MozRide to a Village – Maker Party @ Gangadevipally

As you all know, I and Hitesh have started a campaign named MozRide as part of Mozilla Web Maker Project to host Maker Parties in the city of Warangal and raise awareness on Open source, Open Web, Net Neutrality, Mozilla and to teach the web.

MozRide got good response and many of our friends wanted to get involved in this campaign. Ajay – Mozilla Web Maker Super Mentor, M Santhosh, Bharath, Sudheer, Manoj, Samudrala Santhosh, Sai, Vineeth, Abdul Ghani and Vamshi have joined me and Hitesh for the MozRide to a Village and we all together have hosted Maker Party @ Gangadevipally.

It was a two day event; first day was train the trainer’s program - to all the newbie’s who joined the campaign. I, Ajay and Hitesh have trained the new people who joined the program upon Importance of Open Source and the Open Web, Mission of Mozilla and Web Maker Project, different ways to contribute to Mozilla, How to host Maker Parties, Web Maker tools, event guides to plan and host Maker Parties themselves. First day was very productive. All the newbie’s who joined us Day 1 are now in a stage to host Maker Parties on their own. All are satisfied with the training.

Second day was the Maker Party. We all were set and were very excited to host the event. Gram Sarpanch (A head of the village) has inaugurated the program. Many people of the village have joined us in the event. Children, farmers, Bank Officials, teachers, House wives were all the part of Maker Party. 

 First I have given a brief Introduction to all the people about who we are, what we do as part of Mozilla and how we do. Then people moved to different stalls organized, in the first half an hour, everybody have given awareness on Open Source, Internet, Open Web, Net Neutrality and Mozilla to the people and the rest of the event was showing them live about what Internet is, how to use the web using Firefox Browser, how webpage is loaded in to the browser, how it is built with html and the basic html tags. 

The village which we have chosen for MozRide has many credits. It is one of the best villages in India and it has been awarded as the Model Village.  There is 90% of literacy, no alcohol consumption, 100% children going schools, no child labor, purified drinking water at a very low price etc.

There was no Internet connectivity in the village, we used paper prototypes – we made a prototype to describe about internet, we used charts to describe about html tags. The second day of the event was also a great success.

Finally we took feedback from the villagers and gave a momento on behalf of Mozilla Warangal. People felt so happy for sharing the knowledge with them.

Make which we have created: https://merajimran.makes.org/popcorn/2791

Reps Portal Link: https://reps.mozilla.org/e/maker-party-gangadevipally/

Flickr Link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/82525714@N05/sets/72157646278828382/

Maker Party @ Navodaya Medical Store

Yeah, you heard it right. Maker Parties can be hosted anywhere to teach the awesomeness of the web. Me and Hitesh started a campaign called MozRide where we host Maker Parties all over Warangal City to teach the web.

As part of MozRide campaign, we have hosted a Maker Party @ Navodaya Medical Store for which we are regular customers. They have opened a new branch for their medical store, so Me and Hitesh thought why not we host a Maker Party and teach them how to make a web page for their store?

For this, Me and Hitesh first planned how to start and from where to start. We first made a basic plan to initiate the event by telling them about the uses of an Internet and the web page for their store, also we jotted down some points how their online presence will grow their business. Finally we arrived to the Medical store to host a Maker Party.

First, I spoke to the owner of the store, I Introduced myself as a Mozilla Rep, I told them what I do as part of Web Maker project and also I explained the purpose of visit to their store. Then I have explained her uses of Internet and a Web Page for their store and I told her the Mission of Web Maker Project that our mission is not just people consume the web but also create the web. She was so excited to learn and make a web page for their store. 

Hitesh was taking the pictures mean while. I gave the teaching part to Hitesh as I was happy to see one old grandfather coming in to their store to purchase medicines. I grabbed that opportunity. I introduced myself to him; I told him I want to teach you about Computer, Internet and the Web. He was so happy; he spent around 30 minutes with me.    

When I started telling him about computer, he listened carefully and he was enjoying learning.  He told me that there was not this much of technology when he was studying. He used Punched Cards and learn about computer in his days and now he is happy to see the technology.

I also taught him about the Internet and the web, also how Mozilla is striving to make the web open for all. After I completed my teaching, he was giving me examples for which I taught him. I felt so happy with the way he understood my teaching. He also told me that he had no knowledge of internet till date. He was very happy to learn about the web at an age of 61 years. This sentence made me proud of being a Mozillian.

As he was very new to the world of Internet, I do not want him to get confused. I just opened Firefox and shown him how the information is rendered in browser in the form of html. I taught him basic tags of html in a notepad and ended the discussion with him.

I then joined Hitesh in teaching the owner of the store about the creation of a webpage for their store. She too felt so happy and thanked us by saying we being their customers helped them to grow their business by teaching and making their online presence. I replied ‘’DOING GOOD IS PART OF OUR CODE”. She also told his son is also there, you can also make him get involved in Mozilla. This is how we also got a chance to recruit new contributor.

