Experiences with OLPC Technology in Ghana, West Africa

1. Experiences with OLPC Technology in Ghana, West Africa Suzanne Buchele, Ph.D. Southwestern University, Georgetown, TX (Ashesi University College) bucheles@southwestern.edu Friday, October 3, 2008, 10:00am

2. OLPC in Ghana • The One Laptop Per Child Project • My background and interest • Why is OLPC a Good Idea? Pros • Why isn’t OLPC the Best Idea? Cons • Educational Realities in Ghana • Experiences with OLPC in Ghana • Observations • Questions and Discussion

3. The One Laptop Per Child Project • Non-profit organization, out of MIT Media Lab • Launched in 2005 (unofficially started previously) • Corporate sponsors provided an initial budget of $20 million • Low-cost, low-power, rugged laptop for the developing world • Sold to governments of developing countries, for distribution in-country by governments

4. OLPC Mission To create educational opportunities for the world's poorest children by providing each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power, connected laptop with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning. (Constructionist Learning)

5. My Background and Interest • Fulbright to Ashesi University College in Ghana 2006-2007 • Spring of 2007, research group with undergraduates • Wrote paper on OLPC and its applicability to Ghana • Fulbright renewed for 2007-2008 • Worked with Ghana and OLPC for 2007-2008 year

6. Why is OLPC a Good idea? Pros • The Digital Divide • Least Developed Countries – Economic Realities • Educational Problems in LDCs • Access to education • Quality of education • Access to quality education • Girls’ education

7. Why is OLPC not the best idea? Cons • Best use of money? • Why not improve educational quality and access? • Why not improve infrastructure (or other initiatives) so that overall economies improve? • Fundamental issues of technological know-how for implementation and on-going support

8. Educational Realities in Ghana • Rote Learning • Not enough teachers • Not enough schools, textbooks, and other resources • Schools are free (up to 8th grade), but… • Uniforms and school supply fees • Short-term opportunity loss to families

9. OLPC in Ghana - Timeline • September 2007 OLPC Reps first contact • October 2007 In-country workshop

10. OLPC in Ghana - Timeline • Nov. 2007 Ghana reps invited to Cambridge for OLPC training • Dec 07 – Jan 08 Ghana OLPC Implementation Team Meetings

11. OLPC in Ghana - Timeline • February 2008 Teacher Training

12. OLPC in Ghana - Timeline • Feb 2008 First Pilot in Accra

13. Accra Pilot

14. Accra Pilot

15. OLPC Ghana - Timeline • March 2008 One Laptop Foundation – Ghana established • July 2008 Berekuso (rural) pilot

16. Observations • Difficult circumstances • Education is a Human Rights Issue • Opportunity to fast-forward educational advancement • Allow access to significant educational resources and opportunities • Fundamental problem of disseminating technology country-wide

17. Questions and Discussion

18. Resources • www.laptop.org, wiki.laptop.org • Paper: The One Laptop Per Child Project and Its Applicability to Ghana www.southwestern.edu/~bucheles/ICAST_OLPC_paper.pdf (with other references in bibliography)

19. THANK YOU!