Helping rural China...

1
Helping rural China...
2
Purpose of this presentation

• To show why ICT in mass education has failed It
  is a fact that no where in the world has any
  country been successful in implementing ICT in
  mass Education on nationwide scale using present
  latest technologies. This explains why.
• To show how using an older OS and tools combined
  with latest tools, can this be overcome. Thus AGE
  is born.We call this the missing link that the
  world has missedand should be used first to
  migrate from paper to digitalbefore we go into
  the latest tech. Is it a wonder that 5.5
  billions of the worlds 6.5 billions are still
  unconnected? AGE intends to change that to
  reach out to all.

3
AGE - project funded by

• Cradle investment Programme CIP
• MDeC Technopreneur Pre-seed Fund Both
  are Government grantsA project to close the
  digital divide between nations and rural / urban
  areas until now a big challenge globally.

4
AGE - Finalist in Stockholm
Challenge 2008 only Malaysian qualifier

• A finalist in the Stockholm Challenge
  2008...was chosen as a finalist for its
  innovative ways of creating more or less
  paperless classrooms by the effective use of ICT
  in mass education and for finding new ways to
  extend education to remote areas and developing
  countries.Ulla Skidén, Project Manager,
  Stockholm Challenge
  
• Full text/press release

5
Todays problems with rural ICT in mass Education
local and globally

• Current platforms to deliver contents
  - CDs / DVDs expensive not practical
• - Flash / Javas online
  broadband required Yes , both can be very
  elaborate and rich in presentation.. but
  
• Both are Rich mens platforms trying to reach the
  poor men (those without broadband or CDs in
  cities and rural areas)There are just too many
  problems using these !
• AGE is a poor mens platform able to reach the
  rich and poor men.AGE can reach the remotest
  areas in seconds of download for hours of
  animated instructions/usage through slow 56kps
  dial ups or mobile phones.

6
Connecting the entire nation
..to close the digital divides

• To bridge the digital divides, current efforts
  have been to lay out broadband services to rural
  areas.
• Please consider these issues-1. It takes time
  and lots of money to do so.2. Financial tsunami
  is coming can we afford it? 3. Even if money
  is available, it still takes a long time to do
  it.4. Yes, you have broadband coverage, can the
  urban poor afford it? 5. Even if the broadband
  is laid out successfully, can it really work
  for nationwide ICT in education?
• - What would happen, if the whole
  country logs in at exactly 8 a.m. ?
• - Will the server freeze? Like in the
  case of a DDOS attack?
• So while you are hoping for the broadband
  solution, the unconnected remains unconnected
  for a long time even if you have the money.

7
The missing link in ICT in mass Education
local and globally

• Reasons for problems in adoption of ICT in
  Mass Education to reach out to everyone rural
  and urban.
• 1. Paper - universal
  everybody
• 2. MISSING LINK - AGE -
  animated multimedia not so rich but relevant
  - AGE provides that link but
  requires computers That
  allows all electronic media of transmission
  Diskettes, pen drives, CDs, dial
  ups, broadband, mobile
  phones, satellites
• 3. CDs/DVDs limited to
  reachable areas - very rich big sized
• 4. Flash/Java limited to
  broadband areas smaller and nice
• AGE complements all other platforms and does not
  replace any Every platform has its
  usefulness and strengths AGE is about reach
  not rich - it reaches to all

8
Practical Tech Not High Tech

• Quote"In my nearly 14 years of writing about
  information and communications technology
  (ICT), I have never come across an ICT
  company which adopted as sensible and common
  sense approach to technology unquote  
                Surf Malaysia magazine September,
  2008Charles F Moreira  Senior WriterMobile
  World see article

9
What AGE does.1. Easy availability of Contents
to all

• 
  
  
  
  
  
  Digital
  communities
• AGE solves this problem.
• It makes it easy to reach anyone, anywhere,
  anytime and in the mostdifficult situations.
  AGE modules are so small that it takes seconds
  ofdownloads for hours of usage through a slow
  dial up or mobile phone!

10
2. Empowering teachers to the next level.

• To empower teachers from Paper / blackboard
  to --- Digital Classrooms
• --- Digital Tutorials and HomeworkEntire
  homework cycle video generate contents
  students use collate answers into
  Spreadsheets. All paperless instantly !
• Try Authorware, Directors etc are too
  expensiveWe dont think teachers can afford up
  to US3,000/station AGE US35-00 per year
  (normal US50-00), Specially made for simple use
  for any teacher

11
3. Paperless Homework for a greener world

• 1 child go paperless is nothing
• 1 million children going paperless is
  significant
• 10 million children.. That is awesome!Thats
  a lot of trees saved.
• Trees.. Mother of all environment protections.
  Reduce our Carbon footprints only
  with AGE

12
Objective 4 Nationwide data collation of
students performances made easy.

• Entire homework cycle video
• generate contents students use collate
  answers into Spreadsheets. All students
  performance data collected are in digital
  spreadsheets instantly !
• Millions of childrens score sheets is now
  available anytime and anywhere
• This allows teachers to collate the data into
  Spreadsheets.
• This electronic spreadsheets data in turn be
  centralised and analysed by the State or central
  headquarters .
• This powerful capability allows the country
  to take corrective measures to students
  strengths and weaknesses for the ENTIRE COUNTRY!
  (until now an impossible task by even the most
  developed countries)

13
5. Lighter school bags . Cheaper and
flood resistant!

• Text books and exercise books US 100 for
  say 3 years US300. (Flood? Buy all again)
• 1 pen drive 4 gigabytes US10
• Able to store Preschools to upper secondary
  schools tutorials and workbooks13 years of
  school materials in AGE platform !!
• ? Todays heavy
  schoolbags
• Schoolbags of
  future ?
  
  13 years of contents

14
The five impossibles achieved with AGEWith AGE
this is possible.

• 1. Easy availability of multimedia contents
  throughout the country Rural and urban with or
  without broadband , anywhere , anytime, any
  poverty level
• 2.. Empowering teachers to the next level for a
  greener world
• 3. A greener world through paperless homework by
  all schools.
• 4. Abilities to collate students performance
  data for the entire country very easily and
  anytime an impossible task today without huge
  cost.
• 5. No more this but
  this
• With AGE it is very easy done by all
  developing countries.

15
What we have done so far....Go to Modules'
folders Contents list

• Preschools multi languages Chinese, Malay and
  English
• Primary schools UPSR English revisions/tutorials/
  model tests
• Lower Secondary PMR English tutorials/model
  tests
• Chinese Mandarin basic hanyu pinyin tutorials for
  International students, basic conversation and
  words. Primary schools exercises
• Additional Maths SPM Tutorials/model tests
  Forms4/5 O levels
• 400 E-books- instant home libraryAesops'
  fables, children stories, Novels, Sci-fi, Poems,
  Plays, Adventure stories, Short stories,
  Miscellaneous stories.
• Plus many more to come !

16
The Proofs - Running AGE modules...Seconds of
downloads hours of usage small sized files Can
mix AGE with other platformse.g. with Power
point , browser etc

• Note if you want to run AGE here, you must first
  have installed AGE tools to the computer. For
  convenience run videos.
• 4 stroke enginesRun 4 strokes engine in using
  AGE (73k) See folder installed
• Additional Mathematics O level videoRun AGE-
  additional Maths see folder been installed
• Learn Chinese with sound and interactions
  video Run AGE- Chinese sample See folder only if AGE has been installed
• Learning English through Anti-smoking campaign
  video (or anti-drug, anti-AIDs?)Run
  Anti-smoking module See Folder has been installed
• Create instant Digital Homework ( 3 minutes or
  less) video Run in AGE installed
• Display
  non AGE high resolution graphics in
  power point or in standard IE browser
  User can
  then mix AGE with these platforms.
  This PowerPoint page is about 300Kbytes.
  Compare AGEs much more info
  - only 73Kbytes
• 
  

17
Other free software included All links here are
valid only if the software had been installed
first

• Free Wordweb dictionary Very useful when looking
  up for words. Beats any paperbased dictionaries.
  Run Wordweb (valid if installed)
• Speakonia Text to speech software This assists
  students how to pronounce any word...based on
  Microsoft Speech engine. Speakonia Text-to-speech
• Irfanview graphic programsfor teachers to
  convert and maintain their graphics.
• AGE text based Dictionaries/translators
  English, EnglishEnglishChinese with sound support.
  Scientific terms for MalayEnglish plus many
  more to come. Run AGE dictionary

18
Support materials provided free for teachers

• Extra supporting materials continuously supplied
  free for registered teachers/users!
• Thousands of Graphics
• Templates
• Background patterns for easy creation of
  modules.

