Want more proof of how amazing computers can be? How lovely people can be? Here is a project that I learnt about in class that gave me a whole lot of inspiration and warm fuzzy feelings. This project is literally presenting a whole new world for the students involved. So what is it? It's called Hole In The Wall. And it is amazing.
The project sees computers installed in public places in slum areas of India, with no instructions, no fees, no restrictions. Just a free resource for the children to let their imaginations run wild. And run wild they did. The children, many of them who could speak no English, figured out on their own how to use the computers, even though the operating system was in English. Through trial and error they learnt how to access programs and play around on them, learning together and teaching each other.
This project shows the importance of hands on learning, and the way in which collaboration around technology can be so helpful. This is not to say that we should just let our students figure out the computers in our classroom on their own, but it does show some of the possibilities. One strategy that we could use in our classroom is adopt the mantra of 'Ask three other students your IT question before you ask the teacher'. There are probably many students in the class that could help each other by providing the answer or through trial and error experimentation. If these kids who have never seen a computer before can figure it out, imagine what your kids can do?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/56796376@N00
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