EXPERIENCES WITH THE XO IN GHANA

MEMBERS OF IMPLEMENTATION Four people selected from below-mention ministries:  MoESS  AITI- KACE  MoFEP  GICTED Suzanne Buchele – Fulbright-ASHESI UNIVERSITY

ORIENTATION OF IMPLEMENTATION TEAM A five day country meeting of OLPC partner countries in Cambridge. November 2007

SELECTION OF SCHOOLS Two schools selected from two regions. Kanda Primary in Accra ( pupils from poor homes) Bonsaasso primary in Ashanti Region (very remote village with un-motorable road, no social amenities)

. PHASES OF IMPLEMENTATION  Pilot preparation  Laptop deployment  Programme support

PILOT PREPARATION  Information gathering in schools and community 1.Number of pupils in the class kanda (39), Bonsaaso (45) 2.Total schools enrolment Kanda(213 ), Bonsaaso (250 ) 3.Children with previous contact with a computer Kanda ( 5), Bonsaaso (1 ) 4.Identify contact points within the community 5.Explained initiative to the local community

PILOT PREPARATION  Infrastructure: 1.Electricity and connectivity needs 2.Classroom block and storage for server 3.Adequate classroom furniture 4.General security features that have to be improved

PILOT PREPARATION  Preparation of project document Highlights 1.objectives of the pilot 2. expected outcomes of the pilot 3.the five OLPC principles 4. general workplan 5.scope of the pilot, etc

PILOT PREPARATION  Estimated cost of the pilot 1.Kanda =GH¢5, Bonsaaso =GH¢10,454 *Cost of pilot funded by OLPC Inc. and Government of Ghana.

PILOT PREPARATION  Preparation of pre-assessment and post- assessment for teachers  Administration of pre-teachers assessment  Post-teacher assessment to be administered at the end of the pilot

PILOT PREPARATION  Training of 4 teachers in the following aspect of technology in education. 1.Overview of OLPC 2.Highlights of the XO 3.Teaching with technology 4.Project-base learning 5.Software applications on the XO 6.The role of the teacher and classroom dynamics as regards OLPC 7.Care and maintenance of the XO

PILOT PREPARATION  Setting up of infrastructure 1.Construction of cabinet 2.Installation of electrical works 3.Trunking for network cables 4.Installation of wireless network in the classroom 5.Installation and configuration of server

Laptop deployment  Awareness creation for parents/guardian 1.Rational behind the pilot 2.Expected outcomes 3.The role of the parent and the community 4.Care, maintenance and security at home  Signing of signature sheet for parents to acknowledge receipt of the laptop by the ward

LAPTOP DEPLOYMENT  28 th Febuary,2008 (day of deployment) in Kanda 1.39 pupils were given laptops on the basis of one laptop per child. 2.Two laptops were given to the class teacher and the headmistress. 3.Pupils identify their laptop by the unique colours and serial numbers assign to them 4.Each laptop registered to the server by mac- filtering

LAPTOP DEPLOYMENT Deployment in Bonsaaso - four months after Kanda due to power challenges.

PROGRAMME SUPPORT  Weekly visit to the school to provide support in 1.Integrating the XO in teaching and learning 2.Application usage 3.General technical support 1.Installation of applications 2.Updating of software 3.Fixing of network problems 4.Maintenance of operating system 5.Wireless connectivity issues 6.Electrical problems, etc.

CHALLENGES  High cost/unavailability of Internet connectivity.  Lack of digitized content align with the curriculum  Logistics for implementation  Apathy from some officials.

IMPACT OF XO IN THE GHANAIAN CLASSROM First time of children to touch a computer New ways for self expression Unveiling of hidden talent among pupils Literacy and numeracy skills improved Keeps teacher abreast with new ways of teaching and learning. Extended hours of learning for pupils, punctuality and decreased absenteeism Ripple effect on parents.

WAY FORWARD  Extended period of training for teachers on integration of XO in teaching and learning  More community awareness on OLPC initiative  Digitized content or software should be given a priority  Detail technical training for implementation team  Localization of keyboard for Ghanaian lang.

RELATED PROBLEMS  Problems so far with beta version of the XO 1.EC error (technical ) 2. some laptop screen divided into two 3.Few mouse sensitivity problems as a result of over scrubbing. 4.batteries running down in short interval.

SCENES FROM THE PILOT

PUPILS ENVIOUS ABOUT THEIR FRIENDS USING XO

CONCLUSION LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION