CISC 367

Service Learning with the XO Laptop

Course Goals

• Learn a new language

• Produce educational software for XO laptop

• Develop sense of real work environment

• Improve communication/presentation skills

Learning Objectives: XO for Education

• Awareness

• challenges/strategies/success of technology in education

• learning styles differ and how to target each of those learning styles through software

• Abilities

• apply the theory of collaborative learning to the specs of software

• use and teach others how to use an XO laptop and its activities

Learning Objectives:Programming

• XO Proficiency

• Python

• Linux

• Graphical User Interfaces (GUI)

• Compatibility

• XO and emulator

• Efficiency

CCCS and UD

• Lasting relationship

• Since January 2009

• Projected through 2012

Class Format

• Teams of 4-5

• Peer leaders

• Course wiki page

• Team pages

• Share code/questions

• Assignment dates

• Journals

• Meeting with teacher clients

• Class Presentations

Introduction to the XO Laptop

Introduction to the XO Laptop

• “One laptop Per Child” OLPC-XO

• Cheap

• Robust

• Network capabilities (meshing)

• Limitations

• Speed

• User documentation

• Storage space

• Size

Developing Learning Software

• Common goals among teams

• follow teacher priorities

• learning objectives

• ease of reporting scores

• Common Theme

• Quiz Software

Math Mania

usr/bin

Who is Math Mania For?Maryann Buchanan7th grade math

What is Math Mania?Interactive Learning ApplicationAids teacherGo green

Developed for XO Python

Steve AlperGreg SimonsLegare SmithZach Fetterman

Purpose

• Aid Miss Buchanan with activities

• Automatically graded

• Save paper

• Auto quiz generation

• Reinforce student mathematic skills

• More entertaining for students

Math Mania

Unique Features/Challenges

• Parsing

• GoogleDocs

• Modularity/Upgradability

• Email integration

Possible Enhancements

• Include all chapters from book

• Incorporate random problem generation for all

• More interactive GUI