Classroom Without Walls

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Tablet computers are becoming more widely available. The education community has been considering m-learning as a supportive paradigm in informal learning and Tablets have the potential to make a significant contribution in this area. However, Tablets are designed as appliances that help user access a variety of applications and services hosted on the Internet. Designing “apps” for iPad/iOS or for Android has been a favored route in the education community.

Photo Credit: EU Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (CC BY-SA 2.0)

This, however, cannot be the only approach when it comes to learning-for development paradigm. A large number of learners and teachers in the developing world operate in “unconnected” environments- unconnected from the power grid and from the Internet. There needs to be a different approach to extend them support.

This is where COL’s idea of a “classroom without walls” (Asha Kanwar) can make a contribution. We can imagine a situation where a learner in a typically unconnected environment can access a lesson in an LMS, and complete an assignment, with her/his credentials intact and available to the teacher. Learners can also participate in a socializing process through visiting and commenting on a blog related to the learning materials and courses. This might sound more relevant in Higher Education. Starting from there, it can be extended and adapted to Open Schooling and Non-formal learning in rural and agricultural extension.

 

At the heart of this is the availability of dual-core tablets and smartphones at affordable prices. One can use a dual core Tablet to create a server that runs Ubuntu, an Open Source operating system widely used in PC’s/laptops, on which an LMS (say, Moodle-Hyperlink)  and a social networking or content management system (say, WordPress–hyperlink) can be installed. A battery-powered WiFi hotspot can help create a network to which Tablets with learners can be connected. In the following, a preliminary, and successful trial is described. Asha Kanwar is of the view that it should be possible to develop a pack under $ 100 that can enable a teacher to run a classroom without those ubiquitous walls.

Wireless Hot Spot Setup

  • Configure ASUS WL-330gE Wireless AP
  • Setup DHCP (Follow the instruction manual) to support at least 200 clients.

Server Setup

  • Follow the instruction here to install Ubuntu 12.04 on Google Nexus 7.
  • Install LAMP on ubuntu
  • Install Moodle using Git
  • (optional) import Moodle courses.
  • Install WordPress
  • (optional) create sample WordPress website.
  • Install Drupal (to be updated)
  • Install Canvas using Git (to be updated)
  • Configure ASUS WL-330gE Wireless AP
  • Power it on. (Power bank or any other USB power source)
  • Wireless connect Nexus 7 to AP.
  • Reserve IP address 192.168.1.2 for Nexus 7 MAC address
  • Connect tablets or smartphones to Wireless AP.
  • Navigate to http://192.168.1.2 to start browsing.

Team: Ricky Cheng, Balaji V and Michelle Gruda

Post Revisions:

Changes:

