I work with a non-OLPC-affiliated XO laptop project in Lesotho. Our project uses G1G1 XO-1 laptops we buy on the open market and refurbish ourselves.
Like David Leeming in PNG (see Server-devel Digest, Vol 60, Issue 13, Topic 1 -- Re: Looking for new low power server hardware candidate), I work with schools in a very remote area with rough terrain, difficult access, limited resources, and poorly trained teachers. Unlike Davids area, our schools do not have access to internet. The teachers we work with have absolutely no computer experience coming into our program. They are all eager to receive training and use the computers in their classrooms, but because of their own poor education, they have trouble following general instructions and retaining the computer skills we teach them. We find that they need very detailed, written, step-by-step instructions for everything. Most of the time, they are incapable of extrapolating what theyve learned and applying it to a slightly different situation or another activity. Much of the teaching at the schools is done in English, despite the fact that English is the teachers second language. Many of them have small vocabularies with low language proficiency. Those of us helping them are educators and administrators, not computer technicians. For us, most of the discussions and instructions in this server-devel forum go way over our heads. We have tried to get computer specialists to help us set up a server, but this is nearly impossible because it requires a commitment of days to reach and service our area. Twice, computer volunteers have come to our first school to install the server software from a CD onto a standard PC. But, both times the OLPC XS software didnt work and/or was incomplete. Without internet access, they were unable to complete the process. After two years, we still do not have a functional server for the 86 laptops at that school. We havent even tried to set up a server at our other school, which will have a total 50 XO laptops by the end of this year. Our schools charge and operate all their computer equipment off solar panels and batteries. During rainy months, computer use is greatly reduced because of reduced power output. For all these reasons, we need a very simple, user-friendly, low-energy network server that can be installed and maintained by non-specialist people with limited computer skills and without any internet access. A plug-n-play style server would be the best solution for us. Instructions for installation, maintenance, and use need to be as detailed as possible, in very simple English. We need to be able to purchase 1-2 servers at a time, and we need the server to be available for purchase outside the official OLPC deployment framework. Janissa Balcomb jbalc...@laptopstolesotho.org Laptops to Lesotho Inc. www.laptopstolesotho.inc _______________________________________________ Server-devel mailing list Server-devel@lists.laptop.org http://lists.laptop.org/listinfo/server-devel
