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Teaching Matters OLPCNYC Project at KAPPA IV

This is a “project planner” to help document our experiences with the XO laptop in NYC public school classrooms.

Teaching Matters, an educational non-profit, is donating XO laptops to target NYC classrooms and will work with the Department of Eduction to track the success of integrating these low-cost machines in NYC. This is part of our larger effort to promote LOW COST COMPUTING in schools.

Here’s our “formal” plan to date:

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Teaching Matters will run a collaborative pilot with the Department of Education to test One Laptop Per Child mobile computing devices in connection with our Writing Matters content in a middle school ELA classroom. The purpose of the pilot is two-fold. First, we want to determine if the OLPC device can significantly lower the cost of technology access for schools by lowering the total cost of ownership (hardware and ongoing maintenance.) Second, we will test this environment in conjunction with a curriculum designed to improve teacher practice in the teaching of writing. The curriculum has been designed to take best advantage of one to one computing environments.


To-dos

KAPPA IV OLPC Project
  • Configuration of XO computers for student use Thu, 31 Jan 2008
  • Begin Feature Article unit with XO computers in class Tue, 5 Feb 2008
  • Discuss pilot with each grade level/Discuss pilot with teachers Tue, 5 Feb 2008
  • Continue Feature Articles Unit, Step 1 Wed, 6 Feb 2008
  • Continue Feature Articles Unit, Step 2 Wed, 13 Feb 2008
  • Provide students instructions for taking XO machines home Wed, 13 Feb 2008
  • Mid-Pilot Meeting to discuss successes/challenges Wed, 20 Feb 2008
  • Preliminary review of data collection in pilot (footage, reports, and blogs), reassess project plan Wed, 20 Feb 2008
  • Introduce XO to other grade level teachers Wed, 20 Feb 2008
  • Continue Feature Articles Unit, Step 3 Wed, 27 Feb 2008
  • Continue Feature Articles Unit, Step 4 Wed, 5 Mar 2008
  • Observe students in other subjects using XO Wed, 5 Mar 2008
  • Continue Feature Articles Unit, Step 5 Wed, 12 Mar 2008
  • Observe students in other subjects using XO Wed, 12 Mar 2008
  • Continue Feature Articles Unit, Step 6 Wed, 19 Mar 2008
  • Decide what to do with XOs next (switch class, switch grade, take back?) Wed, 19 Mar 2008
  • Final Debrief of Pilot to discuss next steps Wed, 26 Mar 2008
  • Pilot Launch meeting at TMI during lunch Wed, 23 Jan 2008
  • Wireless Configuration onsite at KAPPA IV Tue, 29 Jan 2008
Appointments


Completed...
Wed, 19 Mar
Conference Call @ 10:45 AM
Wed, 12 Mar
Conference Call @ 10:45 AM
Wed, 5 Mar
Conference Call @ 10:45 AM
Wed, 27 Feb
Conference Call @ 10:45 AM
Wed, 13 Feb
Conference Call @ 10:45 AM
Wed, 6 Feb
Conference Call @ 10:45 AM
Tue, 5 Feb
Conference Call @ 2:45 PM

Notes

January Tue, 29 Jan 2008

• Solangel will be documenting her experiences using her daily reports, the OLPCNYC blog, video, and conference calls. Douglas Almanzar and a couple of students will also contribute to this documentation.

• We will introduce the project to all students by grade level so that they know what is going on and the potential for them to use the XO computers. We will also introduce the project to all the teachers at a collective meeting so they are also in the know and can prepare for potential use of the computers.

February Tue, 29 Jan 2008

• By the 13th, we will make a decision whether to let the students take the machines home or not. If not, we should open up use of them to other classes.

• On the 20th, we will check in on the process and make adjustments. We can also turnkey training to other teachers in the 6th grade to become familiar with the XO computers.

March Tue, 29 Jan 2008

• By the 5th, we will begin to observe the use of XO computers in other subject areas. At this point we should have a good idea about how to approach the use of them in the classroom strategically.

• By the 26th, we will make a decision about next steps and whether we need more time with the same students or whether we should try a new approach with a different grade level.