The ELDER Project

The Educational Linux Distribution Electronic Resource (ELDER) Project is a grassroots community movement that dedicates itself to providing curriculum ready, user friendly, supported and most importantly FREE educational software tools for teachers, parents and students.   ELDER will also include lesson plans and video tutorials, so that these tools can be implemented with ease and used anywhere, anytime. Finally, ELDER will forever stay free and open source – so that anyone can contribute, have access to, and improve for generations to come!

About the Developer

  

 

Michael Mak is a Bachelor of Health Science Student in the Global Health Specialization from McMaster University.  He is also part of the One Laptop Per Child project, an international program that seeks to provide the world’s poorest children with rugged, low cost, low power connected laptop to create self-empowered learning and connectivity.  With the determined belief that education is the key social determinant for health, Michael with Keeywatinook Okimakanak (Northern Chiefs), K-NET and the Kwayaciiwin Education Resource Center created the ELDER project in hope to not only provide greater educational opportunities for students in remote and rural communities, but to also make learning more interactive and most of all enjoyable for students across Canada. 

More than just a Computer Project - A Doorway to Social Change

Children are avid and skilled explorers of technology – it always amazes me what they know or what they can do with a laptops, cell phones, mp3 devices or even the internet. Educators recognize this ability as well, and there have been multiple movements to get computers into classrooms including Computers for Schools (CFS), Renewed Computer Technology, and even One Laptop Per Child.

However, having computers and hardware is only one part of the solution. Without the appropriate software or “learning environment”, it is difficult for children to be fully engaged and curious about the wonders and abilities of technology. Computers in classrooms are not only meant for using Microsoft Word, PowerPoint presentations, or surfing the web – they can be used constructively to improve literacy, numeracy, and even teach beginner’s computer programming!

With ELDER, I hope to provide educators and students with the educational software tools necessary to transform their classroom computer into a healthy learning environment where everyone can learn, create and share for life. The ELDER project also extends beyond software – it is about creating better access to educational and job opportunities, creating a medium for health information dissemination and health literacy for youth, finding ways to preserve First Nations culture and language, and providing tools to direct attention to other social determinants of health such as poverty and inadequate housing conditions. ELDER is community owned and with generous support by K-NET, we hope to see the software delivered or installed in communities which request it. Most of all ELDER will remain free to everyone and open source, so that everyone can contribute, have access to, and improve for generations to come!

ELDER is a project for everyone, by everyone. I sincerely hope that it can contribute to the learning, success and health of northern students, schools and communities in the future.

Unlock educational opportunities with ELDER today!

Project Goals

The aim of ELDER is to provide educators, parents and students with learning systems that contains the best free software available in education and child-friendly entertainment. Currently, the ELDER project is working to:

• Install open-source educational software in interested rural and remote schools in Ontario
• Create lesson plans for teachers and video tutorials on how to install and use software
• Develop, promote and distribute the Portable Learning Environment (PLE), a USB that carries children’s software that can be easily booted from one computer to another
• Explore Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP) which allows school to provide pupils access to computers witout purchasing or upgrading to expensive desktop machines.

What is Linux?

Linux is an operating system for computers – an alternative to the Windows or Mac OS that may already exist on your computer. However, the main difference is that Linux is open source, which means that the source code (the language that the operating system is written in) is publicly available for inspection and even improvement. This means that Linux and its programs can be distributed freely for everyone to enjoy!

Why Use Linux?

In Windows or Mac OS X, one would have to pay for most software – and if you wanted to install it on multiple machines, you would need to purchase a licence to do so. When using Linux, there are no licences or fees. What’s more is that there are hundreds of great educational software, games and other useful applications available – all you would have to do is download it and Linux will install it for you!

Why should you use Linux?

 

 

 

What is a "Distribution"?

Just like how there are different flavours of ice-cream available, there are also different “flavours”, or “distributions” of Linux available for use. Some Linux distributions are light-weight, designed specifically for older computers but with maximal performance. Some other distributions include more comprehensive collections of software applications, and also support a wide variety of hardware devices. The ELDER project currently utilizes the Edubuntu/Ubuntu, SUGAR, and QIMO distributions. 

