Multiple Mice for Computers in Education in Developing Countries

1. November 23, 2011 1 Multiple Mice for Computers in Education in Developing Countries Udai Singh Pawar Joyojeet Pal Rahul Gupta Kentaro Toyama Microsoft Research India h [Establish the value of doing a project in computers-and-education. Why are we interested in education?] Education is a catalyst for all forms of development. It enables people to become self reliant, makes them aware of opportunities to improve their life, and gives them the tools to take up those opportunities. We felt that one of the domains where computing could make a difference in development was in education. [Establish the value of doing a project in computers-and-education. Why are we interested in education?] Education is a catalyst for all forms of development. It enables people to become self reliant, makes them aware of opportunities to improve their life, and gives them the tools to take up those opportunities. We felt that one of the domains where computing could make a difference in development was in education.

2. November 23, 2011 2 [Justify why we had to start with ethnography.] [ask open question to audience] So many probs � not just one problem � water, electricity, teachers, Can u think of ways in which computers can aid rural education? Context is very important! Isolated kiosks to large scale installations Due to these open broad questions we decided to take up ethnography No deifined questions etc [Justify why we had to start with ethnography.] [ask open question to audience] So many probs � not just one problem � water, electricity, teachers, Can u think of ways in which computers can aid rural education? Context is very important! Isolated kiosks to large scale installations Due to these open broad questions we decided to take up ethnography No deifined questions etc

3. November 23, 2011 3 Ethnography in Rural Schools Numerous urban and rural schools Short site visits, ran workshops Summer 2005: 18 rural schools with PCs in four states (Karnataka, Pondicherry, Maharashtra, and Orissa) � (Pal et al., WWW 2006) Over 100 interviews with students, parents, teachers, administrators. Most others in research group have also visited a variety of schools, and other ICT/kiosk projects. [Explain the depth of ethnographic research we�ve done. Mention some of the things we discovered. Teacher multitasking Repeated anecdotal evidence that the presence of PCs in a school raises attendance and retention rates. Even some of the poorest schools already have PCs. Finally, lead up to the one common element. �what most caught our attention�, usage pattern Explain � those are all very interesting answers that are being looked at. But which of them are working, which are not and why. At MSRI we are interested in understanding that. One project in this regard was a survey of computers in education program in rural schools in four states in India. This was conducted by our intern from UCB, Joyojeet Pal. He conducted a comprehensive ethnographic survey of 18 school in Karnataka, Kerala, Mahr, and Orissa. He found in short.. In Baripada, Mayurbhanj district in Orissa, the local school has three computers, to be spread over 500 students � this numerical equation is not uncommon, consequently, as many as 10 students can be using one computer simultaneously � notice the interactive work here [Explain the depth of ethnographic research we�ve done. Mention some of the things we discovered. Teacher multitasking Repeated anecdotal evidence that the presence of PCs in a school raises attendance and retention rates. Even some of the poorest schools already have PCs. Finally, lead up to the one common element. �what most caught our attention�, usage pattern Explain � those are all very interesting answers that are being looked at. But which of them are working, which are not and why. At MSRI we are interested in understanding that. One project in this regard was a survey of computers in education program in rural schools in four states in India. This was conducted by our intern from UCB, Joyojeet Pal. He conducted a comprehensive ethnographic survey of 18 school in Karnataka, Kerala, Mahr, and Orissa. He found in short.. In Baripada, Mayurbhanj district in Orissa, the local school has three computers, to be spread over 500 students � this numerical equation is not uncommon, consequently, as many as 10 students can be using one computer simultaneously � notice the interactive work here

4. MultiPoint: Problem Joyojeet Pal, UC Berkeley PhD candidate, and intern at MSR India led the ethnography of rural schools. Examined 18 rural primary schools, each of which had PCs, in four states. Interviewed 130+ teachers, administrators, parents, children. Facts: Teachers frequently absent, those present teaching multiple classes simultaneously (i.e., time-shared) Caste remains cause for discrimination in schools. Villages will claim to have more schools and children than they do, to get more funds from government. Entry of PC in school raises student retention rates. Teachers typically not computer literate. Non-teacher administrator frequently necessary to manage PCs. Joyojeet Pal, UC Berkeley PhD candidate, and intern at MSR India led the ethnography of rural schools. Examined 18 rural primary schools, each of which had PCs, in four states. Interviewed 130+ teachers, administrators, parents, children. Facts: Teachers frequently absent, those present teaching multiple classes simultaneously (i.e., time-shared) Caste remains cause for discrimination in schools. Villages will claim to have more schools and children than they do, to get more funds from government. Entry of PC in school raises student retention rates. Teachers typically not computer literate. Non-teacher administrator frequently necessary to manage PCs.

10. The Solution: MultiPoint � Demo

13. Testing with Students (Rural Karnataka) Three preliminary field trials (N=23) Findings: Children understand paradigm immediately Engagement and interest go up dramatically Differences in Sharing Patterns based on Gender Way to start is study single mouse behavior How computer literate were they � they all had used it before Way to start is study single mouse behavior How computer literate were they � they all had used it before

14. Testing with Students (Rural Karnataka) Larger scale controlled trials (N=238) Metric for learning is retention of English vocabulary Multimouse matches Single User/PC, even with 5 users/PC !! Significant differences in learning for boys across scenarios Don�t like to share mice Don�t do well under competitive settings. Lose focus Girls share well � learning not that affected across scenarios Way to start is study single mouse behavior How computer literate were they � they all had used it before Way to start is study single mouse behavior How computer literate were they � they all had used it before

15. �Development� Issues - Benefits To students More chances to get involved � More fun Better Learning, but kids don�t care ? To teachers Helps in �babysitting� the children To the government/school heads Economics - $5 a mouse, easy to setup Existing $500 PC, add 5 mice for $30, for 5 children = $105 per child even against $100 PCs; we can use existing PCs; and scale easily Instantly multiply the value of existing PCs in schools Content developers New models of app � match videogames in engagement Can scale to beyond �developing� countries Software solution � no added hardware needed (only USB mice and cheap hubs) Do all stakeholders have an incentive to cooperate? Hypothesis � that even better than 1:1- working with peers � vid games �I think �Do all stakeholders have an incentive to cooperate? Hypothesis � that even better than 1:1- working with peers � vid games �I think �

16. Ongoing and Future work Building an SDK for content developers Pace adjustment UI: joint decision-making Developing and testing pedagogically sound usage scenarios Competitive ? Video Games Individualistic ? Shared screen space Collaborative, Co-operative ? Shared tasks Deployment strategy

17. November 23, 2011 17 Even if technically simple.. Yet no one doing it!!!Even if technically simple.. Yet no one doing it!!!