On Aug 12, 2008, at 11:56 PM, Edward Cherlin wrote:
Can you provide details of your solar installations? We want to understand cost per user, how reliable solar power is (depending on weather), and other issues.
Our cost with shipping and duty to Nicaragua was $39 USD per solar panel. They're currently held up at the airport for "processing", so we likely won't have field use of them for a week or two.
I have one myself and have tried it several times. In direct sunlight, it powers a completely depleted laptop in real-time (with full screen brightness), but when a cloud passes over, the laptop turns off. (Not exaggerating.) It's really important to get a little charge going first to cover the "cloud time". Charging is slower than an AC cord ... haven't fully charged a laptop with the panel yet ... my guess is that it'd take about twice as long as AC in full sunlight. As for how we plan to use them, none of us really know yet (it's a pilot). A full class with solar panels isn't likely unless they meet outside. Having lots of laptops charge in the playground for four hours is also problematic.
You say you use an improv style, but I assume you also have training materials. Where are they, and can others use them?
Our beta courseware screencasts are here:
http://waveplace.com/resources/tutorials/
Sign up for an account to get access to all thirty lessons. This is what we're using in Haiti and Nicaragua (with bilingual mentors) and what we used in Florida.
At this point, we just have screencasts and a workbook detailing the points to cover in each lesson (text is on the lesson pages). We will have completely new screencasts, a teacher textbook, and student workbook this fall.
Take care, Tim -- Timothy Falconer http://bigfractaltangle.com 610-393-1889 mobile
Immuexa Corporation http://immuexa.com 610-797-3100