3 December, 2012 @ 12:29Current Revision
Content
-Tablet computers are becoming more widely available. The education community has been considering m-learning as a supportive paradigm in informal learning and Tablets have the potential to make a significant contribution in this area. However, Tablets are designed as appliances that help user access a variety of applications and services hosted on the Internet. <a href="http:// www.unesco.org/ pv_obj_cache/ pv_obj_id_17F9CCF65072D33A4866574B155B8271DBCF0500/ filename/UNESCO%20MLW%20report%20final%2019jan.pdf">Designing “apps” for iPad/iOS or for Android has been a favored route in the education community</a>. +Tablet computers are becoming more widely available. The education community has been considering m-learning as a supportive paradigm in informal learning and Tablets have the potential to make a significant contribution in this area. However, Tablets are designed as appliances that help user access a variety of applications and services hosted on the Internet. <a href="http:// www.unesco.org/ new/fileadmin/ MULTIMEDIA/HQ/ED/ICT/pdf/ UNESCO%20MLW%20report%20final%2019jan.pdf">Designing “apps” for iPad/iOS or for Android has been a favored route in the education community</a>.
[caption id="attachment_171" align="alignright" width="413"]<a href="http:// techpaper.colfinder.org/wp- content/uploads/ 2012/11/OutdoorClassroom.jpg"><img class="wp-image-171 " title="OutdoorClassroom" src="http://techpaper.colfinder.org/ wp-content/uploads/2012/11/ OutdoorClassroom.jpg" alt="" width="413" height="274" /></a> Photo Credit: EU Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (CC BY-SA 2.0)[/caption] [caption id="attachment_171" align="alignright" width="413"]<a href="http:// techpaper.colfinder.org/wp- content/uploads/ 2012/11/OutdoorClassroom.jpg"><img class="wp-image-171 " title="OutdoorClassroom" src="http://techpaper.colfinder.org/ wp-content/uploads/2012/11/ OutdoorClassroom.jpg" alt="" width="413" height="274" /></a> Photo Credit: EU Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection (CC BY-SA 2.0)[/caption]
-This, however, cannot be the only approach when it comes to learning-for development paradigm. A large number of learners and teachers in the developing world operate in “unconnected” environments- unconnected from the power grid and from the Internet. There needs to be a different approach to extend them support. +This, however, cannot be the only approach when it comes to learning-for development paradigm. A large number of learners and teachers in the developing world operate in “unconnected” environments- unconnected to the power grid and to the Internet. There needs to be a different approach to extend them support.
This is where COL’s idea of a “classroom without walls” (<a href="http:// www.col.org/about/ staff/Pages/ akanwar.aspx">Asha Kanwar</a>) can make a contribution. We can imagine a situation where a learner in a typically unconnected environment can access a lesson in an LMS, and complete an assignment, with her/his credentials intact and available to the teacher. Learners can also participate in a socializing process through visiting and commenting on a blog related to the learning materials and courses. This might sound more relevant in Higher Education. Starting from there, it can be extended and adapted to Open Schooling and Non-formal learning in rural and agricultural extension. This is where COL’s idea of a “classroom without walls” (<a href="http:// www.col.org/about/ staff/Pages/ akanwar.aspx">Asha Kanwar</a>) can make a contribution. We can imagine a situation where a learner in a typically unconnected environment can access a lesson in an LMS, and complete an assignment, with her/his credentials intact and available to the teacher. Learners can also participate in a socializing process through visiting and commenting on a blog related to the learning materials and courses. This might sound more relevant in Higher Education. Starting from there, it can be extended and adapted to Open Schooling and Non-formal learning in rural and agricultural extension.
-&nbsp; 
-<a href="http:// techpaper.colfinder.org/wp- content/uploads/ 2012/12/Tabletconfig.jpg"><img class="wp-image-197 alignright" title="Tabletconfig" src="http://techpaper.colfinder.org/ wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ Tabletconfig.jpg" alt="" width="470" height="314" /></a>At the heart of this is the availability of dual-core tablets and smartphones at affordable prices. <a href="http:// www.ubuntu.com/ devices/android">One can use a dual core Tablet to create a server that runs Ubuntu</a>, an Open Source operating system widely used in PC’s/laptops, on which an LMS (say, Moodle-Hyperlink)  and a social networking or content management system (say, WordPress--hyperlink) can be installed. A battery-powered WiFi hotspot can help create a network to which Tablets with learners can be connected. In the following, a preliminary, and successful trial is described. Asha Kanwar is of the view that it should be possible to develop a pack under $ 100 that can enable a teacher to run a classroom without those ubiquitous walls. +At