Friends Of Nyumbani

Category Computer Lab
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Hey everyone.  Matt here, typing from the Nyumbani computer lab.  Things are going well, I had a couple of classes this morning. One with some older kids learning about if/else statements.  And the second with much younger kids, learning about mice.

Jack, about Slax.  It does work.  No idea what happened the other day, but when I tried today with a bit more time I got into the GUI no problems.  What next?

Resetting the passwords was also no problem, the instructions were fine.

I have a chameleon very interested in Jeff´s printer.  Although I wory that it may get inadvertantly fried.  It´s quite young, and different to the ones we normally find here.  Any chameleon experts out there?

The inventory continues, slowly, but inexorably.  Getting into the various Nyumbani store rooms is as difficult as always.

As for catastrophes, the chameleon just fell onto the floor, but appears unharmed.

I shall call it Bungee.

All the best,

Matt

Posted by Matt Farmer At 07:46:24 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks ()

Category Computer Lab
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Walt Carlson of the Fairfax County School District sent me their curriculum guidelines for what all students should be able to do by the time they graduate. I posted it in our wiki, but I thought it was worth adding here, as well.

What graduates of the school pyramids should know about COMPUTER technology and what they should be able to do with it when they graduate:
 
1.      How to Keyboard:
a.    Learn to key at a rate of at least 30 words per minute.
b.    Know and understand all of the special characters and capabilities of the standard keyboard.
2.      How to use a mouse: Right click, left click, and that wheel in the middle.
3.      Basic computer technology concepts and terminology.
4.      How to Manage and Find Files:
a.    Creating Folders and Files.
b.    Finding Folders and Files Using Various Selection Criteria
c.    Protecting Computer Information
5.      How to perform word processing:
a.    Opening and saving files
b.    Moving the insert around documents.
c.    Selecting text.
d.    Formatting text.
e.    Inserting and using tables.
f.    Working with multiple document files at the same time.
g.    Using a “glossary” or auto-text capability to insert text.
h.    Using “Undo” and “Redo”
i.    Inserting document separators and organizers.
j.    Performing page layouts.
6.      How to use an Internet Browser:
a.    Moving around browser pages.
b.    Using multiple browser applications at the same time.
c.    Selecting text from browser pages.
d.    Find text in browser pages.
e.    Using Browser “File” capabilities
f.    Managing “Bookmarks”
7.      How to search the Internet:
a.    Understanding the Internet
b.    Ethics and Dangers of the Internet.
c.    Authenticating Information Gathered on the Internet.
d.    Understanding Boolean Logic
e.    Using Internet Search Engines
f.    Using Internet Search Directories
g.    Know and Using Meta Search Capabilities
h.    Search the Internet Using “Fields”
8.      How to use E-mail Effectively
a.    Ethics and Etiquette
b.    Emoticoms
c.    Maintaining an Electronic Address Book
d.    Creating and Using Distribution Groups.
e.    Using Listservs
f.    Using Filters
9.      Discussion and User Groups:  How to Create and Use them
10.  Moving Information Around: within applications and between them.
a.    Using the Clip Board and other similar capabilities.
b.    Using different applications concurrently.
11.  How to get Electronic Help -  Whatever you’re doing.
12.  Developing Presentations and Putting Them on the Internet.
a.    Creating web pages.
b.    File Transfer Programs
c.    Publishing and publicizing websites.
d.    Creating web graphics.
13.  Using Spreadsheets
14.  Creating Electronic Presentations with Tools like Powerpoint.
15.  The essentials of data bases: creating, maintaining, protecting, and using them.
16.    The Basics of Creating Graphics on the Computer.
 

Posted by Jack Dausman At 07:46:24 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks ()

Category Computer Lab
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As part of the effort to create and maintain a sustainable computer lab for Nyumbani, Jack and I were asked by a subcommittee of the U.S. Board to put together a snapshot of the lab as it is now and what it needs to sustain it in the near term. Parts of the piece come from a working document jointly written by Matt Farmer, Chris Browne, Jack Dausman and myself before and during the creation of the lab.

It is a starting point for understanding why we are where we are and what we need to do to get to the next stage...running a successful, ongoing computer lab for the children at Nyumbani.

Here's the link to the article.

Posted by Jeff Browne At 07:46:24 AM Location | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks ()

Category Computer Lab
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Nyumbani has a tremendous computer lab, with Dell Optiplex workstations and Compaq Laptops--all of them are running Linux (Edubuntu.org). While the cost of Linux is one reason for using it at Nyumbani, it's more than just cost.

Apparently, other education centers are also concluding that Linux makes sense. Last summer, the state of Indiana announced a plan to deploy more than 24,000 computers and now, Plano, Texas is looking to replace the 52,000 Microsoft Windows computers in its school district with Linux.

Posted by Anonymous At 07:46:24 AM Location Washington, DC | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks ()