A not for profit organization
Vision
“Significantly contribute to
achieving
quality universal education to
facilitate
a just, equitable and a humane
society.”
Operational since 2001
135 plus full-time
professionals
600 plus in field - project
based
4673273
323
41
600
108
28517
49
1299
200
(Pondicherry)
(Andhra Pradesh)
(Orissa)
(Chattisgarh)
(Uttaranchal)
(Punjab)
(Rajasthan)
(Gujarat)
(Maharashtra)
(Karnataka)
(Andaman & Nicobar)
OUR EXPREINCE FROM
No. of Schools as on 31 March 2005
Program currently active : 5089 Program being activated : 1816No. of teachers trained : 7824 No. of Children covered : 745000
165 Million Children in 1 Million schools
The imperative need to scale
18% of world Population & 2.4% of land area
325 languagesspoken
35% less than 15 years
Literacy is 65%
35 million in the agegroup of 6-14out of school
1 out of 3 children in5th standard unable to read & write
Only 1 out of 3 completes up to 10th standard
• Standalone Multimedia Desktop
PCs
• Different Platforms
•No internet connectivity
• No trained person
•Few Schools provided with
printers
The ON-school model
ON-SCHOOL MODEL
•Situated ½ to 1 Km from school
•Centres not exclusively used for
children
•Internet facility available
•Trained person present
•Microsoft Operating System used
The OFF-school model
OFF-SCHOOL MODEL
Community State Government
Ownership &
Sustenance
Content validation,
Resource persons,
Infrastructure & Monitoring
Content, Teacher training
& Support
PARTNERSHIP
THE TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGE
•Schools get Computers from multiple sources• Centrally sponsored Innovative Education fund • Used computers through donation• Elected representatives Local Area Development Fund• Locally mobilized resources
• Challenge is to make content work on• All Platform• Lowest available Configuration • In adverse power situations
CONTENT
Type of Content
Description Applications developed in
Child centric Learning Content
Curricular concepts taught in classes 1-8
Macromedia Director and Flash MX
Assessment Software
Computer Based Assessment
MSDE and Visual Basic 6.0
Monitoring Software*
Tracking usage of computers
MS Access and Visual Basic 6.0* Software being field tested
RESEARCH
Difference in performance between experimental schools and control schools found to be ‘significant’ in Andhra in classes 3,4 and 5.
{ANOVA (ANalysis Of VAriance) conducted in AP}
Karnataka
Andhra Pradesh
Computer aided learning found to have beneficial impact on children with learning disabilities, mainly on their social behavior, attention, oral communication skills and motivation.
{Study conducted by the Spastic society of Karnataka}
Monitoring & Up time Electricity/Power availability
Hardware
Configuration
SPECIFIC CHALLENGES
Costs of Hardware
OPERATING SYSTEMS
OPERATING SYSTEM
Operating system
Learning content
Assessment software
Monitoring software
Win9X, Win2K, WinXP
Above Win2K
Red Hat Linux 8.0 and above,Debian Linux, Mandrake
With Wine Tool
Being
tested
HARDWARE CONFIGURATION
MINIMUM H/W and S/W REQUIREMENT FOR BEST PERFORMANCE OF LEARNING CONTENT:
Hardware: Pentium III 500Mhz/128 MB SDRAM/20GB HDD/Multi media kit
Software: Windows98SE and above Linux 8.0 and above Linux with Wine for Director based
Content
ISSUE
To make the learning content work satisfactorily with low end PCs
COSTS OF HARDWARE
Issues:
1.High Costs of computers a hurdle in
reaching larger number of schools.
2.Cost a severe restriction in ensuring
adequate Student : computer ratio.
3.Operating expenses like
electricity/maintenance a drain on
community resources.
COSTS OF HARDWARE
Solutions:
• A model with 3 terminals connected to single PC (P-4, 2.8,
Prescott, 1 MB cache, 865 G, 512 MB RAM) deployed
.
• Model provides for simultaneous and multiple
access to learning content. No performance
deterioration noticed.
• Acquisition costs, maintenance costs and
consumption of electricity has been substantially
impacted.
Solutions being sought:
• Improved hardware device/software to enable
additional connections of terminals.
• Low power consuming and low cost desktop
computers.
ELECTRICITY - ISSUES
Lack of power
Quality of power
Faster Recharge of Batteries (tubular) and
prolonged battery life
Solutions:
Lack of Power:
Deployed Solar power pack to provide 3 hour back up.
Quality of power:
Developed step up stabiliser with capability of
stepping up voltage from as low as 55 v to 215v.
Higher battery charging current
ELECTRICITY - ISSUES
Solutions being sought:
• Desktop PC which can operate in low
voltages
• Low Cost Solar panel
• To address issues of corrosion in batteries.
• To recharge the batteries in shorter
durations.
• Low cost equipment for Wind power.
• Feasibility of Fuel cell technology
Monitoring
Issues:• Tracking usage of computers by children • Real time monitoringSolutions:• Pilot version of the Software to track usage
of computers and access of content by children is under test.
Proposed:• To deploy tracking software and provide
for daily reporting of consolidated usage of computers through GSM/CDMA devices.
Solutions sought:• Low cost devices/modems enabled to
operate on both GSM/CDMA.
COMPUTER UP TIME
Solutions sought:
1.Diagnostic tools for early warning on
health of PC.
2.To Guide user on preventive maintenance
3.System triggered warnings to supplier/
supervisor
Technology for Teacher centric Content
Solutions being sought:
• Low Cost LCD Projectors/display equipment
• Low Maintenance costs.
(Pondicherry)
(Andhra Pradesh)
(Orissa)
(Chattisgarh)
(Punjab)
(Rajasthan)
(Gujarat)
(Maharashtra)
(Karnataka)
(Andaman & Nicobar)
With Appropriate Technology we can reach 1 million schools and 200 million children