.  They had no idea what the book said but the students were copying them because the teacher told them to.  As a teacher I can tell you that this means the teacher doesn't know what the book says either.  I found this at virtually all levels including junior college.  We need to change all that.

Where the pilot is located is not so relevant as to get one going.  I know this is contrary to developer thought patterns because you like to see planning and structure - no single point of failure,etc.  When you work with children and schools, things will go wrong.  You can't plan for all of them and you shouldn't try.  The power is in now.  Lets trust a good reliable principal in a needy district to provide us with the feedback we need to continue and lets document what has been done and how so that we can answer more requests like the one from Janet.  

My question Immediately for Janet is : do you have a school in mind already?  My questions for  Jerome are: 1) how much for a class set of  20?  and 2) How long will it take to get Janet's organization one to evaluate?  (assume I will pay for it) 

I know that not everyone in the organization can get to the Philippines often.  But some are there and I get there every 3 months or so.  Lets get going on this.  In prior discussions, I think we are too concerned about legally structuring the group.  I think this is cart before horse.  Lets get the pilot and evaluate the program.   I have a lawyer there to handle any legal issues but its a donation to a school so I don't see much. 

Richard Hendricks
(rick.hendricks at rcsdk12.org)

________________________________

From: olpc-philippines-bounces at lists.laptop.org on behalf of Janet Jennette Mktg.Dept.
Sent: Mon 5/11/2009 2:47 AM
To: OLPC Philippines/Pilipinas grassroots
Subject: Re: [OLPC-Philippines] questions

how do we avail of the evaluation units? what will be the requirements? or how can my boss avail one for personal use? he may be interested.

May i also know if there is any existing OLPC project now?

best regards,

Janet

On Sun, May 10, 2009 at 11:27 PM, Jerome Gotangco <jgotangco at gmail.com> wrote:

	Hi Janet,

	There are a few individuals in this list who are in possession of OLPC
	XO-1 laptops either as evaluation units sent by OLPC itself, or their
	own personal use. Admittedly, most of us who have one are developers
	who know the details of the hardware and software very well and would
	like to see this work in a school scenario. This is perhaps where your
	organization can come in.

	This page has a lot of case studies where deployments are made either
	as a country deployment or a small deployment made in a community:
	http://laptop.org/en/children/countries/index.shtml

	It would be great to know what your organization has in mind with
	regards to such an endeavor, perhaps with more details, I'm sure
	people will give their ideas as well to go forward.

	Best,

	Jerome

	On Mon, May 11, 2009 at 1:40 PM, Janet Jennette Mktg.Dept.
	<smpcmktg at gmail.com> wrote:
	> Mr. Gotangco,
	>
	> who will i coordinate with or what do i need to do to sponsor an OLPC pilot
	> in the Philippines?
	>
	> janet
	>
	> On Sun, May 10, 2009 at 10:20 PM, Jerome Gotangco <jgotangco at gmail.com>
	> wrote:
	>>
	>> Hi Janet,
	>>
	>> this can be done in two ways:
	>>
	>> 1. You can do a direct donation to One Laptop Per Child. Details can be
	>> found in this link:
	>> http://www.laptop.org/en/participate/ways-to-give.shtml
	>>
	>> 2. You can have your organization sponsor an OLPC pilot in the
	>> Philippines. This has not been done before but there are people who are
	>> willing to give their time and effort as volunteers to help deploy OLPC
	>> in the Philippines.
	>>
	>> Best,
	>>
	>> jerom
	>>
	>>
	>> Janet Jennette Mktg.Dept. wrote:
	>> > good day!
	>> >
	>> > how do we participate in the one laptop per child program? my boss is
	>> > interested on how we can donate?
	>> >
	>> > please I need your response.
	>> >
	>> > Janet E. Clemente
	>> > Marketing Officer
	>> > Saint Mary's Publishing Corp.
	>> > Marketing Department
	>> > 1308 P. Guevarra St., Sta. Cruz, Manila
	>> > Mobile: 09178817672
	>> > Tel.No.: 735-1221 to 22 Loc.23
	>> > Fax: 735-0955
	>> >
	>> >
	>> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
	>> >
	>> > _______________________________________________
	>> > OLPC-Philippines mailing list
	>> > OLPC-Philippines at lists.laptop.org
	>> > http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/olpc-philippines
	>>
	>> --
	>> Jerome G.
	>>
	>> Pinoy Tech Podcast: http://www.pinoytechpodcast.com <http://www.pinoytechpodcast.com/> 
	>> Blog: http://blog.gotangco.com <http://blog.gotangco.com/> 
	>> _______________________________________________
	>> OLPC-Philippines mailing list
	>> OLPC-Philippines at lists.laptop.org
	>> http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/olpc-philippines
	>
	>
	>
	> --
	> Saint Mary's Publishing Corp.
	> Marketing Department
	> 1308 P. Guevarra St., Sta. Cruz, Manila
	> Mobile: 09178817672
	> Tel.No.: 735-1221 to 22 Loc.23
	> Fax: 735-0955
	>
	> _______________________________________________
	> OLPC-Philippines mailing list
	> OLPC-Philippines at lists.laptop.org
	> http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/olpc-philippines
	>
	>

	--
	Jerome G.

	Pinoy Tech Podcast: http://www.pinoytechpodcast.com <http://www.pinoytechpodcast.com/> 
	Blog: http://blog.gotangco.com <http://blog.gotangco.com/> 
	_______________________________________________
	OLPC-Philippines mailing list
	OLPC-Philippines at lists.laptop.org
	http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/olpc-philippines

-- 
Saint Mary's Publishing Corp.
Marketing Department
1308 P. Guevarra St., Sta. Cruz, Manila
Mobile: 09178817672
Tel.No.: 735-1221 to 22 Loc.23
Fax: 735-0955

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