School Books Out, Handhelds In

The Mbita Point School in West Kenya have done away with school books and adopted handheld computers for its pupils. 

The pilot project is co-ordinated by EduVision, an NGO who are,

"Looking at ways to use low cost computer systems to get up-to-date information to students who are currently stuck with ancient textbooks."

The Linux base system is very simple and allows the school to transmit information, visuals and questions for the lessons to the ‘E-slates’.  EduVision is planning to include audio and video files as the system develops and add more content.

"We plan to put a solar panel at the school with the base station, have the E-slates charge during the day when the children are in school, then they can take them home at night and continue working."

Is it a matter of time before ‘E-slates’ enter the ‘Western’ educational arena or due to the prevalence of mobile phones would it make more sense to utilise this existing avenue? 

A lesson to consider maybe…

BBC Article
Contributed by DK of phatgnat.typepad.com