Children try out OLPC laptops in village in Kien Svay, Cambodia
The new OLPC laptops got their first test at my home in Kien Svay District. Three local children (Poline, 13; Kusal, 11, and Treleak, 2,) tried out the laptops Saturday and took to them right away! The Jigsaw Puzzle and taking photos are the most popular activities so far. By Sunday, the older kids were making small videos. They are eager to try some additional programs that I’m not yet familiar with. Anyone got instructions for TamTamJam?
I am encouraged by how much the children enjoy the laptops and how much they can figure out on their own — even though most of the English is unfamiliar and they haven’t spent any time with computers. It’s a real credit to the MIT designers of the OLPC laptops.
Meanwhile, I am settling in and enjoying my beautiful view of the Mekong. As soon as I line up a translator, I will start seeking advice around the village for the best way to set up a drop-in center for kids who want to play with the laptops.
Hi, Michele,
RE: Tam Tam. I think the most straightforward of the three flavors of Tam Tam to start with is called Tam Tam Mini. If it has a lot of squares with icons of different instruments that you click on to play, that’s the one.
It’s nice because you can generate sequences of sounds without putting the “punch cards” together like in one of the other versions of Tam Tam.
Gary
By: Gary Greenberg on January 14, 2009
at 2:31 am