[OLPC-SF] Current OLPC Metrics

[Carol Ruth Silver]

2010 July 13 Wednesday

Mike Dawson
OLPC Afghanistan

Dear Mike:

I am forwarding a string of emails about the subject of testing before 
deployment of OLPC laptops, which I know you are very interested in.

Firstly, has OLPC Afghanistan or the MoE made any further progress in 
this regard, which you can share with the OLPC group here?  And Second, 
please note the references to Christoff's suggestions, in Australia and 
Texas, of possible sources of base-line testing for OLPC deployments.

Best regards,

Carol Ruth Silver
======================

On 07/14/10 10:49, Cherry Withers wrote:
> We are grappling with the same question in the Philippines.
>
> Our first pilot is good for a three year longitudinal study. One issue 
> is there's only one standardized test that the children take and that 
> is at 6th grade (this serves as a basis for their entry in high 
> schools. No middle schooling). There's one "optional" assessment that 
> they take at 3rd grade, which thankfully this region opted for. 
> However data mining will be a challenge. Still waiting for the results 
> of that test. We are deploying with 4th graders and will be following 
> them throughout 6th grade.
>
> We are currently seeking a research partner and identified one 
> university that is interested. We are now trying to establish a 
> baseline study before we deploy in September.  Some of the things 
> mentioned by Christoph can be incorporated and will definitely look at 
> TCER (once it's up) and ACER. We are looking beyond social impact 
> because decision makers are very much more interested in 1:1 computing 
> increases (surprise surprise) test scores to justify a larger and 
> widespread deployment given the current costs of these things. In 
> short more "bang for the buck".
>
> I am thankful however that we have a highly supportive pilot community 
> who are more than willing to be our lab for this study.
>
> Anyways, is there a push for this within the OLPC community? Anyone 
> looking at grant making organizations to start this type of research?
>
> ---Cherry
>
> On Wed, Jul 14, 2010 at 9:45 AM, <akleider at sonic.net 
> <mailto:akleider at sonic.net>> wrote:
>
>
>     I attempted a follow up with disappointing results.
>
>     At the Australian site I found mention of 'pilot projects' but no
>     results.
>
>     The Texas site seems to be having a problem with its server.
>
>     The chilling reality is that the honest answer to the question on the
>     table seems to be "absolutely none!"
>
>     Please, can someone prove me wrong?
>
>     cheers
>     ak
>
>     > Hi Grant,
>     >
>     > I just spent my morning looking at that very same question in
>     > preparation for some afternoon meetings I have with people here in
>     > Montevideo who run the OLPC project in Uruguay.
>     >
>     > In general there's two dimensions in terms of the impact of a
>     project
>     > such as OLPC: educational and social.
>     >
>     > In terms of education some of the more popular metrics and
>     aspects to
>     > look at apart from attendance rates are
>     >
>     > * comparisons of school performance/achievements compared to control
>     > groups (though not everyone believes that;-)
>     > * grade repetition rates
>     > * student engagement in school
>     > * time spent on school / education related tasks at home /
>     outside class
>     > * knowledge about computers
>     > * feelings towards technology in general
>     > * collaboration between students
>     > * self-confidence of students
>     > * feelings about school by students
>     >
>     > I'm sure I'm forgetting plenty more but if you look at some of the
>     > research done by folks like TCER (Texas Center for Educational
>     Research)
>     > or ACER (Australian Council for Educational Research) you'll
>     quickly be
>     > able to come up with them.
>     >
>     > With regard to social impact people are mostly looking at things
>     such as
>     > rates of access to the Internet, perceptions of technology, changing
>     > roles of children in families and communities, etc.
>     >
>     > Hope that helps:-)
>     >
>     > Cheers,
>     > Christoph
>     >
>     > Am 14.07.2010 03:56, schrieb Grant Bowman:
>     >> I gave a "lightning talk" today on the OLPC project at
>     www.nblug.org <http://www.nblug.org>
>     >> <http://www.nblug.org> and was asked about current metrics. Besides
>     >> increased student attendance, what are good ways to respond?
>     >>
>     >> Thanks,
>     >>
>     >> Grant
>     >>
>     >>
>     >>
>     >> _______________________________________________
>     >> OLPC-SF mailing list
>     >> OLPC-SF at lists.laptop.org <mailto:OLPC-SF at lists.laptop.org>
>     >> http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/olpc-sf
>     >
>     > --
>     > Christoph Derndorfer
>     > co-editor, www.olpcnews.com <http://www.olpcnews.com>
>     > e-mail: christoph at olpcnews.com <mailto:christoph at olpcnews.com>
>     > _______________________________________________
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>     > http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/olpc-sf
>     >
>     >
>
>
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>    


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