Ubuntu

Ubuntu is a computer operating system based on Linux and distributed as free and open source software. It is named after the Southern African ethical principle Ubuntu which means “humanity towards others”. Ubuntu has a strong focus on usability and ease of installation, as well as an extensive list of installable programs.

Normally, Ubuntu would have to be installed by deleting the existing operating system, but the ELDER project utilizes a program called Wubi that allows users to choose between Ubuntu or Windows. That way, everyone can get the best of both worlds!

For more information regarding Ubuntu, please go to their homepage: http://www.ubuntu.com/

For help and specific how-to for Ubuntu, please visit their community documentation at: http://www.ubuntu.com/community

Edubuntu

Edubuntu is a derivative of the Ubuntu operating system designed for use in classrooms inside schools, homes and communities. It contains a multitude of educational tools, activities, and learning software – in fact most of the software on the ELDER site (http://meeting.knet.ca/mp19/mod/book/view.php?id=2515) are available on Edubuntu! Edubuntu also runs well on older/refurbished computers.

Edubuntu also has the ability to run Linux Terminal Server Project (LTSP), which allows many people to simultaneously use the same computer. This technology is important as it allows the school to provide pupils access to computers without purchasing or upgrading expensive desktop machines. ELDER is currently working on establishing this in school computer labs across Northwestern Ontario.

Edubuntu is already a hit with the computer lab in Pikangikum! It has been installed on 10 computers, and students are already exploring its amazing possibilities!

The ELDER project recommends that Edubuntu be installed on school desktops, so that educators and students can have access to the variety of educational software available on Edubuntu.

See more of the Pikangikum Experience at: http://meeting.knet.ca/mp19/mod/book/view.php?id=2521

To learn more information about Edubuntu: http://edubuntu.org/

To learn more about the Linux Terminal Server Project, please visit: http://ltsp.org/

For the Introduction to Edubuntu please visit: http://doc.ubuntu.com/edubuntu/edubuntu/handbook/C/index.html

QIMO

Qimo (pronounced “kim-oh”, as in “Eskimo”) is a kid-friendly desktop environment that comes preinstalled with educational activities for kids including TuxPaint, Laby, GCompris, Tuxmath, and Tuxtyping. There are large colourful icons and menus that can help young users navigate easily through it, and it is aimed for early elementary school-aged children, ages 3 and up. Unlike Edubuntu, Qimo not only targets a separate age group but can also be easily installed on a separate stand alone computer for classrooms and homes.

QIMO is already a great hit with the kids in Pikangikum!  It has been used on a smartboard (below) and runs well on older/refurbished computers!

 

Learn more about ELDER in Pikangikum at:

http://meeting.knet.ca/mp19/mod/book/view.php?id=2521&chapterid=876&edit=0

To find out more information relating to QIMO, please visit http://www.qimo4kids.com/

SUGAR

SUGAR is an award-winning desktop environment for children 5 to 12 originally designed for the non-profit One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) Project. Today, Sugar is used by nearly one-million children worldwide 25 languages in over 40 countries. Unlike other desktop environments, Sugar does not use the “desktop”, “folder”, and “window” metaphor. Instead, Sugar’s default full-screen activities require users to focus on one program at a time. Sugar also has a unique feature called the journal, which automatically saves the every program session and allows them to use an interface to pull their past works by date, activity used or file type.

SUGAR contains hundreds of “activities” (or small educational programs) as well as a built-in collaboration system where students can chat and work on activities together. Through SUGAR, there is an emphasis on learning through doing and debugging: more engaged learners are able to tackle authentic programs.

OLPC Canada headed by The Belinda Stronach Foundation utilizes the SUGAR learning platform, with specific Aboriginal content. ELDER is currently working to see if this content can be transferred to Sugar on a Stick, a usb stick with a loadable sugar environment so that community schools with computers can have access without an XO laptop.

To learn more about SUGAR, please visit: http://www.sugarlabs.org/

To learn more about OLPC Canada, please visit www.olpccanada.com