3 Technology Analysis

[Mangin]

Technology analysis, covering issues around feasibility, suitability and acceptability of the various technologies and/or their shortcomings

[Mangin]

Question 3.1: For different categories [laptop, netbook, cellphone, etc] of low cost information access devices, what technological features would lend the device well for use in the developing world or in your country? In rural areas? In urban areas?

[Roxana Bassi]

Hello
I have developed a brief guide to serve as a reference guide for Ministries of Education (MoE) when considering the selection and purchase of low cost computing devices (hardware), as one of a number of solutions intended to meet educational (i.e. teaching and learning) and/or e-administration objectives.
You can download the files for our website.
In it I suggest a method for evaluating the different features of the devices, as well as general advice on what to look for. This is an open document and all comments are welcome!.
regards

[Jacob B. Odame]

Thank you so much for this valuable document. I am personally studying this and will feed in comments as well. Please let's continue to stimulate the discussion here. I think this analysis is very crucial

Cheers

[Cleophas Dzinotyiweyi]

Hi Roxana
Many thanks for reference to the guide you developed. I enjoyed reading it and I believe it is a very good and useful guideline, especially as it also allows the client to add their own criteria. In your experience with how low cost computing devices are used or could be used in Education, do you find that devices should already be bundled with suitable Educational Applications in order to position themselves as useful devices to the would-be buyer? Or is it that independent integrators are better placed to add applications to go with the devices?
Cleophas

Roxana Bassi said:

Hello
I have developed a brief guide to serve as a reference guide for Ministries of Education (MoE) when considering the selection and purchase of low cost computing devices (hardware), as one of a number of solutions intended to meet educational (i.e. teaching and learning) and/or e-administration objectives. You can download the files for our website. In it I suggest a method for evaluating the different features of the devices, as well as general advice on what to look for. This is an open document and all comments are welcome!.
regards

[Roxana Bassi]

Hello
The question you pose is a very interesting one. The problem is that for the devices to be useful in education they should contain software and content that matches the curricula per each subject and age group, of course considering local languages and cultural issues. So it is very difficult to market a one-size-fits-all solution. Best you can do is integrate generic tools for workprocessing, image and sound, etc. and then partner with local content providers for specific solutions.
Good luck!