Sugar is an open-source software platform originally developed for the One Laptop per Child initiative. It is used in classrooms by over 1 million children in 40+ countries. The document discusses challenges and lessons learned from implementing Sugar in classrooms. Key challenges include technical issues with devices and wireless connectivity as well as incorporating the new tools into curricula. Universities are partnering with K-12 schools to help address these challenges through classes and projects to develop educational software for Sugar.

1. Sugar in the ClassroomSugar in the Classroom
Gerald ArditoGerald Ardito
Stephen JacobsStephen Jacobs
Caroline MeeksCaroline Meeks
NYSCATE 2009NYSCATE 2009

2. What is Sugar?What is Sugar?
http://www.sugarlabs.org/index.php?template=
From:From: http://www.sugarlabs.org/index.php?template=gallery&page=media_01http://www.sugarlabs.org/index.php?template=gallery&page=media_01
““Sugar is the coreSugar is the core
component of a worldwidecomponent of a worldwide
effort to provide every childeffort to provide every child
with equal opportunity for awith equal opportunity for a
quality education.quality education.
Available in 25 languages,Available in 25 languages,
Sugar’s Activities are usedSugar’s Activities are used
every school day by one-every school day by one-
million children in more thanmillion children in more than
forty countries.forty countries.
Originally developed for theOriginally developed for the
One Laptop per Child XO-1One Laptop per Child XO-1
netbook, Sugar runs onnetbook, Sugar runs on
most computers. Sugar ismost computers. Sugar is
free/libre and open-sourcefree/libre and open-source
software.”software.”
FromFrom http://www.sugarlabs.orghttp://www.sugarlabs.org//

3. free/libre and open-sourcefree/libre and open-source
softwaresoftware??
Developed by anDeveloped by an
open collaborativeopen collaborative
community, just ascommunity, just as
Sugar supportsSugar supports
collaborativecollaborative
learninglearning
Each user has theEach user has the
right to modify andright to modify and
improve.improve.
Think of “FreeThink of “Free
Speech,” not “FreeSpeech,” not “Free
Beer.”Beer.” Richard Stallman, founderRichard Stallman, founder
of the Free Software movementof the Free Software movement From:From:
http://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Marketing_Team/Logohttp://wiki.sugarlabs.org/go/Marketing_Team/Logo
From:From: http://www.sugarlabs.org/index.php?template=page&page=learnershttp://www.sugarlabs.org/index.php?template=page&page=learners

4. A Tale of Two CitiesA Tale of Two Cities
fromfrom
http://www.iaes.org/conferences/future/boston_68/city_info/bostonhttp://www.iaes.org/conferences/future/boston_68/city_info/boston
.jpg.jpg
BostonBostonCroton on HudsonCroton on Hudson
fromfrom http://3dparks.wr.usgs.gov/nyc/images/fig205.jpghttp://3dparks.wr.usgs.gov/nyc/images/fig205.jpg

5. A Tale of TwoA Tale of Two
StrategiesStrategies
fromfrom http:/wiki.sugarlabs.orghttp:/wiki.sugarlabs.org
BostonBostonCroton on HudsonCroton on Hudson
fromfrom
http://www.flickr.com/photos/52989811@N00/3220027435/sizes/l/in/set-72157612861201537/http://www.flickr.com/photos/52989811@N00/3220027435/sizes/l/in/set-72157612861201537/

6. What’s the difference?What’s the difference?
Children adopt theChildren adopt the
technology immediatelytechnology immediately
More like iPod/cellMore like iPod/cell
phone than computerphone than computer
very little fear of doingvery little fear of doing
something wrong orsomething wrong or
breaking something.breaking something.
Ad hocAd hoc
networking/collaboratingnetworking/collaborating
Low floor/no ceilingLow floor/no ceiling

7. How is it working?How is it working?
Student Tech TeamsStudent Tech Teams
Working with teachersWorking with teachers
Working with studentsWorking with students

8. Some great learningSome great learning
experiencesexperiences
New YorkNew YorkBostonBoston

9. Lessons learned so farLessons learned so far
The direction ofThe direction of
learning has changedlearning has changed
from a straight line to afrom a straight line to a
ripple.ripple.

10. Lessons learned so farLessons learned so far
Making stuff is wayMaking stuff is way
more powerful thanmore powerful than
just receiving stuff.just receiving stuff.

11. Lessons learned so farLessons learned so far
The classroomThe classroom
ecology is changingecology is changing
Everyone is aEveryone is a
teacher, everyone isteacher, everyone is
a learner.a learner.

12. ChallengesChallenges
Technical ChallengesTechnical Challenges
The basics: imagingThe basics: imaging
machines, burning discsmachines, burning discs
Wireless connectivityWireless connectivity
School vs. homeSchool vs. home fromfrom
http://successbeginstoday.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/problems.jpghttp://successbeginstoday.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/problems.jpg

13. ChallengesChallenges
fromfrom
http://successbeginstoday.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/problems.jpghttp://successbeginstoday.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/problems.jpg
PedagogicalPedagogical
ChallengesChallenges
Incorporating Sugar’sIncorporating Sugar’s
tools into existingtools into existing
curriculacurricula
Time for student andTime for student and
teacher professionalteacher professional
development.development.

14. One Answer,One Answer,
Universities!Universities!
Partner withPartner with
studentstudent
programmersprogrammers
and theirand their
professorsprofessors
Some programsSome programs
fosteringfostering
“humanitarian”“humanitarian”
projects toprojects to
motivatemotivate
studentsstudents
Communications of the ACMCommunications of the ACM
Volume 52, Issue 8 August 2009Volume 52, Issue 8 August 2009

15. ““OLPC DevelopmentOLPC Development
Class”Class”
Professor earned NYSProfessor earned NYS
provisional K-12provisional K-12
certificationcertification
Class works with localClass works with local
community and Sugarcommunity and Sugar
Labs’Labs’ “Math4 Team”“Math4 Team”
Introduces students toIntroduces students to
topics in childtopics in child
development, educationaldevelopment, educational
software development,software development,
lesson plan writinglesson plan writing
Leads to Co-Ops toLeads to Co-Ops to
continue projectcontinue project
developmentdevelopment

16. More UniversityMore University
ResourcesResources
RIT Syllabus isRIT Syllabus is
available hereavailable here
as draft. Fullas draft. Full
curriculum willcurriculum will
be available bybe available by
6/106/10
Access toAccess to
numerousnumerous
otherother
professors andprofessors and
materialsmaterials

17. What’s next?What’s next?
fromfrom http://blog.northstarmanifesto.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/the-future.jpghttp://blog.northstarmanifesto.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/the-future.jpg

18. •
ContactsContacts
•
Gerald.Ardito@gmail.comGerald.Ardito@gmail.com
•
itprofjacobs@gmail.comitprofjacobs@gmail.com
•
cmeeks@sugarlabs.orgcmeeks@sugarlabs.org
Hands-OnHands-On
RIT boothRIT booth
Monday 10am-5pmMonday 10am-5pm
Tuesday 8:30am-NoonTuesday 8:30am-Noon