Social interest groups and corporates value supporting education. They constantly strive to find the best ways to engage and make a positive social impact.
MSS for Social Change & Impact
Common social interventions
However, it is not usually clear if these interventions are improving learning outcomes sustainably or at scale.
One promising area for social impact is education technology infrastructure, which enables minimally invasive yet effective learning in classrooms. And within this an area that needs urgent attention is computer literacy infrastructure and instructions.
Herein you shall see how the My sCool Server can be deployed to drive a deep and positive socio-economic change.
Some startling facts
The Solution
My sCool Server, the flagship product from Recherche Tech LLP is a single device, primarily for school labs, that makes all computers (even disk-less) in the wired network usable and useful instantly.
- Single unit to make up to 70 diskless computers usable and useful instantly
- Pre-packaged with all necessary software to teach computing and computational thinking as per global best practices
- Comprehensive computer subject specific audiovisual content in local Indian languages available offline to primarily facilitate teacher training
- Massive quality K-to-12 open educational resources accessible without internet to facilitate the move towards computer-aided-learning of all other subjects
- Platform to host custom educational content
- Assists teachers with a teaching and monitoring tool
- Ready to serve interactive smart classes at significantly less cost and maintenance burden
- Comprises an indigenously packaged education operating system atop Ubuntu, which is being used across the country of Indonesia
- An optimum combination of hardware and software built using the best from the hardware industry
Children we serve
Our solution serves children across the social strata and primarily those studying in schools that cater to the lower income group. We have positively impacted lives of over 6000 students and several teachers at 50+ schools since early 2017. It involved fixing and enhancing their school’s computer laboratories and enabling interactive smart classrooms with the My sCool Server (MSS). This provided them equal access to technology and digital learning that they rightfully deserve.
We have succeeded in removing the state of despondency wherein the students, teachers and schools had lost complete hope over the possibility of quality computer education or ICT based education.
It has now been replaced with real learning and forward thinking.
Our action area
Students working on computers powered by the MSS at Chhipa Welfare Girls High School, Jamalpur, Ahmedabad
Models of working with social impact partners
Our solution has been well designed keeping in mind the National policy for ICT in education and the National Curriculum Framework, India. And it can be tailored for most specific needs of schools.
I. Re-using existing ICT investments already present at schools
There are millions of computers collecting dust in schools across Gujarat and possibly in other parts of India as well. The computers were deployed by the government or donated by corporates with the noble intent of providing access to computers and enabling digital literacy. Unfortunately, the goals have not been met and with the previous approaches and these devices are lying idle and deteriorating overtime. On the upside, most of the computers deployed after 2010 are still usable and can work perfectly with the MSS.
We work with CSR programs and foundations to rekindle these labs. They are made completely functional, ready for pedagogical delivery and self-sustainable with the help of the My sCool Server.
How it works:
Investment range:
One time INR 70,000 – 90,000 per school. Specifics vary for each implementation.
II. Setup new labs in government schools where there is no useful hardware
With the My sCool Server solution it is possible to deploy a new lab or enhance/upgrade an existing one very cost effectively. The MSS is capable of powering a complete computer lab of up to 70 systems with very low specification systems.
Millions of computers from government and corporate offices are finding their way to becoming e-waste. Several computers deployed at schools in the period 2003-2009 have reached their end-of-life. Some of the schools just have 5 computers which is insufficient to satisfy the computer literacy objectives. They need to be replaced or more need to be added.
How it works:
Investment range:
One time INR 3,70,000 approx per school for a fully equipped (educational content, networking and power backup incl.) 20 computer lab. Specifics vary for each implementation.
III. Power up interactive smart classrooms
In addition to a computer lab, the My sCool Server can power up multiple smart classrooms with great ease. This facilitates the one-to-many pedagogical delivery model.
Extend a LAN connection from the My sCool Server to each classroom and pair it with a client node (a computer with Intel Celeron, 2 GB RAM, w/o HDD) connected to a projector, white-wall / screen, and an inexpensive graphics tablet + stylus and we have a perfectly working smart class infrastructure.