Makes:

1. https://merajimran.makes.org/thimble/ODA2NDIwNzM2/navodaya-medical-store-24-hours-medical-store-in-warangal

2. https://merajimran.makes.org/thimble/LTgzNzc0NjQzMg==/k-somanadham-61-years-old

Flickr Link: https://www.flickr.com/photos/82525714@N05/sets/72157645811128229/

Event Link: https://reps.mozilla.org/e/maker-party-navodaya-medical-store/

  

Maker Party @ My Home

 Hello Mozillians,

I am back with my Maker Parties this year again...:), I am so happy as Webmaker time has started where I teach and learn many things. When I saw an email from Amira saying Maker Party starts today, enthusiasm cherished in me. I was so excited to host a maker party on the same day and finally hosted Maker Party @ My home with kids.

There was no planning, All of a sudden I decided to host a maker party then I have invited kids in my home and said let's  learn and make some thing on the web. Kids are very fast today. They already knew how to access internet. It was a time for me to teach about the ethics of Internet. Few of them which I taught are:

1. Acceptance

One has to accept that Internet is not a value free-zone .It means World Wide Web is a place where values are considered in  the broadest sense so we must take care while shaping content and services and we should recognize that internet is not apart from universal society but it is a primary component of it.

2. While using e-Mail and chatting

Internet must be used for communication with family and friends. Avoid chatting with strangers and forwarding  e-mails from unknown people /strangers.

3. Pretending to be someone else

We must not use internet to fool others by pretending to be someone else. Hiding our own identity to fool others in the Internet world is a crime and may also be a risk to others.

4. Avoid Bad language

We must not use rude or bad language while using e-Mail, chatting, blogging and social networking, We need to respect their views and should not criticize anyone on the internet.

5. Hide personal Information

One should not give personal details like home address, phone numbers, interests, passwords. No photographs should be sent to strangers and  hide personal details from strangers because it might be misused and shared with others without their knowledge.

6. While Downloading

Internet is used to listen and learn about music,It is also used to watch videos and play games  We must not use it to download them or share copyrighted material.

Then It was a for me  to teach about how the content on the web is created and published. As children have many stories with them, I asked them to tell me any story. A 12 years kid replied I know a story on mother's love. He told the heart touching story to us, then we wrote it on a notepad.

We searched for a suitable make in the gallery and found a News Paper Make which can be remixed very easily. We remixed it and finally we published the story and a kid who told the story was so happy. I also demonstrated them about Mozilla Popcorn. We also made a Popcorn Make on Mother's love.

Here are the below links for the makes:

https://merajimran.makes.org/thimble/LTEzMjUzMzQyNzI=/a-story-on-mothers-love

https://merajimran.makes.org/popcorn/25s7

Reps Event Page:
https://reps.mozilla.org/e/maker-party-my-home/ 

Flickr Link: 
https://www.flickr.com/photos/82525714@N05/sets/72157645303392589/

COMPED Camp Week – 1

I should really thank my Mentor Gautham Raj for starting COMPED Program where the wish of thousands of children of learning about the usage of computer and becoming the Web Champions is going to come true. 

Web Champions ??  Yes, the mission of Webmaker project is to make the world “Web Literate”. This can be possible only when the people whom we teach are computer literate.  Making the World Computer and Web Literate is the final aim of COMPED Program which is a part of Webmaker project.

I have initiated this program in a small residential school which is nearby to my home where there are 20 small children learning Islam for free. These students don’t know what a computer is!! Making them understand about computer was a challenging task for me. This cannot be achieved in one day or two. Then, I finally decided to dedicate 1 hour every day for these children and contribute towards Web Maker project. 

I spoke to the head of the school regarding the mission of Web Maker Project and asked him  permission of 1 hour for everyday. He happily accepted my request and allotted time of COMPED class from 8:00 – 9:00 pm, everyday.

I started teaching them from 20^th Jan 2014. The day I went into the school, I found mix of students of different ages (6 years to 14 years). I  fell in love with the small children who live very far from their parents who are very poor and couldn’t afford for their education and food.  These Students are so energetic and passionate to learn about usage of computer and the web.

Here is what I taught them in this week (20^th Jan – 25^th Jan 2014):

Day 1 (20^th Jan):

When I started the class, all the faces were blooming with happiness. I asked them where have you all seen the usage of computer? A small child replied I have seen in my home town (Bihar), another kid told I have seen in railway station, another child replied I have seen in a school, like wise I got many replies. Then I asked would you all like to use it? I got a loud answer yes, yes, yes!!  I then, headed towards blackboard and drawn a block diagram of computer.

                                                                                                                                               

After drawing this block diagram of computer, I told them that computers were mainly invented for performing complex mathematical calculations where human beings find difficulty to do in. Then I asked a question, how to run a computer?? A kid replied by pressing the button…, I explained computer would run if it is connected to power, and told them that like other devices computer is also an electronic machine. Then

I asked 2+3=?

