The Pacific Islands are globally regarded as a barometer and first line of impact for climate change. In addition to their geographic predisposition to extreme weather events, the remote and isolated nature of these islands creates infrastructural challenges—such as lack of internet connectivity—which contribute to educational challenges. Education is critical for these communities to respond and adapt to climate change, yet, the lack of reliable access to Internet and electricity, coupled with the cost-prohibitive state of these services, must be overcome to deliver relevant, useful educational content. This presentation will discuss how SolarSPELL (Solar Powered Educational Learning Library), a self-sustaining, offline digital library, can help address this challenge. Since its launch in 2015, over 200 SolarSPELL units have been installed in schools across five Pacific Island nations.

Video of Laura Hosman's presentation on 3/8/19 at East-West Center:

 

Laura Hosman is Associate Professor at Arizona State University, holding a joint appointment in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society. Working mainly with the U.S. Peace Corps, her SolarSPELL initiative has been deployed to more than 220 schools and healthcare clinics across the Pacific Islands and East Africa. Her action-oriented work focuses on the role for new technologies in developing countries, particularly in education. She brings her passion for experiential learning to the classroom and beyond, through real-world-focused, project-based courses that bring students and student-built technology to the field for implementation.

The Pacific Islands are globally regarded as a barometer and first line of impact for climate change. In addition to their geographic predisposition to extreme weather events, the remote and isolated nature of these islands creates infrastructural challenges—such as lack of internet connectivity—which contribute to educational challenges. Education is critical for these communities to respond and adapt to climate change, yet, the lack of reliable access to Internet and electricity, coupled with the cost-prohibitive state of these services, must be overcome to deliver relevant, useful educational content. This presentation will discuss how SolarSPELL (Solar Powered Educational Learning Library), a self-sustaining, offline digital library, can help address this challenge. Since its launch in 2015, over 200 SolarSPELL units have been installed in schools across five Pacific Island nations.

Video of Laura Hosman's presentation on 3/8/19 at East-West Center:

 

Laura Hosman is Associate Professor at Arizona State University, holding a joint appointment in the School for the Future of Innovation in Society. Working mainly with the U.S. Peace Corps, her SolarSPELL initiative has been deployed to more than 220 schools and healthcare clinics across the Pacific Islands and East Africa. Her action-oriented work focuses on the role for new technologies in developing countries, particularly in education. She brings her passion for experiential learning to the classroom and beyond, through real-world-focused, project-based courses that bring students and student-built technology to the field for implementation.