The cost of this infrastructure is at least 20% cheaper compared to any other interactive smart class solution available.The MSS also supports certain third-party legacy interactivity solutions already deployed in several public schools across Gujarat.
How it works:
A playlist depicting the native interactive smart class feature of the MSS and how the MSS also facilitates self-paced learning on tablets.
Investment range:
First smart class at a school can be deployed for approximately INR 1,30,000 and each subsequent classroom for INR 70,000. Specifics vary for each implementation.
Benefits
Herein are some of the direct benefits that a school with the My sCool Server experiences:
Plug ‘n play
Better control
Save funds
Student:System 1:1
Practise at home
Minimise upgrade cost
Facilitate self training
Minimal dependency
No piracy
Access from any OS
Strong foundation
Future advancements
Impact
The My sCool Server helps achieve the 4 Es that are most essential to help solving the global learning crisis
School representatives explaining how the My sCool Server has impacted them
Sustainability
Replicability
Is there a minimum scale of each project undertaken?
It could be a single school or a group of schools. We are happy to be part of a positive impact at any possible scale.
However, if it requires integrating a new regional language onto the MSS, we mandate a minimum deployment of 10 units to make it a financially sustainable effort for us. Send in an enquiry to check for your language of interest.
Is there a qualifying criterion for an intervention to be applied to a school?
A genuine and demonstrable willingness of teachers and the school administration to impart the best possible education to their cadres. It is highly encouraging for us to apply the MSS intervention if the sponsor has already seen results of their previous interventions.
A mandatory criterion is a minimum of one, preferably two, in-house teacher(s) or representatives from volunteer/sponsor organisations who are willing to own and lead the implementation.
What is the duration of implementation at each school?
It usually takes 2 weeks from need assessment to user training. Our standard intervention program includes school visits by our representative for up to 3 months post-deployment. The visits are scheduled at a reducing frequency so as to ensure proper usage and impact and yet not interfere with the normal schedule of the school.
Is it possible to load custom content available from the state education department?
Yes, the My sCool Server can serve any content that can be hosted on the Linux platform. If you are unsure about its “Linux compatibility”, our technical teams help you with the assessment if you can provide us the content samples.
However, we rely on the sponsors and/or the school to secure access to the educational content from the state agencies.
Why is there a price range instead of fixed price for the proposed interventions?
Each educational institution in the public space is a special case with varying requirements. We strive towards maximum reuse of existing facilities and human capital. Since there is bound to be a variance in the cost for each deployment, do consider the price ranges given as indicative only. Final quote for each project is provided after an initial need assessment.
How can we get started?
Click here to download a PDF version of the Smart Education Infrastructure Provisioning Concept Note
Submit a short summary of your organisation via the contact form and our representative shall get in touch with you within 48 working hours.
For further queries, you may visit our knowledge base or reach out to us via any of the support channels.
Children we serve
Our solution serves children across the social strata and primarily those studying in schools that cater to the lower income group. We have positively impacted lives of over 6000 students and several teachers at 50+ schools since early 2017. It involved fixing and enhancing their school’s computer laboratories and enabling interactive smart classrooms with the My sCool Server (MSS). This provided them equal access to technology and digital learning that they rightfully deserve.
We have succeeded in removing the state of despondency wherein the students, teachers and schools had lost complete hope over the possibility of quality computer education or ICT based education.
It has now been replaced with real learning and forward thinking.
Our action area
Students working on computers powered by the MSS at Chhipa Welfare Girls High School, Jamalpur, Ahmedabad
Models of working with social impact partners
Our solution has been well designed keeping in mind the National policy for ICT in education and the National Curriculum Framework, India. And it can be tailored for most specific needs of schools.
I. Re-using existing ICT investments already present at schools
There are millions of computers collecting dust in schools across Gujarat and possibly in other parts of India as well. The computers were deployed by the government or donated by corporates with the noble intent of providing access to computers and enabling digital literacy. Unfortunately, the goals have not been met and with the previous approaches and these devices are lying idle and deteriorating overtime. On the upside, most of the computers deployed after 2010 are still usable and can work perfectly with the MSS.
We work with CSR programs and foundations to rekindle these labs. They are made completely functional, ready for pedagogical delivery and self-sustainable with the help of the My sCool Server.
