A new scheme titled “One Laptop per Child” will be launched soon by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology academics.
Each of the lime-green-and-white laptop under the “One Laptop per Child” scheme, which is kid-friendly, cost US $150. The objective behind the scheme is to reduce digital divide in the underdeveloped regions of the world and also to promote education through the use of ICTs.
Adventurer Robert Swan in his polar expedition will soon launch the world's first online education center in Antarctica.
Swan thinks that his small center, which is built on Russian base, can offer children a real-time glimpse of life on the ice. This scheme is important since it is International Polar Year. Images and information from the base can be seen on http://www.2041.com.
Excelsoft Technologies, Mysore based e-Learning solutions provider announced that the company would set up its subsidiary in Hyderabad, India.
The new subsidiary called Huper LDT will focus on corporate e-Learning solutions and develop instructionally designed content. Huper LDT will create Simulations and Mobile Platform based content for cross-section of corporate employees including senior management, project managers, new entrants and sales force and marketing professionals. Huper LDT will also provide the back-end development for creating animations and provide e-Learning content to the Middle East countries. Huper LDT has signed a deal with US based company, Xora to provide consulting services in the area of performance oriented curriculum design. Huper LDT will assist Xora in speeding up the training time and close the performance gaps of new employees before hitting the work floor. Xora is a solution provider for tracking workforce through the mobile phones.
STMicroelectronics has tied up with BITS Pilani and IIT Delhi to set up research and innovation lab in BITS-Pilani and IIT Delhi, India. The main aim of the agreement is to combine ST's electronic skills and capabilities with educational and research talents of the two institutes.< ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
The main objective of the partnership is to provide VLSI designing and embedded systems knowledge among students by undertaking research projects with involvement of faculty, students and ST representatives. The research area would be focused on analog and mixed-signal design in the area of VLSI, image speech pattern recognition, sensory organ modeling and digital data protection in algorithm research, along with generic IP blocks for embedded solutions. ST's lab would be equipped with necessary hardware, software tools and reference boards and technology parameters for successful execution of projects identified areas. The Institutes will provide space on the campus and assign a faculty member to participate in partnership activities. Students and researchers will work on research projects defined by ST and the Institute.
Parliamentary Information Technology Committee (PITCOM) and e-Skills UK, the Sector Skills Council for IT and Telecoms have launched the 'Made IT Happen', a new competition for primary school students who are using technology to help their school or community. < ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
The UK-wide challenge will provide ICT resources to schools and demonstrate within the national curriculum. Primary schools across the UK are using ICT not just to enhance learning and extra-curricular programmes, but to help young people acquire vital skills for the future. The competition will include Regional and National winners, each school will receive a cash prize and a chance to visit Parliament in Westminster to have tea with MPs and meet other winning schools.
Recently, the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Hyderabad, India has completed the development of a product 'End System Suraksha Framework' (EnSAFE).< ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
C-DAC has also established an e-Suraksha concept lab for testing and developing various security solutions. The lab is used for training systems administrators and information security officers from the various user agencies. The team from the expertise developed in the area of internals of operating systems and networking technologies has designed a career oriented post-graduate diploma in Systems Software Development (DSSD). The e-Learning technologies will emphasis on content authoring tools in local languages, enterprise security with focus on end system security and language computing solutions specifically for Telugu. The company is also working in the area of wireless sensor networks (WSN). It proposes to offer a certificate course in Securing Networking and Systems (CSNS) as a participating institute under the Information Security Education Awareness programme of the Department of Information Technology. It is also planning to offer a course in analog and digital VLS design and advanced business computing. C-DAC is planning to provide e-Sikshak tool to offer on-line courses in information security and software process management.
MindLeaders has partnered with Connecting Rural Ohio to offer e-Learning courses in rural Ohio areas. These two organizations will use e-Learning as a tool to teach rural Ohioans. < ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
MindLeaders, an e-Learning and Organisational development corporation has collaborated with the Connecting Rural Ohio (CRO), a grant-funded program lead by The Ohio State University Office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) and the Ohio Supercomputer Center to bring high tech skills and business training to remote areas of Ohio. Initially, the courses would be available for residents of Vinton, Ohio, located in Gallia County. Residents can also access to the Ohio Learning Network's “E 4 ME” course, a free course designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of online and distance learning. The CRO project will link instruction and learning, teachers and students, schools, homes and business through broadband Internet connectivity. MindLeaders' e-Learning course library includes technical desktop, web design, professional development, certification and career development courses, which would be delivered online. Additionally, it will also allow user in remote areas to stay current on business skills, learn new software programs and prepare for job interviews, without commuting to a college, university or training seminar. MindLeaders e-Learning courses cover topics that could help program participants get better jobs.
Indian companies are taking lessons of e-Learning from worldwide companies.
Infosys, a leading software company is using e-Learning to provide training programmes to its 66000 employees located across 36 centres worldwide. Indian firms are busy to adopt e-Learning facility to spread its wings among different segments of business. e-Learning is a web-based training using techniques like animations, visualisations and using a lot of creativity in building training programmes. This helps the people to get trained at their own place based on their own convenient time when they are free from their day-to-day work. NIIT, is providing e-Learning solutions to various private and government organizations, including, ICICI Bank, MSource, the external affairs ministry, the Rajasthan Government, Reliance, State Bank of India and Wipro. According to M P Ravindra, senior vice president and Head, Education & Research, Infosys Technologies, e-Learning allows to deploy structured content and makes simple for the Education & Research department to provide the latest and up-to-date training to employees.
Now, Indian students are taking new steps to be connected with their faculty and teachers through Internet Radio on the campus. Students at the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, India have found a new way to be connected through e-Radio on the campus.< ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Students are using the radio in the campus limits for communication, entertainment and educational purposes. The institute is using the local area network (LAN), which has the bandwidth of 100Mbps in the campus. The total investment to set up a radio station is around INR 55,000 with a personal computer, a headphone and speaker set. Currently, there are more than 50K Radio Stations, which are broadcasting over the Internet. According to Bhuvana Ramalingam, director communication, ISB, e-Radio encourages students to exchange information on varied areas, discuss issues and keep everyone informed on the companies, which come to the campus.
The Mennonite Centre, UK where students are using mobile phones to learn English language. < ?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
Students are using mobile phones to download English grammar lesson and answer aseries of multiple choice, true or false questions. Athabasca University, a long-distance post-secondary school, created the cellphone lessons for those wanting to learn English as a second language (ESL). Students from anywhere in world can learn English grammar, through their cell phones.
