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Project
Proposal: Educational Software
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Full description of problem/need |
| Computers are increasing
in popularity in Pabal, and are available
in a number of private homes as well
as the local school. However, educational
software is expensive and not well suited
to rural students who speak Marathi
and are not always familiar with computing.
Vigyan Ashram has designed some software,
particularly focusing on learning
English and learning Microsoft Office
programs. The NGO is now expanding
the software to computer maintenance
lessons and rural technology engineering
lessons.
However, there is currently no software
available that is targeted at rural
students learning science and mathematics.
Innovative software that provides
hands-on learning of science and mathematics
concepts without having a dependence
on language or computer literacy would
allow these students to get more familiar
with computers and solidify lessons
learned in school. Because physical
models and experiments are expensive
and difficult to coordinate in large
lectures, computer models that can
be manipulated by individual students
for do-it-yourself learning are ideal.
The syllabus for science and mathematics
is dictated by the national government
and is available online. Using this
resource, software can be designed
to compliment what is being done in
school.
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| How will the local
community use the proposed solution? |
The local community
will use this software in the school
computer lab. If the software is available
for free, it could also be used by individuals
in their own homes to reinforce lessons
learned in school.
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| Estimate of the economic
benefit anticipated and plans for training
of the local community? What are the
major impacts on such a project? |
| The community may
be able to use this software not only
to allow students to learn school lessons,
but also to gain familiarity with computing
in general, which would expand opportunities
for future use of computers.
Training of the local community,
if necessary, will be provided by
Vigyan Ashram. However, software should
be as simple and self-explanatory
as possible to allow students to be
able to use it by working with it
themselves rather than by undergoing
extensive training.
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| Full description of
the local situation (e.g. social, economic,
geographical, political) |
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Most computers in the village are Pentium
3 or Pentium 4 processors, with CD-ROM,
speakers, 128 Mb RAM (minimum), Windows
98 or higher, 1.5 GHz processing speed
(minimum), and a reasonably large hard
drive (about 30 Gb). Almost no one in
the village has internet; it is also
not available in the school. This is
because internet costs 30 rupees per
hour or 3000 Rupees a month for an unlimited
connection. However, Vigyan Ashram does
have internet access, albeit unreliable.
Software is available from Pune (the
nearest city to Pabal) and costs approximately
Rs. 400 per CD. CDs teaching English,
math and other subjects (available
from Vigyan Ashram) cost approximately
Rs. 200 each.
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| Full description of
relevant infrastructure available locally
and/or internationally |
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None applicable.
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