How it works:
Investment range:
One time INR 70,000 – 90,000 per school. Specifics vary for each implementation.
II. Setup new labs in government schools where there is no useful hardware
With the My sCool Server solution it is possible to deploy a new lab or enhance/upgrade an existing one very cost effectively. The MSS is capable of powering a complete computer lab of up to 70 systems with very low specification systems.
Millions of computers from government and corporate offices are finding their way to becoming e-waste. Several computers deployed at schools in the period 2003-2009 have reached their end-of-life. Some of the schools just have 5 computers which is insufficient to satisfy the computer literacy objectives. They need to be replaced or more need to be added.
How it works:
Investment range:
One time INR 3,70,000 approx per school for a fully equipped (educational content, networking and power backup incl.) 20 computer lab. Specifics vary for each implementation.
III. Power up interactive smart classrooms
In addition to a computer lab, the My sCool Server can power up multiple smart classrooms with great ease. This facilitates the one-to-many pedagogical delivery model.
Extend a LAN connection from the My sCool Server to each classroom and pair it with a client node (a computer with Intel Celeron, 2 GB RAM, w/o HDD) connected to a projector, white-wall / screen, and an inexpensive graphics tablet + stylus and we have a perfectly working smart class infrastructure.
The cost of this infrastructure is at least 20% cheaper compared to any other interactive smart class solution available.The MSS also supports certain third-party legacy interactivity solutions already deployed in several public schools across Gujarat.
How it works:
A playlist depicting the native interactive smart class feature of the MSS and how the MSS also facilitates self-paced learning on tablets.
Investment range:
First smart class at a school can be deployed for approximately INR 1,30,000 and each subsequent classroom for INR 70,000. Specifics vary for each implementation.
Benefits
Herein are some of the direct benefits that a school with the My sCool Server experiences:
Plug ‘n play
Better control
Save funds
Student:System 1:1
Practise at home
Minimise upgrade cost
Facilitate self training
Minimal dependency
No piracy
Access from any OS
Strong foundation
Future advancements
Impact
The My sCool Server helps achieve the 4 Es that are most essential to help solving the global learning crisis
School representatives explaining how the My sCool Server has impacted them
Sustainability
Replicability
Is there a minimum scale of each project undertaken?
It could be a single school or a group of schools. We are happy to be part of a positive impact at any possible scale.
However, if it requires integrating a new regional language onto the MSS, we mandate a minimum deployment of 10 units to make it a financially sustainable effort for us. Send in an enquiry to check for your language of interest.
Is there a qualifying criterion for an intervention to be applied to a school?
A genuine and demonstrable willingness of teachers and the school administration to impart the best possible education to their cadres. It is highly encouraging for us to apply the MSS intervention if the sponsor has already seen results of their previous interventions.
A mandatory criterion is a minimum of one, preferably two, in-house teacher(s) or representatives from volunteer/sponsor organisations who are willing to own and lead the implementation.
What is the duration of implementation at each school?
It usually takes 2 weeks from need assessment to user training. Our standard intervention program includes school visits by our representative for up to 3 months post-deployment. The visits are scheduled at a reducing frequency so as to ensure proper usage and impact and yet not interfere with the normal schedule of the school.
Is it possible to load custom content available from the state education department?
Yes, the My sCool Server can serve any content that can be hosted on the Linux platform. If you are unsure about its “Linux compatibility”, our technical teams help you with the assessment if you can provide us the content samples.
However, we rely on the sponsors and/or the school to secure access to the educational content from the state agencies.
Why is there a price range instead of fixed price for the proposed interventions?
Each educational institution in the public space is a special case with varying requirements. We strive towards maximum reuse of existing facilities and human capital. Since there is bound to be a variance in the cost for each deployment, do consider the price ranges given as indicative only. Final quote for each project is provided after an initial need assessment.
How can we get started?
Click here to download a PDF version of the Smart Education Infrastructure Provisioning Concept Note
Submit a short summary of your organisation via the contact form and our representative shall get in touch with you within 48 working hours.
For further queries, you may visit our knowledge base or reach out to us via any of the support channels.