Thanks Brian, Barrack, Alex, Ali et al for sharing your thoughts. Personally I think the idea of laptops to kids is doable. It just requires some thinking through to avoid failure. It should not be shot down! CheersGG Date: Wed, 17 Apr 2013 09:13:42 +0300 From: blongwe@gmail.com To: otieno.barrack@gmail.com CC: bitange@jambo.co.ke; isoc@lists.my.co.ke Subject: Re: [ISOC_KE] Laptops per Child Initiative Time to put money where our mouths are. Let us follow the example of New York City, here is an example submitted under the NYC Schools Gap App Challenge http://nycschools.challengepost.com/submissions/14453-imedia-a7-learning-thr... Full description of the challenge below and link to the site: http://nycschools.challengepost.com/ Software developers are invited to submit a new or existing gap app that helps fill the gap in middle school math students' skills, interests and motivation. Apps can address the gap by improving middle school math outcomes or by enhancing educator collaboration, classroom communication and management, or engagement. Before getting started, learn more about the gap and needs and opportunities for middle school solutions. To get started, check out the requirements (for more information see the Official Rules): Application Categories (Math Instructional or Administration/Engagement) Application Platforms Accepted (iPad, desktop, or web) Eligibility Requirements (U.S. residents; teams; organizations with 100 or fewer employees) Winners of the challenge will receive $50,000 in cash prizes, as well as $54,000 in Amazon AWS Credits. After the challenge, eligible submissions may be considered for a pilot program in iZone schools supported by Amazon Web Services consulting services. The iZone schools are a collection of 250 innovative New York City public schools committed to personalizing learning for every student. This challenge is brought to you by Innovate NYC Schools, an NYCDOE iZone project dedicated to creating models for more quickly identifying, piloting, and evaluating promising edtech solutions to problems identified by educators themselves. By actively stimulating and supporting the edtech ecosystem, Innovate NYC Schools will create new value for all participants, from developers and investors to teachers, students, and parents. To learn more about Innovate NYC Schools and its supports click here. On Wed, Apr 17, 2013 at 8:37 AM, Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> wrote: I pray such commitees are not sidestepped by the usual cabal of business men to implement the governments plan. Indeed Dr. Ndemo has done well. On Wed, Apr 17, 2013 at 8:29 AM, Alex Gakuru <gakuru@gmail.com> wrote: Greetings, Ali, Barrack, all, Truth be proclaimed, the sector owes Bitange Ndemo visionary stewardship! http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/-/1006/1087150/-/5jbisnz/-/index.html Regards, Alex On Wed, Apr 17, 2013 at 8:17 AM, Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> wrote: I agree Ali , i think the greatest challenge will be focused awareness creation and social re-engineering, we need to answer the question of why laptops and not just buying them because other countries have done so, we need to study as many successfull cases of similar initaives as possible and the failures as well, as one legislator said free should not be misconstrued to mean poor quality most citizens don't mind free stuff but after that they go back to the comfort zones after tasting the goodies , the issue of Software as Alex puts it will also be crucial, the head of state, raised the issue of streamlining the budget and dealing with corruption. As always the procurement issues around proprietary systems have always led to bungled, this is what we need to guard against as a citizenship On Wed, Apr 17, 2013 at 7:32 AM, Ali Hussein <ali@hussein.me.ke> wrote: Alex, Barrack and all Now that the issue of whether or not school going children will get laptops is a mute point how can we ensure that there is content (the right kind) galore so that the investment of our taxes is used in the right way to ensure universal computer literacy in Kenya? We cannot belabor the point further. We now need to act. Someone on the list mentioned the strides KIE has made towards digitizing content in the education space. We need to do more. There are young and seasoned entrepreneurs who are already trailblazing in this space. Of mention is the state of the art animation studio that Mike Rabar of Homeboyz launched a few years ago. This can be used to create our very own 'Cartoon Network'; there is the work of a myriad of local online gaming enterpreneurs like Ma3Racer. These need to be encouraged through the right and appropriate legislation to ensure we have a 'skewed' (yes! I mean that) playing field in favour of local content. The old adage - All work and no play makes (was it Jack?) Jack a dull boy is as true today as it was when it was first coined. Ali Hussein CEO | 3mice interactive media LtdPrincipal | Telemedia Africa Ltd +254 713 601113 "The future belongs to him who knows how to wait." - Russian Proverb Sent from my iPad On Apr 16, 2013, at 10:29 PM, Alex Gakuru <gakuru@gmail.com> wrote: See: 'Policy Making it easier for the media and creative industries to grow, while protecting the interests of citizens' 1. Creating a local TV framework so that local TV services can be set up across the UK We want to create a thriving industry of local television services, which will create jobs and help local communities choose TV content that is relevant to them. We are giving licensed local TV services access to affordable spectrum (the section of the airwaves required to transmit their signals) and a prominent position on TV electronic programme guides. In return for these benefits, local TV services will be required to provide local content which meets the needs of local people and is relevant to their daily lives. The BBC is contributing up to £40 million toward creating independent local television.. https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/making-it-easier-for-the-media-and-cr... (UK) 2. 