19
AGE can reach out to all under the most extreme
conditions

• Zone 1 a. urban and suburban with broadband
  Most systems in the world cater to this zone
  only. b. urban and suburban
  without broadband
• Zone 2 - rural with dial ups with direct land
  line
• Zone 3 - rural with satellite links with
  electricity
• Zone 4 rural no links and electricity near to
  telecenterUsing a pen drive students copy
  contents from telecenter and return to village
  
• Zone 5 - rural areas without any link or
  electricity (middleof nowhere but within postal
  service)Zone 1 to 3 AGE easily reach
• Zone 4 and 5. Use a simple pen drive to deliver
  entire years contents. No need to access real
  time. Use solar power with ULPC (ultra low cost
  PCs). 1 pen drive can contain the entire
  requirements from preschools to secondary
  schools. No running cost.

20
How AGE helps out of reach Telecenters

• Currently Telecenters with slow satellite links
  or dial up links cannot get access to good
  multimedia contents Good for emails or general
  browsingTime based would cost money
• With AGE, people can come to telecenters, study
  or access other facilities good interactive
  multimedia modules. When time is up they can
  take the entire contents good enough for 1 or
  more years home. No need to come everyday for
  contents.A thumb drive is all that is needed to
  take contents to and from telecenters. Reach
  out to the most remote areas !

21
What is required to run AGE

• AGE Educator module to read all AGE modules
• AGE E-workbook generator for teachers
• Old or new PCs .. Cheap ULPCs
• Cheap solar power for low powered ULPC
• Delivery any way available in the market. No
  need broadband.

22
AGE ups the ICT usage Index

• With AGE the use of ICT in Education
  wouldincrease greatly when the most rural to the
  most urban schools use AGE daily.
• . Comparable to even the most developed
  countries in the world. (most of them still on
  paper based learning in spite of all the advances
  and installations)
• This is because current technologies used do not
  make it practical to go fully digital.until AGE
  arrives to all developing countries.

23
Other countries...

• Our next stop the world... China , Pakistan,
  Africa, India, Indonesia all developing
  countries where the digital divides are
  most pronounced

24
AGE looking for International partners e.g.

• India North Eastern
  
  Bangladesh
• Pakistan
  
  Nigeria

25
Actively seeking partners in other countries
High Commissions/embassies

• AGE is currently approaching all developing
  countries where the digital divides are most
  pronounced and where the needs are most urgent.
• AGE hopes to uplift education ICT penetrations
  and usage comparable to developed countries....
  Through practical Tech not high Tech,and through
  Environmental friendly initiativesget rid of
  papers, chalks, inks and toners.

26
Meetings with Embassies and High Commission
officials of different countries

• Azerbaijan
  
  Bangladesh
• India
  
  Sri Lanka

27
Meetings with Embassies and High Commission
officials of different countries

• Swaziland
  
  Tanzania
• Ghana
  
  Fiji

28
Our offer to Ministry of Education

• Develop contents for other subjects in AGE
  platform
• Joint venture development with Paperless
  Homework Sdn Bhd We provide the technology
  and MOE provides the funding. With commercial
  capabilities selling to other countries.
• MOE develop their own assisted by Paperless
  Homework Sdn Bhd Training provided by
  Paperless Homework Sdn Bhd

29
Paperless Homework .

• Get teachers in schools to initiate paperless
  homework .Results Teachers would be more
  effectiveTeachers save lots of time correcting
  students answer papersStudents save lots of
  money for canteen.Greener world by using less
  paperTeachers save time collating
  answersTeachers, schools, Department of
  Education and MOE would be able to monitor
  effectively students performances by the day
  instead of yearly. Students would learn much
  faster.Unlimited number of exercises.Practice
  makes perfect !

30
Training the schools/graduates

• We can provide AGE tools and contents for the
  schools. WE can train MOE staff who in turn
  train the teachers. under our peer couching
  program.
• MOE initiates a training program for schools on
  how to effectively use AGE We have encountered
  schools not knowing how even to download.
• Trains the 3,000 fresh graduates on AGE under the
  Stimulus program.They would be gainfully
  employed instead of just looking after the
  schoolnet online system

31
Benefits to Ministry of Education using AGE

• Good complementary solution to existing flashand
  CD Rom platforms
• Abilities to monitor all participating students
• Cost of implementation nationwide very low for
  nationwide rollout
• Use existing infrastructures to implement
• Reach out to all areas by 1. Pre- install entire
  contents in 1 pen drive (5 years of contents)2.
  download through all kinds of speed from dial up
  to broadband3. In absence of Internet
  connection mobile phone can be used.
  No need for satellite links to access
• Easy to develop contents

