July 16, 2003
Boite des Images
One of the most exciting discoveries during our trip has been the "boite des images", a sort of low-tech predecessor to the Kinkajou. We first heard about the teaching tool from a group of school directors in Siby. Souleymane Sarr at Association Jeunesse Action (AJA) in Bamako was able to demonstrate the actual device, as AJA makes them for the Ministry of Education.
Souleymane and his colleagues immediately saw the connection between their programs and the Kinkajou. We'll be meeting them again next week to discuss the details of a manufacturing partnership between DtM and AJA.
This device features a series of paper images mounted on a long plastic "tape". AJA has produced tape reels for such applications as technical safety training for their apprentice metalworkers and Bambara language instruction tapes for elementary schools.
AJA also has a program called "Bibliotheque Ambulante", or "Walking Library", where they deliver books on loan to rural communities.
Tim - Please be sure to read an email I just sent with the subject that reads, "IMPORTANT: Please Read" It contains some updates on activites from the home front as well as some matters that require your attention ASAP. thx, Neil
I'm afraid I don't see the advantages of the "boite aux images". Is there a light that illuminates the pages for a group of students? It's definitely not portable. How does this device rival a book?
-Can anyone "enlighten" me?
-Thanks,
Russ H.
Posted by: Russ Holden at July 18, 2003 08:34 AMThe exciting thing to me about this is that it confirms the *need* for systems such as Kinkajou. It's often easy to abstract what we think those needs would be from a western perspective but to see vividly with your own eyes that there is a genuine need must have been very exciting. So too for the 'boite de images' folks to see an alternative approach. Keep up the good work guys and savour your experiences and interactions. Best wishes.
Posted by: Metro at July 22, 2003 04:54 PM
