It's Time to Compare Different Project Structures & Approaches

I think there is a great need to compare our approach with others to find out what works best and what techniques are most effective.

Here are some things I think should be compared when looking at the impact and effectiveness of computer projects in developing nations.

Computer Project Features

SPONSORING ORGANIZATION

• started by a large international organization like OLPC vs. started by a national government agency or national organization vs. started by a small autonomous nonprofit like L2L
• short-term involvement by volunteers vs. long-term involvement
• volunteers with little or no on-the-ground experience working in communities in developing nations vs. volunteers with some experience vs. volunteers with extensive experience

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION & INVOLVEMENT

little or no community preparation before deployment vs. extensive community organization and training prior to deployment
no individual or community investment before deployment vs. participant and comunity investment of time and money required before deployment

PROJECT STRUCTURE

designed by an organization outside the community vs. designed by participants
no explicit governing system vs. written governing documents and contracts

LAPTOP OWNERSHIP & RATIO

child ownership vs. school ownership with a laptop check-out system for home use vs. school ownership with no laptop use at home
1:1 laptop-to-child ratio vs. 1:4 laptop-to-child ratio

TRAINING

• no teacher training vs. one-time or short-term teacher training vs. periodic teacher training over an extended period vs. frequent or ongoing in-service teacher training
• no training of children by sponsoring organization vs. limited training of children by sponsor vs. frequent or extensive training of children by sponsor 

 

LOCAL CONDITIONS

There are a number of non-project factors to take into consideration because some deployemnt techniques may work better in one situation but not others. It would also be helpful to determine which if any factors can predict success of a computer project.  Here are some suggestions of variables to study:
 

COMMUNITY STRUCTURE

• urban vs. rural
large community vs. small community
easy access vs. difficult access
regular contact with people outside the community vs. infrequent to no contact with people outside the community
economic status

LOCAL LEADERSHIP

COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION

EDUCATION SYSTEM

• qualifications, skills & abilities of teachers
• teachers' ability and willingness to learn new techniques
• class size
• teaching techniques
• teaching resources

INFRASTRUCTURE AVAILABLE

• on an electrical grid vs. not
• phone service vs. no phone service
• internet vs. no internet