Distance Learning Technologies for Basic Education in Disadvantaged Areas

Abstract

Basic education plays a crucial role in uplifting disadvantaged areas from the grip of poverty. Distance learning systems are a promising option to deliver education to children who have access to none today. The main problem with the large scale deployment of such systems is either their reliance on broadband network access or their lack of interaction among students and teachers. This paper describes a software architecture that turns the global postal system into a generic digital communication channel that enables relatively sophisticated distance learning systems for disadvantaged areas. We also explore techniques to compliment this communication channel with storage elements and the traditional Internet, where it exists, to achieve a high bandwidth low latency hybrid network on top of which a wide array of other applications may be built. Keywords: distance learning, basic education, storage system, peer-to-peer system, postal system, networking, asynchronous communication.