the heart of this is the availability of dual-core tablets and smartphones at affordable prices. <a href="http:// www.ubuntu.com/ devices/android">One can use a dual core Tablet to create a server that runs Ubuntu</a>, an Open Source operating system widely used in PC’s/laptops, on which an LMS (say, <a href="https:/ /moodle.org/" >Moodle</a>)  and a social networking or content management system (say, <a href="http:// wordpress.com/ ">WordPress</a>) can be installed. A battery-powered WiFi hotspot can help create a network to which Tablets with learners can be connected. In the following, a preliminary, and successful trial is described. Asha Kanwar is of the view that it should be possible to develop a pack under $ 100 that can enable a teacher to run a classroom without those ubiquitous walls.
 +[caption id="attachment_197" align="alignnone" width="470"]<a href="http:// techpaper.colfinder.org/wp- content/uploads/ 2012/12/Tabletconfig.jpg"><img class="wp-image-197 " title="Tabletconfig" src="http://techpaper.colfinder.org/ wp-content/uploads/2012/12/ Tabletconfig.jpg" alt="" width="470" height="314" /></a> Classroom without Walls device configuration[/caption]
 +<h1><span style="color: #888888;">Device Configuration Video</span></h1>
-<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/ embed/OhJWiN_266A" frameborder="0" width="560" height="315"></iframe> +<iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/ embed/heUTFOHNzrg?rel=0" frameborder="0" width="560" height="315"></iframe>
<h1><span style="color: #888888;">Wireless Hot Spot Setup</span></h1> <h1><span style="color: #888888;">Wireless Hot Spot Setup</span></h1>
<ul> <ul>
<li><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;">Configure ASUS WL-330gE Wireless AP</span></span></li> <li><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #444444;">Configure ASUS WL-330gE Wireless AP</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333;">Setup DHCP (Follow the instruction manual) to support at least 200 clients.</span></li> <li><span style="color: #333333;">Setup DHCP (Follow the instruction manual) to support at least 200 clients.</span></li>
</ul> </ul>
<h1><span style="color: #888888;">Server Setup</span></h1> <h1><span style="color: #888888;">Server Setup</span></h1>
<ul> <ul>
<li>Follow the instruction <a href="https:/ /wiki.ubuntu.com/ Nexus7/Installation">here</a> to install Ubuntu 12.04 on Google Nexus 7.</li> <li>Follow the instruction <a href="https:/ /wiki.ubuntu.com/ Nexus7/Installation">here</a> to install Ubuntu 12.04 on Google Nexus 7.</li>
<li>Install <a href="http:// www.linuxcandy.com/2012/05/ how-to-install- lamp-in-ubuntu- 12-04-precise- pangolin.html">LAMP</a> on ubuntu</li> <li>Install <a href="http:// www.linuxcandy.com/2012/05/ how-to-install- lamp-in-ubuntu- 12-04-precise- pangolin.html">LAMP</a> on ubuntu</li>
<li>Install <a href="http:// noseyparka.me.uk/2012/06/ 03/install-moodle-2-2-on- ubuntu-12-04- using-git/">Moodle</a> using Git</li> <li>Install <a href="http:// noseyparka.me.uk/2012/06/ 03/install-moodle-2-2-on- ubuntu-12-04- using-git/">Moodle</a> using Git</li>
<li>(optional) import Moodle courses.</li> <li>(optional) import Moodle courses.</li>
<li>Install <a href="https:/ /www.digitalocean.com/community/ articles/how- to-install-wordpress- on-ubuntu-12- 04">Wordpress</a></li> <li>Install <a href="https:/ /www.digitalocean.com/community/ articles/how- to-install-wordpress- on-ubuntu-12- 04">Wordpress</a></li>
<li>(optional) create sample Wordpress website.</li> <li>(optional) create sample Wordpress website.</li>
<li>Install Drupal (to be updated)</li> <li>Install Drupal (to be updated)</li>
<li>Install <a href="https:/ /github.com/instructure/canvas- lms/wiki">Canvas</a> using Git (to be updated)</li> <li>Install <a href="https:/ /github.com/instructure/canvas- lms/wiki">Canvas</a> using Git (to be updated)</li>
<li>Configure ASUS WL-330gE Wireless AP</li> <li>Configure ASUS WL-330gE Wireless AP</li>
<li>Power it on. (Power bank or any other USB power source)</li> <li>Power it on. (Power bank or any other USB power source)</li>
<li>Wireless connect Nexus 7 to AP.</li> <li>Wireless connect Nexus 7 to AP.</li>
<li>Reserve IP address 192.168.1.2 for Nexus 7 MAC address</li> <li>Reserve IP address 192.168.1.2 for Nexus 7 MAC address</li>
<li>Connect tablets or smartphones to Wireless AP.</li> <li>Connect tablets or smartphones to Wireless AP.</li>
<li>Navigate to <a href="http:// 192.168.1.2/" >http://192.168.1.2</a> to start browsing.</li> <li>Navigate to <a href="http:// 192.168.1.2/" >http://192.168.1.2</a> to start browsing.</li>
</ul> </ul>
Team: <a href="http:// www.col.org/about/ staff/Pages/ rcheng.aspx">Ricky Cheng</a>, <a href="http:// www.col.org/about/ staff/Pages/ vbalaji.aspx">Balaji V</a> and <a href="http:// www.col.org/about/ staff/Pages/ mgruda.aspx">Michelle Gruda</a> Team: <a href="http:// www.col.org/about/ staff/Pages/ rcheng.aspx">Ricky Cheng</a>, <a href="http:// www.col.org/about/ staff/Pages/ vbalaji.aspx">Balaji V</a> and <a href="http:// www.col.org/about/ staff/Pages/ mgruda.aspx">Michelle Gruda</a>

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