Its day three now in Gatoto and the computer lab is up and running. I know I have said it before but it truly is marvellous to look at the teachers and children using computers that could have ended up in a land fill site. The Edubuntu package is full of really useful tools. You can learn about the basics of the computer, mouse control, teach yourself to type etc right through to word processing, spreadsheets, an encylopedia and even astronomy and maths packages.
I learned all my computer skills on a commodore 64 with no hard disk and a tape recorder as a storage device....its amazing what is possible nowdays...
I have learned a few key things about the project:
(a) Only use one version of the operating system in a lab
(b) Trainers need full diagnotic tools and multiple copies of Edubuntu
(c) Hardware training (especially swapping out CD drives) is essential
(d) Every school should get a hard copy of skill builder (the Camara course)
(e) We need to look at networking and printing facilities some how (perhaps advising the school on what might be required. Problem is that networks are troublesome...
However, these are glitches and easily fixed. The people here want computers and want to learn about IT and this project is reaching schools and people that will never be able to afford new equipment and licensed software. Everyone I have met here on the ground (including people in development circles) recognises the problems around maintenance and support but beleives the project is moving everything forward...
Gary
I learned all my computer skills on a commodore 64 with no hard disk and a tape recorder as a storage device....its amazing what is possible nowdays...
I have learned a few key things about the project:
(a) Only use one version of the operating system in a lab
(b) Trainers need full diagnotic tools and multiple copies of Edubuntu
(c) Hardware training (especially swapping out CD drives) is essential
(d) Every school should get a hard copy of skill builder (the Camara course)
(e) We need to look at networking and printing facilities some how (perhaps advising the school on what might be required. Problem is that networks are troublesome...
However, these are glitches and easily fixed. The people here want computers and want to learn about IT and this project is reaching schools and people that will never be able to afford new equipment and licensed software. Everyone I have met here on the ground (including people in development circles) recognises the problems around maintenance and support but beleives the project is moving everything forward...
Gary
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