[IAEP] 70 minute interview with Bryan Berry on XO deployment inNepal

[Kathy Pusztavari]

"This framework should allow for basic functionalities such as tracking
student progress, dynamically adapting exercises to a student's capabilities
and things like the basics of Maths exercises or a typing tutor to be taken
care of. These basic building blocks can then be shared across the globe
while making it easier and quicker for people to build learning activities
tailored to the specific requirements of their country, province or town."

My thoughts exactly.  Tracking and simple programs.  Perfect.

-Kathy

-----Original Message-----
From: iaep-bounces at lists.sugarlabs.org
[mailto:iaep-bounces at lists.sugarlabs.org] On Behalf Of Christoph Derndorfer
Sent: Wednesday, April 29, 2009 3:05 AM
To: iaep at lists.sugarlabs.org
Subject: Re: [IAEP] 70 minute interview with Bryan Berry on XO deployment
inNepal

Zitat von Bryan Berry <bryan at olenepal.org>:

>> Christoph wrote:
>> So in this case it doesn't necessarily make sense for someone in 
>> Berlin (let alone New York) to design a Maths learning activity to be 
>> used in an Austrian school.
>
> I disagree w/ this. Someone in Berlin or NYC can create learning 
> activities of value to those in Nepal or elsewhere but likely they 
> have to be changed in small but important ways. That is one of the 
> reasons open-source is so critical to improving education.

Mmm, I still would argue that now in some cases - especially when relevant
changes end up being quite significant - it might be easier to basically
start from scratch rather than adapting and modifying an existing activity.

I think (and I'm basically just repeating what others have said
before;-) what's best in the long-run is to have a common framework for
educational activities or at least sub-categories of such activities. 
This framework should allow for basic functionalities such as tracking
student progress, dynamically adapting exercises to a student's capabilities
and things like the basics of Maths exercises or a typing tutor to be taken
care of. These basic building blocks can then be shared across the globe
while making it easier and quicker for people to build learning activities
tailored to the specific requirements of their country, province or town.

But I'm really preaching to the choir here so I'll just shut up and finish
my lunch-break:-)

Christoph

--
Christoph Derndorfer
co-editor, olpcnews
url: www.olpcnews.com
e-mail: christoph at olpcnews.com

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