Changes

Dr. Dana Driscoll - Oakland University

Dr. Dana Driscoll - Oakland University

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== Background ==  

== Background ==  

Six months ago, I was approached by John Tierney, who leads efforts for Sugar Labs in educational outreach about a crucial need. This need was his organization’s desire to have a group develop literacy resources housed within the Sugar Operating system. These resources would eventually be available both online and in Sugar for the 2,000,000+ plus children worldwide, primarily in developing nations, using the Sugar OS in their schools. Sugar is the operating system that runs on the XO, the low-cost, low-power laptops distributed to children in developing nations through the One Laptop Per Child Initiative (www.olpc.org). We’ll be learning much more about Sugar and OLPC through this project.

Six months ago, I was approached by John Tierney, who leads efforts for Sugar Labs in educational outreach about a crucial need. This need was his organization’s desire to have a group develop literacy resources housed within the Sugar Operating system. These resources would eventually be available both online and in Sugar for the 2,000,000+ plus children worldwide, primarily in developing nations, using the Sugar OS in their schools. Sugar is the operating system that runs on the XO, the low-cost, low-power laptops distributed to children in developing nations through the One Laptop Per Child Initiative (www.olpc.org). We’ll be learning much more about Sugar and OLPC through this project.

-Dr. Driscoll

-Dr. Driscoll

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== Student Learning Goals ==

== Student Learning Goals ==

 

When we think about the core goals and values of our field, our department, and our university, the intersections of literacy, technology and civic engagement become crucial. This course project asks you, as students to:  

When we think about the core goals and values of our field, our department, and our university, the intersections of literacy, technology and civic engagement become crucial. This course project asks you, as students to:  

== Project Goals ==  

== Project Goals ==  

To develop a set of literacy resources, targeted toward the 3rd – 5th grade level, to be housed on the Sugar OS, and possibly the Internet. To introduce Sugar OS users to the writing process, writing to learn, reflective writing, and rhetorical concepts.

To develop a set of literacy resources, targeted toward the 3rd – 5th grade level, to be housed on the Sugar OS, and possibly the Internet. To introduce Sugar OS users to the writing process, writing to learn, reflective writing, and rhetorical concepts.

== Project Goals for WRT394 ==

== Project Goals for WRT394 ==

A project of this magnitude cannot take place in one semester. As the first class at Oakland University working on the OWL Jr. project, our goal will be to lay the groundwork for future content developers, usability testing, and eventually implementation of this initiative.

A project of this magnitude cannot take place in one semester. As the first class at Oakland University working on the OWL Jr. project, our goal will be to lay the groundwork for future content developers, usability testing, and eventually implementation of this initiative.

== Teams ==  

== Teams ==  

Each team will tackle different aspects of the project—the first I have determined in advance; later aspects will be determined by the class and/or individual teams. After our first month of the project, we will re-evaluate our needs, the progress of the project, and will reassess our current teams.

Each team will tackle different aspects of the project—the first I have determined in advance; later aspects will be determined by the class and/or individual teams. After our first month of the project, we will re-evaluate our needs, the progress of the project, and will reassess our current teams.

== Team 1: Introducing Understanding Sugar Labs and the Sugar OS (software) ==

== Team 1: Introducing Understanding Sugar Labs and the Sugar OS (software) ==

(Focus: Research, Multimedia Content Development)

(Focus: Research, Multimedia Content Development)

• This team will develop materials (a textual guide, in both PDF and HTML, with graphics, and/or video) that introduces potential content developers to Sugar, as both a non-profit organization and also as an operating system. The created materials will be used within the OWL Jr. Project and potentially by Sugar Labs outreach.

This team will develop materials (a textual guide, in both PDF and HTML, with graphics, and/or video) that introduces potential content developers to Sugar, as both a non-profit organization and also as an operating system. The created materials will be used within the OWL Jr. Project and potentially by Sugar Labs outreach.

        o While Sugar has a website that provides this information, as John Tierney has suggested, the website is very, very difficult to navigate and understand. He suggest that this is because they have few documentation specialists on board; the content been geared towards software developers, rather than educators or content developers.

•    While Sugar has a website that provides this information, as John Tierney has suggested, the website is very, very difficult to navigate and understand. He suggest that this is because they have few documentation specialists on board; the content been geared towards software developers, rather than educators or content developers.

        o Monitor educational mailing list  

•    Monitor educational mailing list  

        o You should also include information on why this initiative is important.  

•    You should also include information on why this initiative is important.

