Bahati IT infrastructure and eLearning Opportunities
From ESWStanford
Contents |
IT infrastructure and eLearning Opportunities
With established companies like Intel through the Intel World Ahead Program and wireless networking startups like Meraki moving to innovate computer and internet tools primarily suitable for remote applications the developing world will continue to attract potential investors in these fields, just from its sheer potential market size. The project that has attracted attention recently with emphasis on the developing world has been the OLPC or XO-1 laptop [1] project initiated by MIT professor Nicholas Negroponte.
Design Objectives
The objectives of these initiatives and companies are simple: to tap into the vast market that the developing world has to offer and where the acquisition of computers and connection to the internet is still prohibitively expensive primarily due to the cost of infrastructure.
The objective of the IT infrastructure and eLearning chapter for the Bahati Education project would primarily be to explore and suggest already available technologies for the Iringa Secondary School and Teacher Training College designs while keeping in mind the needs of the intended users and also keeping in mind the costs of setting up such an infrastructure in a remote location in Africa.
The possible idea will be to set up a local network which will allow users to interact locally within the school and college for administrative as well as teaching and learning purposes without the need of having to be connected to the Wide World Web.
Some of the points to be considered in the design would be:
- To have a stand alone computer network system that would operate effectively in a remote environment.
- To have a network that would be cheaply powered by alternative sources of energy like solar or wind.
- To have a network that would possibly cut the cost of cable and DSL infrastructure by utilizing novels, wireless or mesh technologies whereby routers connect the computes on a grid.
- To consider a network system that would be less expensive to maintain, modify or expand with the continued expansion or modernization of the secondary school and training college facilities.
- To consider a network system that primarily adapted use of battery powered laptops that have low energy consumption.
- To propose easy to learn and use eLearning software that both teachers and students would learn to use quickly.
- What about the administrators?
- What about research? I was boggled when I read an article where a solar powered mesh network assisted in the discovery of a new species of frog in Ecuador [2]
Just by Googling 'mesh networking' [3] I saw a whole list of companies already involved in this technology and a whole host of potential applications that can be adapted to the needs of Bahati Education project. I was excited to also see a school in the Amazon, Yachana High School
[4], already networked using this technology.
Setting up a mesh network
Factors to consider:
- The total area to cover
- Layout of operation
- Building materials
- Facilities needed in the location.
Internet
- Uplink to the internet from the site, which could be satellite, cable or point to point microwave, depending upon the choices available.
The exact nature of the coverage also needs to be considered.
- Partial coverage plan, depending upon objectives (applications)?
Power options
- Battery backed power if the main power supply is intermittent.
- The users of the network require power also, even if they are using a laptop that can run for a short while from battery.
Charging the Meshbox
- Solar
- Battery backing with charging from the lighting circuit or other local power.
? Capacity of batteries needed to allow for time without any external power.
? The cost of solar panels is high. Makes other sources more attractive if available
- Meshbox use around 200mA so can run for a long while on a low cost battery.
Idea of costs:
Meshboxes - $600 (30 - 90 Meshboxes to cover sight; 1, 2 or 3 buildings per meshbox)
Solar Panels - $250
Batteries - $40
Contingency
Total cost in setting up the mesh network both for the school and college would be from $30,000 to $90,000
A Meshbox is basically a ‘cheap’ PC with a built-in Wi-Fi wireless. It starts up, looks for another Meshbox, creates a link and asks the other one for any links it has.
eLearning Opportunities
Open Source e-Learning Platforms
The Moodle platform is by far the most popular platform, world wide with registered users in more than 75 countries.
The MIT OpenCourseWare which is visited globally, both by faculty and students has resources for high schools as well. Depending in internet connectivity, option of mirror sites can be developed as have been developed by the Strathmore University mirror site
The University of Dar-es-Salaam is working on implementing its own ICT and e-Learning infrastructure:
ICT at UDSM
The University of Dar-es-Salaam e-Learning platform
I identified individuals at University of Dar es Salaam whose input to the development of e-Learning for Bahati Education would be explored. Below are the names and links to some of their recent articles on this subject:
An Interactive e-Learning Management System (e-LMS): A Solution to Tanzanian Secondary Schools’ Education A. Ellen Kalinga, R. B. Burchard Bagile, Lena Trojer.
Strategies for Developing e-LMS for Tanzania Secondary Schools Ellen A. Kalinga, R. B. Bagile Burchard, Lena Trojer.
Introduction of Open-Source e-Learning Environment and Resources: A Novel Approach for Secondary Schools in Tanzania S. K. Lujara, M. M. Kissaka, L. Trojer, N. H. Mvungi.
Learning Objects: A New Paradigm for E-Learning Resource Development for Secondary Schools in Tanzania S. K. Lujara, M. M. Kissaka, E. P. Bhalalusesa, L. Trojer.
Strathmore University, a private university located in Nairobi, Kenya has vigorously adopted ICT and e-Learning resources in its teaching and management and is already providing help to institutions in the region to set up similar resources. I found these two presentations by Dr. Joseph Sevilla, one of its staff members, quite resourceful:
Implementing Integrated University Systems and
Learning Management System
Other useful resources located in the region
ICT & education: Tanzania Global Development Learning Centre and challenges of e-Learning in Africa by Aloyce Menda
eLearning Africa An annual conference for developing eLearning capacities in Africa
Regional Impact of Information Society Technologies in Africa IST-Africa A multi-stakeholder initiative focused on reducing the Digital Divide in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Workshop Report 1st-Africa eLearning Workshop, 27 February 2007 COSTECH, Dar es Salaam
