LAPTOP Magazine Tests "One Laptop Per Child" Program In Africa

XO-Laptop Based School Pilot Program in Mali Impacts Children and Community

New York, NY (PRWEB) November 16, 2008 -- LAPTOP--Mobile Solutions for Business & Life, the leading mobile technology magazine and Web site, is reporting the trials and triumphs of giving ruggedized kid-friendly laptop computers to children in the developing world. Having donated 30 of One Laptop Per Child's (OLPC) XO laptops to a school in the village of Ouéléssébougou in Mali, Africa, LAPTOP is tracking how children who have never before seen a computer are adapting to educational technology.

On the heels of OLPC's announcement today of its second annual Give 1, Get 1 XO purchasing program, LAPTOP's reports illustrate the impact of giving an XO this holiday season to children less fortunate. OLPC, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing developing countries with its ruggedized XO laptops, today begins its holiday promotion that enables consumers to donate a bonus laptop to a child of the developing world when purchasing a low cost laptop for themselves for $399.

"As the mobile tech experts dedicated to testing and reviewing notebooks, LAPTOP took the colorful green XO laptops to the very place and to the very students for which they were designed," said Joanna Stern, news editor at LAPTOP. "Since we test the durability of notebooks and are committed to reporting on the advances in laptop innovation, it was only natural for us to delve deeper into the XO and explore how it could affect the lives of the children it was intended for. After creating the pilot program in Mali, complete with stringing electricity into the local school, we're thrilled to report that it can."

Deploying the XOs

Headed by former LAPTOP employee and Malian native Salimata Fandjalan Bangoura, LAPTOP's XO program began with a pre-pilot session to train teachers about the computer. "While the focus of our pilot program is on the children, most of the teachers and volunteers involved had never used a computer before. We needed to train them on everything from how to turn on the notebooks to how to use the XO's Write program," said Bangoura.

Integral to the success of LAPTOP's pilot program was the engagement of not only the children and teachers but also of the entire community. To that end, on completion of teacher training an opening ceremony, attended by the town's mayor, village chief and police and government representatives, allowed parents and other villagers the opportunity participate in distributing the 30 XO laptops to the eager third- and fourth-grade students and participate in a laptop demonstration.

The Children React

After program kickoff, many students were so excited to work with their XO laptops that they arrived at school more than an hour early each day. Quickly adapting to the operating system, the children were soon writing and taking pictures and video. "The power of collaboration, encouraging children to take responsibility for their learning as well as that of their peers, is one of the main tenets of the OLPC program and witnessing children do just that is remarkable," said Bangoura. The village children have learned to take photos of their parents with the XO, thus sharing the new educational tool with their families.

The Mali program, however, is not all rainbows and butterflies, according to Stern. "Computer charging compatibility and electricity problems have led to the frequent crashing of notebooks. Additionally, in a society where students await direction from teachers and are reluctant to explore independently the learning process does not progress as quickly as anticipated." Due to the limited ability to train teachers in all computer functions the XOs potential has not yet been fully realized.

"In a country where, according to the World Bank, only 19 percent of Malians age 15 and above are literate and where sixth-grade students are frequently incapable of decoding single sentences in their textbooks, LAPTOP's donation of 30 XOs is a small, but powerful start," added Stern.* "Nonetheless, our first-hand reports from the classroom offer powerful evidence of the success of the program and the amazing impact a consumer can have this holiday season by giving one and getting one."

To learn more about LAPTOP's XO pilot program in Mali and to view images and video visit: http://www.laptopmag.com/l/olpc.aspx. A full review of the XO laptop can also be found at http://www.laptopmag.com/news/laptops/hands-on-with-one-laptop-per-childs-xo-laptop.aspx.

*Source: Bender, P., & Diarra, A., & Edoh, K., & Ziegler, M., (2007). "Evaluation of the World Bank Assistance to Primary Education in Mali: A Country Case Study." Washington, DC: The World Bank.

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LAPTOP--Mobile Solutions for Business & Life celebrates the infusion of mobile technology in our daily lives and provides the information and insights that enable its readers to thrive in a wireless world. It serves as the essential guide for mobile professionals and tech-savvy consumers who depend upon our expert product evaluations, helpful how-to advice, and examination of the societal impact of mobile technology. Visit www.laptopmag.com.

For Further Information:

Liz Moran

Marketing Director

LAPTOP Magazine

lmoran@laptopmag.com

212-807-8220

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