I came across this story a little while ago, so really this post is just an excuse for me to be able to keep saying 'granny cloud' because I love the expression so much. That and a fascination continuing from my developmental psychology student days. But do read on...
Professor Sugata Mitra, of Newcastle University, is an expert in the ways that children learn in the absence of formal education - through curiosity, play and peer to peer interaction. As shown by his Hole in the Wall project, which gave access to a pc to kids living in a slum in New Delhi and watched how they interacted and shared to learn computing skills.
Following on from that, Mitra found that when asked what the children would most like to use Skype for (free calls over the internet) the response was being read fairytales by British grandmothers. Well, who wouldn't?
Over 200 volunteers got in touch and there is now a 'granny cloud' from the UK reading to and teaching children in Hyderabad. Such a fantastic imaginative use of technology.
Above is a slice of lemon drizzle cake made by my granny - sorry you can't use the internet to eat it but technology doesn't do everything ;)
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