Here are our specific needs; As the roll out of OLPC is being planned in the near future OLE Rwanda would like to  assist  technically (setting computer severs and managing them) not only technical work but also maintaining the e-library together with other local patners (I will also be collaborating with Chris on getting more materials for Rwanda on the library) and the use of proper software in course management in OLPC. being efectively used elesewhere.   

I know that the need is great and the country is doing tremendous efforts to address these issues. However being partners in ICTs in education it is also our responsibility to bring in every possible contribution we can.

Basically I think that the work you are doing in Nepal reflect the kind of support that we would like to see done here.

We were busy with Tony uploading the content on the server and training teachers to use Siyavula resources.    

The first math content books was also handed over to Epak School 

and we are planning to distribute more books in different Schools, the main challenge for not giving more books still financial.

The server is working quiet well and I will continue to upload content P4 to P6 we are planning weekly training for teachers to use them. We still have the challenge to edit the resources on the server meaning getting children to do exercise on OLPC but they can download resources and do exercises on note books which still very helpful because they won’t need books because they can access this content stored on server.        

I will appreciate a continuous support from Chris for the resources on the library because there might be schools connected to Internet and we will promote the online library for schools without server. 

I assume you are using Moodle. I would love to see how you have it set up.

Our library is coming along well bet we still have a ways to go before it is a simple downloadable system that anyone can use.

Hopefully your experience with Moodle in the classroom will help us to integrate with Moodle better or replace it with a simpler system.

The upcoming version of the library is still on our QA site qa.library.ole.org so you can always have a look at it there, although any content you want to add should go on the live site.

I guess that Tony will give you more explanation

we normally convert word document ( divided into learning units) into html and upload them to

the server. Apparently OLPC read the server and download the documents without any problem   

the problem however is that it is difficult to do exercice on the laptop, children can use note book to respond to questions meanwile technicalities of software are being adressed.  

Moodle works much better with content in HTML. The Siyavula materials are in Word format and each document is  very long (10s-100s of pages).

We converted the materials for grades 4-6, Mathematics and English as a Second Language to html and separated the learner's module into separate units.

Unfortunately, there are conversion problems which affect the layout of the material in html which may have to be resolved by editing the html. In addition, the page layout does not fit the XO screen well.

Meanwhile, I have converted the materials for grades 1-3. I hope to get it all together when I get to Nepal.

Chris, OLE Nepal had a site: moodle.olenepal.org which got lost in moving between servers. I will try to see if we can get that site restored and put up the Siyvula materials there. Alternatively, if you could set up a moodle site, Siyavula could be hosted there. Since Rwanda divides the school year into three Terms (9 teaching weeks + two weeks for review and assessment), we have set up separate Moodle courses for each Term (2 subjects by 6 classes (P1..P6) by 3 Terms yields 36 Moodle courses). The Siyavula source materials run to 2.1gb total.

Yours,

** Email from Jacques: Mar 03, 2010

here 3 activity are attached in the format in which they apear on the OLPC

I am cutting them short sentances and I remove the frame and tables are clear and can fit the screen.

** Email from Chris: Mar 08, 2010

Hi Tony,

Thanks for helping Jacques with this, it is great to have some more hands on the ground there.

I thought that the XO could just open the .doc files and use them that way. If not, another option would be to use the xml versions that Syavula has put into Connexions at http://cnx.org/lenses/siyavula This material is not formatted well yet, but it would be great to work in a central location on this. In the future we are planning to be able to import content from Connexions and then let people edit it offline in a Rich text editor. Unfortunately, until then people would have to be online to use it.

Also, if they are not going to edit them, what about just generating pdf or images. Maybe use http://blog.openlibrary.org/2008/11/18/olpc-bookreader-demonstration/ for viewing.

I will install Moodle on our server soon and let you know when it is done.

Chris

** Email from Tony: Mar 8, 2010

Hi, Chris and Jacques

The problem with the .doc files in Moodle is that it requires the save or

display dialog and then launches word (XO has abiword which requires rtf).

Conversion to html results in direct display.

Jacques - the main formatting problem appears to be that Siyavula is using an

image for the border and the conversion does not know how to put the text

inside the image (on top of?). I'll look into how to do that in html today.

I have the English (grades 3-6) separated into separate files for each

activity. P4M1 has 18 activities. I am going to look into automatic ways to

upload these into Moodle once I get my schoolserver running (again, hopefully,

today). Meanwhile, the math modules have a slightly different format so I need

to do some more fixes before that side is ready.

I have converted the Connexxions version; however, Jacques has a more complete

copy. For example, the Connexxions module for English P4M1 shows four

activities.