Every one replied 5, then I told let me show you all how this question can be given to a computer, who will perform calculation and where can we see the answer in the next class.

 I asked everyone to draw the above diagram and then I finished my class. Everyone after completing the class came to me and shook their hands with me with a smile on their faces. I Felt so happy.

Day 2 (21^st Jan):

On the next day, I have again drawn block diagram of computer and described about Keyboard (which is used to give question), C.P.U (which is used to perform the calculation), Monitor (which is used to display the answer) and mouse (which is also used to give a question). I again took example of 2+3=? And told everyone that let’s solve this question using computer.

Me: I asked them, to give a question (2+3=?) to a computer, what do we use??  

Children: Few replied keyboard and few Mouse.

Me: Who will perform the calculation?

Children: C.P.U

Me: Where do we see the answer?

Children: Monitor

I told shabbash (very good) to all and explained both Keyboard and Mouse are used to give question to a computer by keying in the keyboard or by moving mouse; 

C.P.U is used to perform large calculations like (50938303 X 309373) and monitor to display the question which we are keying in and to view the answer given by the C.P.U.  

 Everyone indirectly understood the concept  of basic input and output devices.

Day 3(22^nd Jan):

On the third day, I asked few questions on previous two classes and everyone was so happy and enthusiastically answered to the questions.  I told them now let’s learn in details about C.P.U, Monitor, Keyboard and Mouse. Everyone nodded their heads.

I headed towards blackboard, drawn the diagram of only C.P.U and asked them a question, what all the steps do you perform in mind to calculate 2+3=??

A 12 year child replied, First we take 2 and 3 and save in mind, then we see the operator +, then perform calculation in mind and give answer using mouth.  I appreciated that kid for his wonderful answer and gave him a goodie and told everyone that in the same way, computer also performs the calculations by taking the question in and displaying the output on the monitor.

1.   

I explained about the 5 units of C.P.U as :

1. Input is used to give a question to a computer using keyboard

2. C.U is used to take the input from keyboard and transfers to M.U

3. M.U is used to store the input values (which is like a mind for humans to store) given by keyboard and mouse

4. A.L.U is used to perform the calculation and send it to C.U which stores the answer on M.U and sends it to Output.

5. Output is used to display the answer on the Monitor.

In this class, few students were unable to grasp at one time, then I decided to explain it in the next class even.

Day 4 (23^rd Jan):

On this day, I repeated the previous class once again and I explained about Monitor, Keyboard and Mouse in detail. I took much time in explaining about Keyboard keys (CAPSLOCK, Shift Key, Space bar, arrow keys and all the 26 alphabetic keys).

Day 5(24^th Jan):

This day I wanted to show them practically what they learnt. My cousin Jamal was also interested in what I was doing and he too started accompanying me in teaching. He took a practical session to students by opening my laptop. 

First I asked children to write their names on a piece of paper, and then Jamal helped each one of student to write their names in computer. Children were too happy, and that happiness made me so satisfied and made me feel proud on myself.

Day 6 (25^th Jan):

This day, I wanted the student’s to explain about hardware and software terms. For this, I took an example of human being. I asked the students what do you call the external body parts they told body organs then I asked what is inside of a human to which makes him live?? They replied soul!!

In the same way, I explained the external parts of a computer are known as “Hardware” (C.P.U, Monitor, Keyboard and Mouse) and the internal soul of a computer as “Software”. Then I explained about O.S and told the story of evolution of Linux!!

In these 6 days, I found few students writing in notebook and few are not. When I asked the reason, I got to know that just because they don’t have money to purchase notebooks and pens they are not writing!! Felt very bad!! Will find out a solution to provide them notebooks to write.

Find more images on Flickr!! 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/82525714@N05/sets/72157640183368805/ 

Maker Party with a Shepherd

Hello Webmakers,

Today I'd like to share about the small Webmaker event hosted by me along with Ajay, Maniraj with a Shepherd and his son in my college who has driven his sheep herd for grazing.

Background:

Angadi (Sheep Market) is a place where all the shepherds bring their sheep to sell at one place on a particular day and people come to buy sheep for their needs (Especially on festivals like Bakrid). Each village has one day allocated in warangal region and shepherds bring their sheeps to sell accordingly.

As Bakrid (Eid - Ul - Zuha) Muslim festival is on 16th of this month:

Many people do not know when Angadi is in a particular village, what is the maximum price one can afford to buy a sheep etc. Many of them gets confused. This is a make made by Shepherd in a Maker Party who want to know people when and where the angadi will be and how much cost one should afford on a particular sheep in Warangal region.

Make link:

https://merajimran.makes.org/thimble/maker-party-with-a-shephered

Flickr link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/82525714@N05/sets/72157636557245483/