One Laptop Per Children (OLPC) Haiti, pre-pilot evaluation report from IFAP Information society Observatory

The Haitian Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MENFP) has introduced one-to-one computing within the context of constructivist pedagogy—or student-centered learning—in the Haitian primary school system.

The XO laptop, an educational tool designed by One Laptop Per Child (OLPC, a nonprofit organization headquartered at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology), was selected as the educational device for the initial implementation of one-to-one computing, which took place during May–July 2008. MENFP carried out the initial implementation as a pre-pilot project conducted in collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The purpose of the pre-pilot was to gain experience in preparation for the subsequent pilot project and to ascertain effective teacher preparation by identifying successful training methods and important content to be addressed during teacher training sessions.

A project team consisting of representatives of Teachers College, Columbia University and IDB evaluated the OLPC pre-pilot project. The purpose of the evaluation was to smooth the way for the subsequent implementation of the OLPC pilot project, which will assess the effectiveness of and determine the requirements for the nationwide implementation of one-to-one computing in Haiti.

For the complete report click on this link

Uruguay, first country to provide a laptop to all primary school children

Uruguay has joined the very small number of nations, if not the First, providing a laptop for every child attending state primary school.

Over the last two years 362,000 children and 18,000 teachers have been involved in the project.

The "Plan Ceibal" (Education Connect) project has allowed many families access to the world of computers and the internet for the first time.

The project has cost the state $260 per child, including maintenance costs, equipment repairs, training for the teachers and internet connection. This represents less than 5% of the country's education budget.

This project seeks to reduce the gap between the digital world and the world of knowledge.

Haiti

In Haiti the One Laptop Per Child Foundation (OLPC) has teamed up with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in 2008 to distribute 13,200 laptop to Haitian children and 500 teachers in 60 Haitian primary schools.

The pilot project in Haiti will assess how a child-centered learning technology can be used to bridge problems such as the shortage of qualified teachers and educating children of different grades in the same classroom. Another major priority for the Haitian government is speeding up the learning process for students who enter school late or repeat grades.

Anyone have recent info on the progress of the project in Haiti? We will be glad to hear from you!

To read the complete article on Uruguay from BBC.co.uk click on this link

For more information on the OLPC project in Haiti click on this link