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Parents

Learning Games and Laptops for Global Learning

One Laptop Per Child (OPLC) created for the world's poorest children living in its most remote environments 

This initiative is a synergy of the OLPC in conjunction with a range of other organizations such as Nortel LearniT which is a founding partner and the contributor of its own open source learning tools: lesson plans and guides, including a Weather Change lesson plan and an All About Me biographical lesson plan designed for the XO; video tutorials; and best practices and resources.

But even beyond all of its unique attributes--its educational outreach, the striking child-friendly design, sturdy case, and its adaptations to be used indoors or outside--the laptop may also introduce a new global paradigm in learning technology to impact all learners and technology users. You can explore this yourself with a virtual tour of the XO interface (called Sugar) and its programs (called activities).

The XO's neighborhood (called Mesh) and more details about it are shown below.		laptopnlit80

olpcmesh

XO Mesh Neighborhood

The screen has both color and black/white modes for use indoors or outdoors.  "Drop" and other tests have been conducted to test sturdiness; the keyboard is covered to protect it from weather, dirt, sand, etc.; and it is designed for fingers smaller than adults.  Its design and operation also are different as the XO:

  • centers on community and connectivity.  The neighborhood (Mesh) is the basic view in the XO.  All laptops within range are connected.  One of the first things you do when you use the XO is to select the color "x" that will represent you on the Mesh ring.  XO developers hope that users will perform their activities together.  Often users browse the web alone, maybe sending a friend a link occasionally.  On the XO, however a link sharing feature integrated into the browser activity transforms the solitary act of web-surfing into a group collaboration.
  • has activities based on open source programs
  • has icons are intended to have multicultural (and child-centered) interpretations. For example, when selecting the icon for capturing images, a button looking like a human eye was chosen since in some areas a camera would not have meaning
  • tablet allows handwriting in any alphabet
  • has a fully set up system--open the case and you're ready to go.

If you have ideas to share about the XO and making its interface work for children and young adults in remote or poor environments, you can contact us to share them...and help make the XO successful.

MastertheSciencelogoPokémon Goes to School: Master the Science Game

In their ongoing initiatives to captivate students with learning experiences to engage them in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, the National Institute of Aerospace (NIA) and Nortel LearniT have joined with and Nintendo of America.  The learning game just released in this endeavor explores the sun, shadows and space with Pokémon characters and scenarios.  Find them on the masterthescience.org web site and the Nortel LearniT/NIA partnership page: 

  • Traveling with Dirty Snowballs (comets): use the Internet  to explore  famous comets and discover how comet dust is captured in space. Practice some of the skills scientists use to study comets and about our solar system
  • Timekeeping by the Sun:explore ways to tell time using the Sun and other natural sky objects.
    • Use a shadow stick (gnomon) to figure out the connection between the Sun's position in the sky and the length of the shadow cast by the gnomon. 
    • As scientists do, record your observations using measurements and digital images (captured with a digital camera).
    • Through Internet resources, you can learn more about the Sun-Earth relationship, shadows, and early timekeeping devices.
  • Living in Space: What might be like to live in space? How might life change?  Why do astronauts appear to float in space? Conduct experiments, research, and learn what it might be like to walk up walls and turn somersaults in the air.
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