[Olpc-za] Small question !

[Lungi Siqebengu]

Dear Jeff,

Thank you for the update . It sounds like some headway is being created
here. 

The “closer to Pretoria” part was referring to Antoine’s input about the
invitation from the Dept of Labour. His request was “ OLPC-ZA has been
invited to a workshop in Pretoria hosted by the Department of Labor who are
busy looking at options for laptops to use in training programs. (Anyone on
the list who lives closer to Pretoria who feels like representing OLPC-ZA
there ? “ . Hence my response was asking what can people living closer to
Pretoria, who are in the list do? 

 

Talking about Pretoria (meaning Gov), and open source, the curriculum for
distribution via e-text. I am aware of the example of - seeing the XO as
simply a more cost effective and durable textbook/jotter replacement, that
you have espoused. Can you kindly unpack it a bit more please. Who do you
think can be sensitised within the National Dept of Education, to move in
this direction? 

I know you said you were thinking aloud - and I am not going to hold you to
it, but maybe, with all of us exploring this idea somewhere we can get a
lead. I think there are a number of people that are advising/influencing
Gov and probably they are reaching some dead-end. This is could be a taste
of fresh air towards that thinking. In Gauteng I am aware of some
initiative of setting up a “division” on e-learning. People involved are
not that clued up on e-learning, let alone cost-effective but high impact
tools such as XO, are available. We are going to need to talk to such at
both Prov level and also Nat level. I totally agree with approaching Nat
level first , as this can then filter to all 9 Provs. 

 

Just thinking ! 

 

 

Best Regards,

 

Lungi Siqebengu

(lungis at iafrica.com is Synonymous with lungis at 4pillars.co.za). 

  _____  

From: olpc-za-bounces at lists.laptop.org [mailto:olpc-za-bounces at lists.laptop.
org] On Behalf Of Jeff
Sent: 20 August 2007 21:51
To: olpc-za at laptop.org
Subject: Re: [Olpc-za] Small question !

 

Lungi Siqebengu (LuW) wrote:





Eastern Cape - can you, Jeff OR Ron elaborate more please on the work that
is being done. 

 

It looks like Ron of eKhayaICT is making good headway linking the disparate
groups working towards the same goal.

 

There are several ICT projects which have been working independently:
namely VA32˚S (Volunteer Africa 32˚South), SELF (Solar Electric Light
Fund), and the Uniforum/ISPA backed NetDay computer classrooms which are
being implemented in the Coffee Bay - Hole in the Wall - Seaview region. 

 

A WiFi network linking the schools to each other - effectively from Hole in
the Wall up the coast to Coffee Bay, and up inland to Zithulele hospital
(on a fortunate high-point in line of sight to Tafelahashi / Zwelenqaba) -
is being rolled out in November. The aim is to provide internet and support
services for the schools and medical care staff - as well as, ultimately
(and hopefully), base station infrastructure for the XOs to link up over a
large-ish area.

 

Various options are being investigated to cover the internet costs. The
schools are able to pay about R500 per month each towards bandwidth... at
the moment.

 

I mentioned Tafelahashi - but I don't really know what's happening there,
except that we should be able to link via line of sight from there to
Dwesa. The point is that a large WiFi hotspot with broadband internet will
be available for the kids using the XOs - at whichever school/s is/are
chosen for pilot... including the schools which have recently been
computerized (near Dwesa) by the Rhodes / Fort Hare initiatives.

 

The biggest hurdle I think we're facing - and I hope you were speaking as
euphemistically as I interpreted when you say "closer to Pretoria" - is to
get government to open source the core curriculum for distribution via e-
text. . . and to start seeing the XO as simply a more cost effective and
durable textbook/jotter replacement - initially.

 

I'm just thinking aloud, really... I'd welcome some serious criticism and
input here.

 

-- 

Jeff Brown

Website: www.wildcoast.com

Blog: www.wildcoast.com/jeff

Cell phone: +27-74-1015170

 

8< -- 

Do not believe in miracles -- rely on them.





 

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