The Case of SchoolNet Namibia/Questions

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Use this page to ask and answer questions about SchoolNet Namibia, and as an evolving source of learning activities.

Questions and Answers

Participating

• How may I contribute to this document?
  • First see the issue tracker and raise issues there for discussion.

When there is some consensus, or no objections within a week or so, go ahead and update the relevant page(s).

SchoolNet Facilities

• Are the technical service centres still operational? Are they viable businesses, or do they need the SchoolNet market to succeed?

Other

• Pose a question
  • Post an answer.

Learning Activities for Students of Free Software

These may be discussed in small groups or extended as learning activities ...

• Using free software make a map of the population distribution of Namibia (or your own country) and the locations of schools.

• What general learning from this case study may be more broadly applicable at this time?
  • in Namibia
  • elsewhere ... ?
• What do you think went wrong with the XNet/Telecom collaboration and what were the underlying causes?
  • how can such situations be avoided?
• To what extent is the new dispensation deviating from the principles inherent in the SchoolNet model?
  • What consequences might there be of they do?
• Using free software, make a spreadsheet which compares two solutions, one LTSP thin client and one proprietary fat client solution. Include power consumption, and software licenses. Present your spreadsheet to fellow learners and discuss. Collectively, make a spreadsheet incorporating all aspects raised.
• Discuss the sustainability of internet access in schools in Namibia. What dependencies are there?
• Select and discuss/debate questions raised on this page.
• "Namibia's small but dense population gives it a distinct advantage", said SchoolNet Africa's Shafika Isaacs. "It's about scale. When we talk about Namibia, we're talking about 1 500 schools. When we talk about (giving wireless coverage in) Ghana, we're talking about 32 000…. Is this a solution for all places in Africa?" - Discuss with respect to Asia/ South America/ Europe/ etc. (or your own country)
• Why would a "community-based" model be more scalable?
• Examine the current situation and future prospects. What advice would you give the NETSS Centre?
• Why might some aspects of the new plan http://www.tech.na/plan.htm be ethically indefensible? Do the pragmatics outweigh the ethics?
• Practical: Set up a thin client network using free software ....
• Collaborative evaluation of educational distros: as individuals: find; as full group: list and select some for evaluation; as sub-groups, evaluate one per group; as full group: each group reports back and build a synthesised list of packages for an educational distro. Is a "distro" the way to go?
• ... please add ...

See Also

• Generic learning activities for free software case studies.