Academic Technology in Delhi

One reason to visit Delhi in mid-April was professional -- to meet with staff at the American Embassy School and see their use of interactive whiteboards and other new academic technology. AES is of course a beautiful school with new buildings and a good-size integral campus, with faculty apartments in the same high-security compound, all air-conditioned, of course. And no hills to climb!
Here is a photo of Barb testing out the interactive whiteboard in a first-grade class session. We also saw an interesting India-built combination projector/computer that we will recommend for purchase at Woodstock.

But next to the school, in the neighboring block of formerly empty ground, is a shantytown.







The school staff have sponsored some community service efforts there, including the construction of the one permanent building, used as a sewing center -- and now also as an internet station for kids.





The innovative Hole in the Wall project has installed 3 computers on the outside wall of this community center.
(The Hole in the Wall project was featured in a PBS story as well.)

The kids love it, of course.




The neighborhood location of this particular project -- its close proximity to the embassy -- make it a regular stop on the itinerary of visiting U.S. government officials. By chance, when we visited, some official was due to stop by -- we didn't wait for him, but many residents were patiently waiting.