Challenges to Overcome

1. Ownership
2. Time
3. Language Barrier
4. Community Buy-in
5. Teacher buy-in
6. school resources
7. no textbooks, minimal stationary
8. no electricity, water
9. distance to school
10. perception of theft
11. minimal teacher use of email system
12. generational gap: technology
13. maintaining outside involvement
14. No telephone lines, wifi, adsl, 3g
15. No means to print

OLPCorps Deployment Proposal

Things we need to know

Renewable Energy

Core team

Roles of each member

Consultation

teachers, principal
Language

Educators
technicians

Localization

understand local culture, customs

language
acceptance
trust of foreigners
Initial welcome - introduction event

Technology

Internet Connectivity
Power

• Recharge laptops, servers
• generator
• solar panels - weather in the summer (sand, sun, rain) [too expensive?]
• power strips
• AC charging?
• Power supply: Laptops are 2-3 watts, will need power for server: system for charging laptops

School Server

• setup of server
• cooling
• storage
  

Computers

• reflash the laptops - need internet access
• language packages
• regional keyboards
• Open Source software
• Internet access - need access for learning (Wikipedia)

Extra materials

• wireless access points
• usb cables
• extension cords
• power strips
• modems
• ethernet cables
  
  

Curriculum

School Schedule
Length of summer
Daily
Literacy of kids
Literacy of adults involved

Teacher/student Preparation
Learning workshops
facilitate learning - rather than replace

Lesson Plans - flexible curriculum

• Prepare training materials
• integrate into school's existing curriculum
• 2 wks to brainstorm with collaborators
• Time Line of laptop distribution
• books
• not just a toy - a learning instrument - a gateway to the modern world
• 240 page Manual online
• List of potential subjects
  • typing
  • computer science
  • literacy - math, science
  • Notebook of computer repair tips
    
    

Support

Community participation

Technical support

• software updates?
• Service Repair
• extra parts
• technical knowledge
• tools - screwdriver (computer tools) - donations?
• soldering iron
  
  

Long term sustainability

Create an MIT group

How will you provide financial support after you leave?
send people annually
replacement parts
ASA approved
Funding
Grant proposals
Teach the adults
Have meeting with adults
Community involvement
Power supply, IT infrastructure

Logistics

shipping - where?

• customs
• receipt and storage of 230 kg package
• multiple stops? - only one international airport
• from the airport

Accommodations
visas - immunizations
Travel
Transportation

• airport
• public transportation (taxi?)
  
  

Communication

international phones, internet - single international cell phone

SIM cards
service

Emergency

pharmacy, hospital
emergency contacts

External funding

Tech companies
Raytheon
IBM
Grants offered by MIT - small travel grants
Sally Whitcher