32
Benefits to Ministry of Education using AGE

• Teachers all over the country can now exchange
  their own contents
• By putting many modules in AGE format that runs
  offline, the online schoolnet would be less
  overloaded.
• Create a greener environment friendly schools by
  going paperless homework.
• Use AGE to convey health messages like Learning
  English through Anti smoking , Anti drugs
  campaigns etc
• Able to make use of Home computers into main
  stream ICT in Education.
• Sell the ready modules globally.

33
AGE is good for students We would show how.

• Students can
• Easily obtain lessons homework . Anytime,
  Anywhere, carry around, any financial
  situationGetting their contents through CDs,
  online schoolnet, dial ups , mobile phones,
  satellites.When this is the case, usage of AGE
  would be nearly as good as books.
• Save money for canteen than paying for papers to
  do homework
• Fast learning modules are available to them
• Language learning easy - like English and
  Mandarin with voice Take it home - when lessons
  cannot be completed in class, students can copy
  and do them at home
• Lighter school bags - becomes a pen drive. ?
  Future schoolbag
  

34
AGE solution for teachersWe would show how.

• Teachers can
• Easily obtain lessons homework from anywhere
  easilyGetting their contents through CDs, online
  schoolnet, dial ups , mobile phones, satellites
  and use in class.
• Pick and choose one topic/subject. Not whole CD
• Create their own digital contents ! Most of the
  time, teachers have their own set of questions to
  ask or contents to teach. No need to wait for CDs
  or online sources.Entire cycle generate
  contents students use collate answers
  into Spreadsheets. All
  paperless No need to shout and read in
  class like English and Mandarin with voice
• Ease Teachers workload even for students with
  old computers,Diskettes or pen drives.
• Teachers Exchange - can share among each other in
  our Teachers exchange Center.

35
AGE solution for schoolWe would show how.

• Schools can
• Increase use of ICT in schools
• Overcome lack of teachers
• Better overall performance by students
• Less pressure on schools to have large computer
  labs since home computers are being used for
  education
• Access very easily contents universally used and
  shared
• Contribute to a greener world.

36
Strengths and Weaknesses of AGE

• To achieve all these, AGE sacrifices certain
  features common in
• high definitions modules found in CDs/Flash.
• Read strengths of AGE
• Read weaknesses of AGE and compare.
• - Like the books, AGE is about learning not
  about winning a beauty contest - AGE is a
  solution to solve the difficult problems of
  digital divides
• Rich cartoons and animations, impress for a
  second. After that what the user wants is
  teach me how to add 1 1 2
  no more slow animations.
• AGE is about instructions for students to
  learn conveniently and universally. It is
  practical tech not high tech.

37
The rich pays for the poor..

• This project allows government to save a lot of
  moneybuilding infra- structures like computers,
  broadband, development of contents , teachers
  etc.
• The poorest can have access today for free.
• The rich supports the entire project. (those who
  can afford computers)
• a 30 seconds video to conclude this
  presentationOur submission for Google
  10100project contest. Who can help the most
  people on earth. We help 6 billions on
  EarthGoogle 10100 - AGE is really small
  practical

38
We invite Ministry of Education

• Develop contents for other subjects in AGE
  platform
• Joint venture development with Paperless
  Homework Sdn Bhd We provide the technology and
  MOE provides the funding. With commercial
  capabilities selling to other countries.
• MOE develop their own assisted by Paperless
  Homework Sdn Bhd. Training provided by
  Paperless Homework Sdn Bhd End of slides.
  Next slide our contacts.

39
Systems requirements for AGE

• AGE runs on WinXPs and below.
  (Vista not supported)Hardware PC486 or
  aboveIdeal will be Ultra Low Cost PCs
  (ULPCs)running WinXPsRuns under DOS/Windows
  environments. Vista/Windows 7 or Linux
  versionexpected to be released in mid 2010

40
For more developments...

• Log in to our web site and find more about our
  developments....www.paperlesshomework.com
• Help us spread the word and raise money for your
  school or charity or yourself while doing it!
  Contact me for 1 to 1 talk.Email
  paperlesshomework_at_yahoo.com Facebook
  paperlesshomeworkSkype
  paperlesshomework