Thin Client Workstation:
We made the decision to use a "Thin Client" system similar to many libraries and schools in the US to reduce the needed energy to operate the computer lab and try to ensure that the computer lab would not be a drain on the school resources but provide additional resources to the school. The "Thin Client system uses a single server to operate up to 10 additional workstations, each workstation consists of a monitor, a keyboard, a mouse and the small box that connects the server to the monitor and creates an individual computer workstation. Each workstation functions independently of the others but it is also possible for teachers of younger students to use the Server to monitor the 10 work stations attached to it to see how each student is progressing. We installed Solar on the roof of the lab to power the lab and other equipment so the only additional cost to the school to operate this lab is the cost of the Internet, but we have been blessed to find a generous donor in the Diocese of Richmond who has provided the funding to pay for the cost of the internet service for the year. The internet signal is used for the computer lab, the directors office and also for the teachers to have access in a teachers lounge.
On Tuesday I was able to visit the 2nd year student teachers while they were in the computer lab for class. They were learning Excel and how to use the various functions for the management of their classroom files. Since some students were progressed more quickly than others with the assigned projects there were times when I saw multiple students who had completed the assignment using the internet to search Wikipedia for various information. This class had 42 students in it so some students were sharing a computer but a few had small ACER laptops of their own so most had their own computer to use. I was happy to see the lab functioning well and the students progressing in their knowledge and abilities to use the computers. It is good to see that multiple users can be connected and the internet still functions well.
Last Friday I also noticed the 3rd year classroom was empty and the door for the lab was open and walked over to find the 3rd year students working on final reports and projects in the computer lab. I spoke briefly with the students regarding the computer lab and they all said it was a very good resource and a great addition to the program at the school. The students are excited to learn about the computers, use them for their school projects and gain access to additional resources available on the internet especially since Textbooks are scarce in Haiti.
In addition the the materials available via the internet there are many organizations currently working for resource options available offline. Last Friday morning I was able to visit St. Andre Episcopal school in Hinche with Richard Joseph, the Director of the Diocesan Bureau of Education (BDE) in Hinche and see the "Internet in a Box" (IIAB) system in use on both Dell Laptop computers and XO One Laptop per child computers. The IIAB is simply an external storage drive that is loaded with books, wikipedia, the Khan Academy videos and some other maps and resources in French, Kreyol, English and Spanish. The IIAB using is connected through a server to the computers and the students can search the resources without the need to connect to the internet. Most of the Khan Videos are available in French or at least have French Subtitles and could be valuable in Haiti where resources and trained teachers in Math and Science are also lacking. This topic of the need for additional formation, support and resources for Math was discussed in depth at the meeting of the 3rd cycle school directors that I attended with Richard Joseph, and Sister Mamoune another BDE member last Saturday.
The director of the school was very pleased with the resources and they are currently using the computers for additional classes after the normal school day ends to augment the education in the classroom. The school does not have a projector so the computers and resources in the IIAB are not currently being used in the actual classroom but for additional study and research after class. They have 20 of each XO and Dell and the students are scheduled for 1 hour each throughout the week in groups of 20 so that each has their own computer. The XO laptops are used for the younger students and do not have access to the Khan Videos but have additional educational content geared for younger students. The Dell laptops are used for the higher grades.
There are a few other possibilities for offline resources available and I hope to visit a school that is currently using one of these options with the Haitian made Surtab tablets. I am not sure I will be able to arrange the transportation to see the school since it is in Petit Goave but I will try. Since there are a few schools in the Diocese of Hinche with twins in the Diocese of Richmond that now have computer labs I hope to be able to gather some information on this trip that would help these schools to find additional resources for their school computer labs.
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