 

•    Deliverable: Developed report/video and short presentation to the class.

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== Team 2: Introducing the OLPC Initiative & the XO Laptop (hardware) ==

== Team 2: Introducing the OLPC Initiative & the XO Laptop (hardware) ==

(Focus: Research, Multimedia Content Development)  

(Focus: Research, Multimedia Content Development)  

• This team will develop materials (textual, graphic, and/or video) that introduces

This team will develop materials (textual, graphic, and/or video) that introduces

potential content developers to OLPC—the mission, educational philosophy, vision, and what is happening now. Your team is also responsible for describing the relationship between Sugar and OLPC to users. The created materials will be used within the OWL Jr. Project and potentially by Sugar Labs outreach.

potential content developers to OLPC—the mission, educational philosophy, vision, and what is happening now. Your team is also responsible for describing the relationship between Sugar and OLPC to users. The created materials will be used within the OWL Jr. Project and potentially by Sugar Labs outreach.

        o The OLPC has a website, blog, and wiki that provides most of the information you will need, yet it is hard to understand and navigate. Your job will be to distill this information into a clear and readable introduction.

• The OLPC has a website, blog, and wiki that provides most of the information you will need, yet it is hard to understand and navigate. Your job will be to distill this information into a clear and readable introduction.

        o You should also include information on why this initiative is important. o Deliverable: Developed report/video and short presentation to the class.

 

• You should also include information on why this initiative is important. o Deliverable: Developed report/video and short presentation to the class.

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== Team 3: Investigating the Sugar OS to find a place for OWL Jr. ==

== Team 3: Investigating the Sugar OS to find a place for OWL Jr. ==

 

• This team, with the assistance of two XO laptops and access to the Sugar OS in various formats, will conduct analysis of the Sugar OS and prepare a report detailing their recommendations for how and where to integrate potential OWL Jr. resources into Sugar. Your report will be posted on the Sugar Wiki as well as our own website.

• Deliverable: Short report detailing your findings and suggestions. Presentation to class on your results.

• Communicating with Sugar Labs Technical mentor (TBD).

        o Communicating with Sugar Labs Technical mentor (TBD).

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== Team 4: Investigating the Common Core and Literacy Needs ==

== Team 4: Investigating the Common Core and Literacy Needs ==

(Focus: Education, Ethnographic Research, User Needs Assessment)

This team is responsible for investigating basic information on Sugar users, including their needs, wants, and current ways of using the Sugar OS. TO do this, they will need to interview and/or observe teachers (and possibly students) using Sugar in schools (possibly locally, but certainly with our contacts in NY, ND, and possibly Dominican Republic), interview the Sugar Labs Educational Outreach Director (John Tierney), and investigate common core standards for literacy education that can be applied to this project.

• This team is responsible for investigating basic information on Sugar users, including their needs, wants, and current ways of using the Sugar OS. TO do this, they will need to interview and/or observe teachers (and possibly students) using Sugar in schools (possibly locally, but certainly with our contacts in NY, ND, and possibly Dominican Republic), interview the Sugar Labs Educational Outreach Director (John Tierney), and investigate common core standards for literacy education that can be applied to this project.

• Deliverable: A report with your findings (posted to website and Sugar Wiki) and presentation to class with your results.

• Coordination with our Sugar Labs Educational Mentor John Tierney.

        o Coorination with our Sugar Labs Educational Mentor John Tierney.

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== Team 5: The Face of the Project ==

== Team 5: The Face of the Project ==

(Focus: Web development, Graphic Design, Multimedia)

Team 5 is our web development and graphics team. This project needs a virtual home in which to live, and Team 5’s job is to develop that home using rhetorical web design principles. We’ll also need a logo and some snazzy graphics, and depending on the abilities of our team members, a short introductory video to promote the project.

• Team 5 is our web development and graphics team. This project needs a virtual home in which to live, and Team 5’s job is to develop that home using rhetorical web design principles. We’ll also need a logo and some snazzy graphics, and depending on the abilities of our team members, a short introductory video to promote the project.

• Present the class with viable options for a public face to this project (e.g. a website connected to a blog, a Facebook page, etc.).

        o Present the class with viable options for a public face to this project (e.g. a website connected to a blog, a Facebook page, etc.).

• Deliverable: Short presentation on options for a public face of the project with negatives/positives. Presentation due September 20th.

        o Deliverable: Short presentation on options for a public face of the project with negatives/positives. Presentation due September 20th.

• Develop a website to house the content that other teams are producing. o Create a logo for the project.