'Local Content Requirements for Film, Radio, and Television as a means of Protecting Cultural Diversity: Theory And Reality' - Ivan Bernier http://www.diversite-culturelle.qc.ca/fileadmin/documents/pdf/update031112se... (CANADA) 3. 'Local content conditions on regional commercial television broadcasters' http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD.PC/pc=PC_91817 and 'Convergence Review: Discussion paper: Australian and Local Content' http://www.dbcde.gov.au/__data/assets/rtf_file/0006/140397/Paper_4_Aus_conte... (AUSTRALIA) 4. Among others... On Tue, Apr 16, 2013 at 10:09 PM, Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> wrote: True, I think this is feasible, we need to replace those Nollywood soaps with our own, local actors are upping their game on the screen and should be paid for it, we also need our very own National Geographic , programs like XYZ demonstrate what can be achieved locally. We have to be deliberate and intentional and dream like the Chinese leader Mao :-) Best Regards On Tue, Apr 16, 2013 at 10:03 PM, Alex Gakuru <gakuru@gmail.com> wrote: And a discussion also on "...To that end we will legislate to increase local content to 60% from the current 40% in local free to air TV channels." http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000081695&story_title=Kenya-Presi... thanks, Alex On Tue, Apr 16, 2013 at 9:56 PM, Alex Gakuru <gakuru@gmail.com> wrote: Absolutely! It would be nice to take stock and learn from the challenges then propose mitigations. On Tue, Apr 16, 2013 at 9:49 PM, Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> wrote: Interesting Perspectives Alex, I like the points you raise, another interesting perspective is the possibility of local assembly, we need to investigate what sent companies like Mercer packing and how we ended up in the prefabs era which have played a great role in increasing access due to reduced cost of ownership but killed local assembly, for as long as we procure we are likely to have pre-installed gadgets which will maintain the status quo. Best Regards On Tue, Apr 16, 2013 at 9:16 PM, Alex Gakuru <gakuru@gmail.com> wrote: Listers, In my view, the "merits and demerits" debate took in early (and was in June) 2005 at Mombasa during the finalisation of the National ICT Policy discussions. Back then pessimists folk posed whether Kenya needed "Penicillin" or "Pentium" prioritisation. Since the policy was adopted we have witnessed tremendous sector development that whomever asked the questions cannot deny. Today, eight years later, I opine that the debate deserves be "upgraded" as to whether the devices should installed with proprietary or Open Source Software. Someone in Boston US has already taken lead on the conversation (see below forward). I would be thrilled to see the Opposition take this as an issue in parliament:-) "Selfishly," I would also like to see Open Education Resources(OER) courses among other Free Culture content pre-installed on the gadgets. This would save the childrens' minds from growing into proprietary ICT tools bondage. Free their young minds with Open software and freedom content! My thoughts, Alex ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: <secretariat@fossfa.net> Date: Sat, Apr 13, 2013 at 1:35 PM Subject: Re: [Council] Laptops for Kenyans: liberating or subjugating? To: council <council@mail.fossfa.net> Cc: FOSSFA Council Chair <chair@fossfa.net> Dear Council Members, I received the message below from Dr. Richard Stallman yesterday. Any action to be taken on this? I have not responded to the email yet. A quick action on this will be very helpful and important considering that FSF is willing to partner FOSSFA in promoting Open Source in Africa. Can we invite him to Idlelo 6 in Kenya as Special Guest?
President Kenyatta announced he would distribute laptops to Kenyan
students. As you know, these could carry GNU/Linux and lead the
students to freedom, or carry Windows and subjugate them. Or they
could carry GNU/Linux and Windows, and in practice the students will
mainly use Windows and be subjugated just the same.
Are you planning to make this a campaign focus?
Can the FSF help?
--
Dr Richard Stallman
President, Free Software Foundation
51 Franklin St
Boston MA 02110
USA
www.fsf.org www.gnu.org
Skype: No way! That's nonfree (freedom-denying) software.
Use Ekiga or an ordinary phone call
On Tue, Apr 16, 2013 at 8:40 PM, Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack@gmail.com> wrote: Listers, Seems we are on, the fact that the project is planned for 2014 provides more time for the assesment of its Merits and demerits. https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/?articleID=2000081696&story_title=Kenya-Uhur.... Best Regards -- Barrack O. Otieno+254721325277+254-20-2498789 Skype: barrack.otienohttp://www.otienobarrack.me.ke/ _______________________________________________ isoc mailing list isoc@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/isoc -- Barrack O. Otieno+254721325277+254-20-2498789 Skype: barrack.otienohttp://www.otienobarrack.me.ke/ -- Barrack O. Otieno+254721325277+254-20-2498789 Skype: barrack.otienohttp://www.otienobarrack.me.ke/ _______________________________________________ isoc mailing list isoc@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/isoc -- Barrack O. Otieno+254721325277+254-20-2498789 Skype: barrack.otienohttp://www.otienobarrack.me.ke/ -- Barrack O. Otieno+254721325277+254-20-2498789 Skype: barrack.otienohttp://www.otienobarrack.me.ke/ _______________________________________________ isoc mailing list isoc@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/isoc _______________________________________________ isoc mailing list isoc@lists.my.co.ke http://lists.my.co.ke/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/isoc