The Freedom School Project
Members: Sumeet Shah, Patricia Valoy, Kristin Swartzlander, Katie Simon, Paul Tsuji, Andrew Stern
Background of the St. Anns Freedom School
60+ Freedom Schools exist nationwide Started by the Civil Rights movement in Mississippi St. Anns Church in the Mott Haven section of the South Bronx houses our Freedom School Mott Haven, the neighborhood housing St.Anns Church is the poorest congressional district in the nation
Background of the St. Anns Program
Private after-school and summer program funded by the church A very small school with about 10 teachers for 100 children The focus is on keeping kids off of the street while helping to complete homework and occupy with physical and educational activities The current lab contains outdated computers that were either refurbished or donated. Most of the lab is not functional

The Problems

School hardware / software is very outdated Lack of teachers knowledgeable in technology Students have no experience in technology Shortage of space; 100 students during a 3 hour time period Lack of staff for supervision Setup of the lab is disorganized Little or no visual / auditory stimulation
Underprivileged Schools and Internet Access
Statistics and Information
Over 75% of the children attending the Freedom School qualify for a reduced price lunch The graph represents the move to integrate Internet access into underprivileged schools This graph, however, does not represent the quality of computers or the degree of access This represents a trend in which schools in wealthier areas generally have more access to better technology

Our Goals

Over these past weeks, our goals have changed.
At first, our goal was to create a technology dream lab However, after the midterm presentation, our budget was cut down from an unlimited budget to no budget at all

Our Present Goals

To create a long-term (years) plan for integrating technology at the school that would be affordable with grants and other financial help Make this plan as efficient as possible Involve technologies that will teach kids the basics of different areas of study Create an opportunity for the children to expand on their extracurricular interests (art, film, music, etc.)

Our Objectives

Technology Lab
Applicable to Extracurricular Interests

Cost-Efficient

Flexibility in Educational Uses

Easily Implemented

Space-Efficient
Employ Art, Music, and Film programs
Utilize current furniture and resources
Acquire free software and cost effective laptops
Use a variety of Software applications aimed for education
Provide physical devices for hands-on learning
Educate instructors in Columbia Summer Program
Using Laptops Instead of Desktops
iMovie and iPhoto interactive software

Apple iBook platform

Apple iBook software

Lego Robotics and KNex Structures
Simple, Kid-Friendly instructors and applications

Using a Wireless Network

Constrictions/Guidelines
The age group USED to be a constriction; The School at Columbia University disproves this Small room, 625 square feet Limited staff to maintain, supervise and teach in the lab Schedule involves 100 students in a 3 hour time period Classes have no computer/technology experience Conflicting views on the project Budget is undetermined (in the next years)

Major Tasks

Visiting the Freedom School Touring Sony Wonder Visiting The School at Columbia University Researching products for use in the lab Assessing value of products and deciding which to recommend for the lab Developing a floor plan for the lab

Gantt Chart

Week 4 5
Assemble design team Prepare for client meeting First client meeting Identify problems Speak with Alex Spearman

Speak with Mother Martha

Communicate with Al Colella Identify alternatives Record progress Videotape activities Visit Freedom School Obtains dimensions of space and inventory
Contact Intel Analyze dimensions and inventory
Contact the Columbia School
Visit the Columbia School
Visit Sony Wonder Develop preliminary design
Prepare and revise draft proposal
Submit proposal and get feedback
Develop a detailed design
Prepare final design Prepare draft final report Revise and submit final report
Prepare presentation Make presentation Make and edit Final Video Submit Final Video COMPLETION

Final Deliverable

Floor plan of lab List of products for the lab - Software - Hardware - Educational technology toys - Other technologies Contact sheet for next team working on the Freedom School project

Our Research and Ideas

The School at Columbia University, Shawn Mishler Intel Computer Clubhouse Network

Alternative Solutions

During the course of this project, we contemplated these options. Creating a LAN (local area network) within the school Creating a second floor to create more space Selling the current computers for funding

