2022
When compared to those living in cities, a great digital divide exists in and around the place where I live. As part of my attempt of taking Google maps towards rural areas, I thought of embracing school students with technology this time. I used to shout out about this fact many times to my colleagues, this time I got a like-minded person onboard, it's none other than, @Kajan746
Taking Google maps towards rural- Creating 21st century leadersI surfed through many rural schools before coming up with this activity and I identified that there is an extreme scarcity than what I expected. Then after I decided to use Google as a platform to take technology towards rural students. Since Google has it all in it like educational tools, professionals tools, science and more, I decided that Google will be the best suit for my need.
The lesson learned from my last meet up with kids was, I realized that there is a very positive urge among students to learn about technology and it's new trends. At the same time there exists a severe scarcity for resources who can teach them those. As a volunteer local guide who strives to empower grassroots through technology, I felt like it's my complete responsibility to get down and do this for my community.
I got ready in the morning and took some small gifts which I have bought earlier from Google store. Assuming that these will give a little surprise for them. When I woke up in the morning and checked my phone, I have received a message from Ceylon Electricity Board stating that there will be a power cut for the whole day in that area where the school is located. I was shocked, but still, I never gave up. Came with an idea to hire a generator for the school for the day. One of my friends gave me the contact of a place where we could hire a generator and my wife helped me to transport this from that place to the school.
My new friends
Preparing for Knowledge sharing sessionWhen we reached the school, as expected, the power failure was on, so we put up the generator and started the workshop. The principal of the school was excited to see the commitment and they were overwhelmed by joy. They helped us with getting the power connected. However, the power resumed after a short while.
At the beginning, the principal gave an introduction about us to the kids and they let them start the session.
I first showed them all the gadgets that I took with them namely my VR card board, Google home, 360 helmet, and 360 camera. They were all excited to experience them and then I followed up explaining about some essential Google online tools for them like Google docs, sheets, forms and etc. Then I began explaining them about the Google maps.
Explaining about Google MapWhen I first asked them to show the location of their homes, almost everyone could do that.
Then I taught them about the categories of the maps and they started asking questions, and I gave them explanations too.
Street view sessionThen Kajan started explaining the street view. He started asking them if you're going to the capital city of Sri Lanka, how do you do that?
Then he explained them the possibility of reaching every place on earth virtually through the maps and street view. As examples, he showed them the London bridge, Eiffel Tower and Taj Mahal. They were all surprised and excited. Some of them then started asking show me this place and that place. Without getting tired, Kajan explained them all.
Then I showed them about how a 360 tour is made, I showed them my previous experiences of collecting 360s through the Kallady bridge as well as my tour through the lagoon. Now they know if they see some blue line on the roads of a map, it's a 360.
Showing some of my SV worksThen they asked me how a 360 camera works, when I showed them one enthusiast among the crowd wanted to give it a try. Without refusing, I gave him a chance to experience it. Then he went around and covered a little area within the school premises.
School Kid with 360 camera 🙂Then I explained some general aspects of Google maps and then myself and Kajan started asking them simple questions, for those who gave the right answers we gifted few items which I bought from Google store last year.
Gifts for Kids and PrincipalThey were all excited. Not only the students, the feed back given by the school principal gave tears on my eyes. They were so happy and told nobody ever have done this kind of technological sessions free for them.This boosted my passion to do more to the community. We might have spent this holiday going out or to a cinema. But this social activity gave us an increased level of satisfaction. After completing the session, we decided to plant some trees as usual.
Kid planting a tree
Tree from Let's Map GreenIt was a fruit tree this time. I told them to take care the tree until I get back to them with another session. This is not the end but a beginning I told, hope they'll be eagerly waiting for another session from local guide volunteers.@InaS here is my RECAP 🙂 hope you will like this. @TraciC thank you for making the educational presentation template, it helped me a lot and this is one of my best and successful meetup 🙂
More Photos please check this album
Hello @IlankovanT
What a fantastic and informative meetup that is, really inspiring.
And as you know, I always admired your work, and trying to copy and applying it in my country. Because I believe that spreading information about new technologies from grass root level is the best way to make them ready for new challenges of thier future.
I really appreciate and love your efforts, which you are doing for New generation of your country.
And I hope I can learn and do some thing like that soon with you in your city.
Nandri and Shukriya bro 🙏
