learning ......together ?
Its interesting to note two very different apporaches that try to achieve the same thing : making
learning more fun and possible in schools in economically disadvanteged regions/schools with very limited resources.
While one is the high profile MIT media lab project of the $100 laptop, another approach which is already being implemented in india is the K-Yan. Yan means a flying vehicle in Hindi and K stands for knowledge - literally giving flight to your knowledge.
The K-Yan has the functions of a multimedia computer, a large format TV, a DVD or VCD player, a compact disc writer, a projector, internet surfing facilities, video conferencing and visual audio studio systems in a single compact integrated unit, for just Rs.140,000 ($3,000) ( which is pretty expensive considering the target group !! - but a lot of the cost is due to the expensive projecter lens ). However with the K Yan you can teach a whole lot of students in a 'collaborative and (hopefully!) constructive environment'. Having been to a couple of schools of the kind which K Yan primarily aims at I think it would be a wonderful learning experience for the kids to learn using the K Yan. While K Yan has the plus point of making learning a whole lot more fun and engrossing its still very teacher centric which can be a plus point ...provided the teacher is that good - however, with the kind of teachers in most of these kind of schools in india - this is certainly a drawback.
" With the click of a mouse, an entire classroom can now access the functions of a multimedia computer with all its added advantages - and without the mandatory air conditioner cooling the room to boot.
This compact multimedia centre, developed by Kirti Trivedi, an Indian Institute of Technology professor of Mumbai, is now being used in schools in several states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and West Bengal.
150 such devices used in schools throughout the country. It also provides the content in the local language. "
The $100 project on the other hand has the wonderful aspect or providing each kid something that he can cherish, keep , play around and program in his spare time ! which i believe will be a far more potent learning experience. However, in a country where a whole lot of government approved technical colleges do not have adequate internet facilities it remains doubtful how the kids are going to learn. Add to it the issues of charging laptops in places where there is no electricity for around 8-10 hours a day on average and the temperatures easily reaching over 40 degrees in an environment full of dust and things ...its not sure how long the laptop will last!
Well there are no free lunches .......but its heartening to see work done in this field !
learning more fun and possible in schools in economically disadvanteged regions/schools with very limited resources.
While one is the high profile MIT media lab project of the $100 laptop, another approach which is already being implemented in india is the K-Yan. Yan means a flying vehicle in Hindi and K stands for knowledge - literally giving flight to your knowledge.
The K-Yan has the functions of a multimedia computer, a large format TV, a DVD or VCD player, a compact disc writer, a projector, internet surfing facilities, video conferencing and visual audio studio systems in a single compact integrated unit, for just Rs.140,000 ($3,000) ( which is pretty expensive considering the target group !! - but a lot of the cost is due to the expensive projecter lens ). However with the K Yan you can teach a whole lot of students in a 'collaborative and (hopefully!) constructive environment'. Having been to a couple of schools of the kind which K Yan primarily aims at I think it would be a wonderful learning experience for the kids to learn using the K Yan. While K Yan has the plus point of making learning a whole lot more fun and engrossing its still very teacher centric which can be a plus point ...provided the teacher is that good - however, with the kind of teachers in most of these kind of schools in india - this is certainly a drawback.
" With the click of a mouse, an entire classroom can now access the functions of a multimedia computer with all its added advantages - and without the mandatory air conditioner cooling the room to boot.
This compact multimedia centre, developed by Kirti Trivedi, an Indian Institute of Technology professor of Mumbai, is now being used in schools in several states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and West Bengal.
150 such devices used in schools throughout the country. It also provides the content in the local language. "
The $100 project on the other hand has the wonderful aspect or providing each kid something that he can cherish, keep , play around and program in his spare time ! which i believe will be a far more potent learning experience. However, in a country where a whole lot of government approved technical colleges do not have adequate internet facilities it remains doubtful how the kids are going to learn. Add to it the issues of charging laptops in places where there is no electricity for around 8-10 hours a day on average and the temperatures easily reaching over 40 degrees in an environment full of dust and things ...its not sure how long the laptop will last!
Well there are no free lunches .......but its heartening to see work done in this field !
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