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Educational Software To Donate With Laptop?
SlartibartfastJunior writes "I will be sending my four-year-old laptop to a school in Uganda this fall. I plan to load up an older version of Windows (or something free), and I need suggestions - what should I load on it? I need suggestions for educational games, educational software, etc. that won't drain my battery too much (since the computer will only be able to recharge at night), won't require a CD (since my drive doesn't work 80% of the time), and won't be too America-centered (most of these children have never been more than ten miles out of their own villages, and wouldn't understand "Oregon Trail"). Also, any great ideas on where I can acquire copies of this software?"
Celestia rocks. It's a free (GPL program/public domain data) program where you fly arond space and see stars and planets and stuff. Educational, fun, and free!
samrolken
The OpenCD is the obvious choice. Mod this down if it's already been listed.
CB
free ipod and free gmail!
Since they will know what they want on the laptop, whether they can source it locally, or even if they want a laptop.
I'm not saying they won't want computers, but you shouldn't assume that they might not be better off with the money you get selling it on ebay. Even a 100 bucks / euros / whatever could buy a lot of other teaching materials that may be more needed.
no taxation without representation!
old versions of Civ and Sim City ... are not American centric
In Uganda "Sim City" would be an extremely unfamiliar game, completely out-of-step with the realities of life even in Kampala.
There is no concept of "urban planning" in most African countries; it might not be "American-centric" but the game is highly prejudiced toward a western mindset.
Sigs cause cancer.
Depending on the grade level of the kids, go with something like number crunchers.
... and of course good old tux typing
Childsplay
OFSET
Tux Typing
and that was just in 5 minutes on Source Forge
"He hoped and prayed that there wasn't an afterlife. Then he realized there was a contradiction here and merely hoped.
I would include a compiler or interpreter so the kids can learn how to do some programming. That way, they are actually learning to use the computer "as a computer" and not just for running apps. For example, the qbasic interpreter is a lot of fun to play with and you can write some neat little programs with it.
Project gutenberg makes there collection available as isos. Burn a couple copies of each and bundle with the laptop.
Bang: you've just donated a library not an obsolet laptop!
Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
best matlab clone out there
I am very familiar with Uganda b'se it my mother country. One thing to note is depending on the location of the school and what type of school it is the software needs will be totally different. If you can give more info like the name of the school and where it is located in Uganda i can give u more useful data about the major requirements of different schools.
If you go the windows route (which frankly I don't recommend) I'd go with OpenOffice, TheOpenCD and Gnuwin II for lots of free software.
Dave.
Hey, don't they say math is the universal language?
I need suggestions for educational games
I taught computer literacy in Ghana, West Africa (see my site), and I didn't find much use for games, educational or otherwise. For one, such software usually assumes a native-level English language ability, which I doubt any student in Uganda will have. Also, you have to keep in mind that most students there may never have even seen a computer before. They will likely be intimidated even by the most basic educational software.
You know what program my students really loved? Notepad! None of them had ever used a computer, so the chance just to type their names was a huge thrill. It helped them overcome their fear of the computer and move on to more advanced programs...such as Minesweeper. (Seriously! They loved it.) They also loved Paint for similar reasons; it was a great way for them to learn how to use the mouse. So, instead of fancy games or educational software, I recommend supplying a simple typing tutor with your laptop. The students will likely benefit from and enjoy it far more than any game.
However, I did find that certain educational titles such as The Way Things Work are helpful as visual aids for science lessons. They do not provide much benefit when used by students alone (again, because of the language barrier and intimidation), but when used by a teacher as part of a group lesson, they can be quite useful.
any great ideas on where I can acquire copies of this software?
Half.com has lots of stuff available second-hand. I've picked up software there for one or two dollars per title.my drive doesn't work 80% of the time
Then perhaps there is no point donating this laptop. Without a CD-ROM, it will be nearly impossible for the recipient to add new software, upgrade the OS, etc. And I doubt they will have the ability to fix or replace what is likely a proprietary part. I strongly suggest getting the drive replaced before sending it, or at least providing an external one as an alternative. (You can get second-hand ones pretty cheap.) Otherwise, the gift you are sending could be just a liability.
TrevorYou can try to find a lot of great and classic applications that are not the size of a full length movie. Check out Abandonware.
Tux Paint isn't a teaching tool, but it contains educational aspects. It's already been translated into 40+ languages, and we're always happy to accept more!
:^)
Other stuff from Tux4Kids would be good, as well. All/most of it is cross-platform and, of course, open source.
-bill!