One problem in using these materials directly on the XO is that Moodle assumes

that the user is online (to the schoolserver). Our strategy in Nepal is that

all student materials should be loaded on the XO while the student is using

them (so they can work at home, for example). I think we will need to bundle

the learner materials for a module (e.g. zip) and download them to the XO.

Another question is how to upload the student's work and record it in Moodle.

This is a problem that OLE Nepal is just starting to look at.

We are looking at setting up moodle.olenepal.org. If that can be done this

week, it would allow both of you to see directly what I have been able to set

up here.

Yours,

** Email from Chris: Mar 09, 2010

The Connexions content should be complete, I will take a look.

I create http://moodle.ole.org/ is you want to use that, you should be able to create an account. If you need more privileges just let me know.

** Email from Jacques: May 12, 2010

Hi,

Here is a summary update of the EPAK School;

a)   Summary of EPAK Pilot School:

Ø      The purpose of our support to EPAK is essentially to support the integration of OLPC in learning and teaching. We have developed a library and a ladder access model that facilitates easy access to resources based on weekly activities to be carried out by teachers.
Ø      Technically; we have to install the library software which requires disabling security of the OLPC for the device to accommodate the new software. Last Monday we actually collected the serial number and user ID of 185 OLPC (P4 to P6). We have got a developer key and we shall install the library software this week.
Ø      We are planning a teacher training next week and many more the months to come with a variety of activities (creative, individual and group activities).       
Ø      We shall implement the project according to the EPAK ICTs integration plan which we are planning to discuss with EPAK School nest week.  
Ø      We are editing and aligning Siyavula digital resources to Rwanda’s curriculum (NCDC Curriculum) since we believe that the integration is mainly based on the integration of content.   

b)Server specification.  

Ø      The server parts include:   

             MSI Wind costs $135

             2 GB memory costs $55  

             1TB hard drive (Samsung) costs $90

A complete serve costs around $300 (see above components)

c)  Rwanda’s schools have a higher enrollment. Assuming 500 XOs per schoolserver, 1TB gives 1GB store per student (note: half laptop per child).

d) We didn't find a spreadsheet (supposed to be sent by the manufacturer) to Rwanda; someone might have received it because in Nepal they have it. The spreadsheet has to have the following; serial number, UUID, Shipment number , Box number , Product type (for Rwanda it is SKYU21).    
OLPC Rwanda has to collect the UUID and serial number from the manufacturer we did it at EPAK School, however it will be difficult to collect them individually for over 60 000 OLPC which is why we suggested to request the spreadsheet from manufacturer. We mentioned that the firmware update shall be done as part of the next year's deployment.  

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

1) DanFoss and Systematics have essentially agreed to donate 30k to OLE Rwanda. The one caveat is that this money is XO specific, but they are aware that in order to have successful impact at least 50% of the funds must go to implementation.

2) We discussed the idea that if we can get the Rwandan MoE on donating 150 laptops (approximately 30k worth of laptops) then we OLE Rwanda can use the money for implementation having a greater impact. You seem positive about this. Next steps would be to get an agreement with MoE of course as soon as we have the proposal approved by the Systematics. Tony (from Danish IT) is confirming that this would be an agreeable arangement with systematics.

3) Your update on the siyavula included the following info: Please correct if there are mistakes. :)
a. one school- EPAK
b. 350 laptops
c. grades 4,5,6
d. siyavula content adapted to html= grades 4 maths and english
e. siyavula content adapted to html into modules and activities
f. these activities are uploaded biweekly
g. content stored on server at OLE rwanda
f. e-pustakalaya is the platform by which the content is delivered
g. the e-pustakalaya content is available on all the laptops (or just teacher laptops) all the english language literature

4) Next steps/ongoing steps

a. adapt the rest of siyavula content ( what grades what subjects? what is the timeline on this? who is converting it to html?)
b. install local school server so don't have to manually upload
c. develop a survey list of all digital content available (Jacques, I believe you said that the curriculum develop center has some interactive material/activities and the curriculums  etc)
d. match activities to the curriculum/produce guide for teachers
e. identify local technical person to help with the installation/maintenance etc
f. expand to another 2 schools
g. proposal with REC/GLP people (jacques, where is this proposal? what are they willing to support?)

Possible project ideas:
The proposal can/should include a number of the above activities:
1. expand to2 new schools
2. expand the amount of siyavula content adapted
3. addition of Rwandan content to library and library added to each school/laptop?
4. adapt nepal flash activities that match the siyavula content (grades subject) to English to include
5. teacher training component
6. evaluation component

We agreed to the following:

1) you will write up the details of the project so far (grades, school details, # of students, teachers, project details, subject other activities on laptops, progress so far) (by mon next week)
2) send screen shots of library and siyavula content, so i can get a better idea (thanks :)) (tomorrow)
3) proposal ideas  (monday next week)