eRanger: Mobile Multimedia Classroom
Prototype: January 2007 - September 2007
In April 2007, after a project initiation and design period, the DEEP team were able to test out a prototype motorbike-based unit to transport ICT equipment, support and training to a rural school in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. The aims of the prototype are:
- To provide sustainable access to ICT for remote, rural schools;
- To explore the benefits in teaching and learning with multimedia;
- To supply educational and ICT support onsite - the eRider.
Two models of equipment are being tested, including a 'solo' unit for efficient on and off-road transport of equipment for group work sessions, and a sidecar-based education unit for larger school-based events.
The provision within the units comprise:
- On-board power, networking and internet connectivity
- Multimedia laptops for use in media-rich projects
- Digital Camera and Camcorder for recording footage
Additional provision include:
- Portable power generation for larger events
- Projection and amplifier equipment
The role of the 'eRider' is:
- To provide support to the educators on how to use multimedia to enhance teaching and learning
- To work with the learners in creating their own media resources
- To supply educational and ICT advice
During the prototyping phase, the eRider is an ‘Education Development Officer’ from the ECDoE, who is undertaking this work as part of their role in developing eLearning in the East London district of the Eastern Cape.
Launch workshop, 24th-26th April 2007:
View a short film about the project, made by the educators
... a short film made at a rural school, by the three South African educators participating in the DEEP 'mobile multimedia classroom' project. It is the first experience any have had of working with video, it was planned, filmed and edited by the educators on site at the rural school, during the launch workshop. [re-encoded for web delivery - smaller format available]
View a short film showing educators, learners and outcomes at the workshop
... showing the educators working with two groups of learners, who are making ‘photo-journals’. Groups of learners were given a brief, photographed aspects of their school, and made their ‘photo-journals’ (one in English, one in isiXhosa) in the course of one morning at school. It was the first time any of the learners had touched a computer [re-encoded for web delivery - smaller format available]
Things happening at Dongwe
... the learners brief was to make a book that showed the best and worst things about being at their school, so they could celebrate what was good, and plan to change what was bad. Page 4 shows the things they did not like; Pages 5-7 the things they did.
Wash day at Dongwe
... on the second day of the workshop, the SA educators noticed a group of girls washing sports kit, which the girls said belonged to the boys who were in class, having their lessons. The girls photographed this for their book, writing about it in isiXhosa, their mother tongue. Again, it was the first time any of the girls had used a camera or computer.
First ICT experience
... another teacher joined the project on the last day of the workshop; she made this comic about the workshop using photos taken by a group of girls the previous day. Again, it was her first ever use of ICT.
Beyond prototyping:
After testing out the prototypes, we hope to carry out a full research and development project with 12-24 rural schools in the Eastern Cape, over a 1-2 year time period, and that we are currently seeking funding for this next phase of the project. Please contact us for more information.
