Experiences with OLPC Technology in Ghana,

West Africa

Suzanne Buchele, Ph.D.Southwestern University, Georgetown, TX

(Ashesi University College)

bucheles@southwestern.edu

Friday, October 3, 2008, 10:00am

OLPC in Ghana

• The One Laptop Per Child Project

• My background and interest

• Why is OLPC a Good Idea? Pros

• Why isn’t OLPC the Best Idea? Cons

• Educational Realities in Ghana

• Experiences with OLPC in Ghana

• Observations

• Questions and Discussion

The One Laptop Per Child Project

• Non-profit organization, out of MIT Media Lab

• Launched in 2005 (unofficially started previously)

• Corporate sponsors provided an initial budget of $20 million

• Low-cost, low-power, rugged laptop for the developing world

• Sold to governments of developing countries, for distribution in-country by governments

OLPC Mission

To create educational opportunities for the world's poorest children by providing each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power, connected laptop with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning.

(Constructionist Learning)

My Background and Interest

• Fulbright to Ashesi University College in Ghana 2006-2007

• Spring of 2007, research group with undergraduates

• Wrote paper on OLPC and its applicability to Ghana

• Fulbright renewed for 2007-2008

• Worked with Ghana and OLPC for 2007-2008 year

Why is OLPC a Good idea? Pros

• The Digital Divide

• Least Developed Countries – Economic Realities

• Educational Problems in LDCs– Access to education– Quality of education– Access to quality education– Girls’ education

• Best use of money?– Why not improve educational quality

and access?– Why not improve infrastructure (or

other initiatives) so that overall economies improve?

• Fundamental issues of technological know-how for implementation and on-going support

Why is OLPC not the best idea? Cons

Educational Realities in Ghana

• Rote Learning

• Not enough teachers

• Not enough schools,

textbooks, and other resources

• Schools are free (up to 8th grade), but…– Uniforms and school supply fees– Short-term opportunity loss to

families

OLPC in Ghana - Timeline

• September 2007 OLPC Reps first contact

• October 2007 In-country workshop

OLPC in Ghana - Timeline

• Nov. 2007 Ghana reps invited to Cambridge for OLPC training

• Dec 07 – Jan 08 Ghana OLPC Implementation Team Meetings

OLPC in Ghana - Timeline

• February 2008 Teacher Training

OLPC in Ghana - Timeline

• Feb 2008 First Pilot in Accra

Accra Pilot

Accra Pilot

OLPC Ghana - Timeline

• March 2008 One Laptop Foundation – Ghana established

• July 2008 Berekuso (rural) pilot

Observations

• Difficult circumstances

• Education is a Human Rights Issue

• Opportunity to fast-forward educational advancement

• Allow access to significant educational resources and opportunities

• Fundamental problem of disseminating technology country-wide

Questions and Discussion

Resources

• www.laptop.org, wiki.laptop.org

• Paper: The One Laptop Per Child Project and Its Applicability to Ghana www.southwestern.edu/~bucheles/ICAST_OLPC_paper.pdf

(with other references in bibliography)

THANK YOU!