Our Hardware

Apple iBook Wireless Mobile Lab - 20 iBook laptops - air port wireless router - laser printer - Laptop cart - 5 free HP PhotoSmart cameras
Smart Technologies Smart Board
KNex Building Kits - The Secret of the Wampus - Comprehensive Bridges Activity Cards - Wheels and Ramps - Levers and Pulleys - Building Bridges Set - Gears and Cranks - 50 Model Building Set - 425 Piece Super Value Tub
Lego Mindstorms Robotics Inventions Kit RCX Microcomputer CD-ROM Software Contructopedia 3 Guided Challenges 6 Pro Challenges USB Infrared Transmitter
Sony Cyber-shot digital camera, model DSC-P41, 4.1 MP, 3x Zoom, SmartZoomTM Sony Handycam camcorder, model DCR-TRV460, 20x Optical/990x Digital Zoom, 2.5 LCD Touch Panel display

Our Software

All iBook computers come complete with Mac OS X operating systems, Microsoft Office 2004, and iLife software, including: iTunes, iMovie, iPhoto, iDVD, and GarageBand Extra Software:
Gold Medal Math (EdVenture) Jump Start Phonics (Circuit City) Mission Impossible: World Geography (EdVenture) Roller Typing (EdVenture)

Our Ideal Lab

Technology does not hinder the flexibility of the classroom Stored away when not in use not a distraction Wireless promotes mobility, saves space Apple iBook platform education-oriented Smartboard interactive, visual, auditory stimulation saves space Help kids build on their own interests (cameras, camcorders, various film and music programs) Educational games Lego Robotics / KNex teaches basic concepts in building, engineering, computer programming

The Original Dimensions

The NEW Labin 3D
NOTE: The cubes are desks, but we plan to use the existing tables

Architectural Philosophy

The lab environment for interaction, development Arrangement focused on Smartboard Each student has his own realm of development in the form of a station Mobility = program flexibility Wall colors cant be distracting, need to add warmth to the environment

Budget

iBook Wireless Mobile Lab $19,999 KNEX sets - $317.92 Lego Mindstorms Robotics invention system collection $230 each * 2 sets = $460 Smart Board (71 inch rear projection model from Smart Technologies) ~$20,000 Cameras (Sony Cyber-shot DSC-P41) - $179.99 each * 5 = $899.95 Camcorders (Sony Digital Handycam DCRTRV460) $349.99 each * 5 = $1749.95 Extra software ~$80 per computer = ~$800 TOTAL = ~$45,000

Continuity Plan

Information on all equipment: document Product manuals should be filed away or kept on site for reference Organize a policy for taking things home Professional Development of Teachers: at Columbia Universitys summer program (TIP); contact Mr. Vlcek
Where do other groups go from here?
Contact info: next slide Most important task: Find organizations for funding and come up with a proposal Funding option: a proposal to Dean Galil? Develop a curriculum / syllabus for technology education

All Contact Information

Name Jack McGourty Dana Vlcek Position Associate Dean Director, Comp Sci Dept Teaching Assistant, Gateway Lab Director of Technology, The School at Columbia University Educational Director, The Freedom School, South Bronx Chapter Administrative Officer, The Freedom School Home Phone Work Phone 212-854-4814 212-854-8533 Cell Phone Email jm723@columbia.edu vlcek@cs.columbia.edu

Promiti Dutta

212-853-2206

212-854-9637

pd2049@columbia.edu

Shawn Mishler

212-851-4292

646-239-1049

smishler@theschool.columbia.edu

Alex Spearman

718-585-5632

718-213-2793

al_spearman@yahoo.com

Al Colella

401-253-4905

acolella1@juno.com

Team Process and Development
Our group overall was very hard-working, albeit that the number of obstacles in our project were numerous Members kept looking out for each other Personal problems Conflicts with our client and our solutions Budget problem: overall frustrating, but group was determined and solved problem Group computation assignment Two researched, two analyzed, and the final two graphed Learned about others talents while working Katies mastery of Matlab, Pauls art with the camera

Thank-Yous

Alex Spearman and Al Colella of the Freedom School Dana Vlcek, Director, Comp. Sci. Dept. Jack McGourty, Associate Dean Shawn Mishler, Technology Dir., The School at Columbia University All my group members for all their help and support