[FM Discuss] XO 1.5 loans

[Edward Cherlin]

Adam is away until March 11. Who can discuss this with me?

This list does not allow attachments this large, so I have omitted
them. You can download the Gravity lesson file from
http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/images/0/0e/Gravity.odt

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Edward Cherlin <echerlin at gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Feb 24, 2010 at 11:59
Subject: XO 1.5 loans
To: Adam Hyde <adam at flossmanuals.net>

A call has gone out for proposals requesting loans of OLPC XO-1.5
laptops from One Laptop Per Child. The XO-1.5 has significant
enhancements over the original XO-1. If you or others in your
organizations are interested in joining in a project to teach math and
physics using a variety of laptop-connected instruments and Free Sugar
Software, I will write up the proposal to include you. I am going to
suggest two laptops at each location so that we can test collaboration
functions, such as using one laptop to acquire data, and a second to
control the instruments or the experimental apparatus, or shared
visualization. We can use the Measure (digital oscilloscope), Record
(still and video camera), Etoys (Smalltalk), Physics, Turtle Art,
SocialCalc, and other Sugar activities to acquire, analyze, and
visualize data in various ways.

As a concrete example, I have attached a description and discussion of
a third-grade lesson plan due originally to Alan Kay, in both Open
Office and Microsoft Word formats. Alan used Smalltalk for his models.
I use Turtle Art. There are other tools for this purpose, and the
choice of tools will be part of our study.

The process would include

1. Testing and documenting a variety of input (data acquisition) and
output (control) devices with the relevant activities. Available input
channels include the camera, the sound input port, and USB ports.

2. Working out data flows for input, storage of data sets, analysis,
visualization, and control, including collaboration by multiple
students on multiple laptops.

3. Proposing enhancements to Sugar to make data acquisition, analysis,
collaboration, and visualization more effective.

4. Designing and testing lesson plans on a range of topics in physics,
including mechanics, optics, electromagnetism, and acoustics. The math
and programming needed for each topic would also be included, and the
topics laid out in an order that respects dependencies on prior
knowledge.

All of this would feed into projects for creating museum exhibits,
school lesson plans, and whatever other uses become apparent. I have
suggested 12 months as the time for the initial project. This is long
enough to do meaningful work and do meaningful testing in the
classroom.

We will need to bring in another partner for the classroom
evaluations, some school with enough XOs and a connection with an
education school to do the test design, execution, and evaluation. We
also need to talk with an education school about the impact this will
have on teacher training. We will want feedback from students and
their families, and from teachers. I have identified a number of other
possible partners, including children's and other museums, school
systems using XOs, Ed schools, and state education departments.

There are significant possibilities for grant funding for this project
through foundations and through the US Dept. of Education.

Please let me know if you have any questions about this proposal. I
will wait to hear from all of you before submitting my request for XO
1.5s for us, and will of course only include those who agree that they
want to participate. You can call me at 812 764 0552 in Indiana (EST).

When the next model after the XO-1.5 comes out, I will naturally
suggest something similar but on a higher level, to take advantage of
its enhancements. Perhaps by that time we will be ready to discuss
replacing an existing textbook with Free electronic learning
materials, and after that replacing all printed textbooks. The notion
that free textbooks plus netbook computers cost less in total than
printed textbooks (including all support and maintenance) has gotten
into the air, and is spreading.

--
Edward Mokurai (默雷/धर्ममेघशब्दगर्ज/دھرممیگھشبدگر ج) Cherlin
Silent Thunder is my name, and Children are my nation.
The Cosmos is my dwelling place, the Truth my destination.
http://www.earthtreasury.org/



-- 
Edward Mokurai (默雷/धर्ममेघशब्दगर्ज/دھرممیگھشبدگر ج) Cherlin
Silent Thunder is my name, and Children are my nation.
The Cosmos is my dwelling place, the Truth my destination.
http://www.earthtreasury.org/