1

Yellow box project - Building digital classroom through recycling touch screen smart device for educational needs:

Refugee camp case in Bulgaria

by Simeon Arnaudov; Nacxitl Calva Gonzalez (IEPP; Junseok Hwang (Director of ITPP Seoul National University, Technology Management Economics and Policy, Seoul, Republic of Korea

Address to: State agency for refugee with The Council of Ministers, Republic of Bulgaria;

Sofia Municipality; UNHCR-Bulgaria; Red-cross Bulgaria; Time Heroes.Org; Ministry of

education and science; Ministry of environment and water of Bulgaria;

Budget: N/A

1. PROJECT BACKGROUND

1.1. Project motivation

Government and nonprofit entities are excessively focused on solving particular

boundaries of refugee camp with ensuring basic needs as accommodation and health care and

they are neglecting ordinary human activities as community socialization and lifelong

learning. Uniformly this community had considered as single body to which usually was

provide unified standard service. Likewise, refugees seek asylum in states with dissimilar

language and governance, often those states are lack of solicitude experience of big mass of

immigrants, lack of refugee camps infrastructure, limited or no social services oriented for

refugees, and all this overshadowed of finance scarcity. This research reliable to identify the

group of growing up refugee and scan provided educational services to them in particular

camp in certain state. However the paper monitored exist refugee legislation will not provide

any law-making recommendation. The result proposed is solution of recycled low power

consuming touch screen digital device, which is expected to be implement firstly in particular

refugee camp under governance of Sofia municipality Republic of Bulgaria. The education

solution was build on following principles a) recycled low power consuming computing

device (such as smartphones device or tablets); b) open accessed educational e-content; c)

free of charge online applications.

2

1.2. Introduction

This research expect to identify target group of growing up refugee and scan

provided educational services to them in particular camp in certain state. However the paper

monitored exist refugee legislation will not provide any law-making recommendation.

Neither will provide solutions for improve scarcity of resources in refugee camps such as

energy resources; clean water; healthcare; accommodation. Will be proposed a prototype of

digital education platform designed on recycled smart touch screen devices (such as smart-

phone or tablet). Yellow box will be first implemented in Voenna rampa; Vrajdebna; and

Sofia refugee camp (all located in Sofia-city municipality). The expected result is to designed

a novel low cost digital educational platform built on recycled low power consuming devices

and online open accessed e-learning content

Professionals from both side of domestic citizens and refugee in field of

education should be a target of accomplishing such educational project. Education specialists

who speak native of particular refugee group language are desirable. Those specialists would

be seeking in the group of refugee. We expect among the refugees to have professionals from

different fields, even expected to have at least one teacher or at least one with experience in

education to groups of children. We believe hiring refugee in this process will affect refugee

integration positively.

Knowledge and experts experience from Global and international scene, citizens

and refugees must be encouraged with joining this project. However, we recognize minor

roles for collaborative professionals and professionals from beneficent groups; those groups

were not engage in the education process. Those professional (for example, formal teacher,

educational workers from refugee group) has ability, knowledge and motivation to take in-

kind support in the main group of agents with having classes and teaching in native for

refugee pupils language. This will speed up knowledge gaining and adaptation to domestic

educational system.

Studying global [6] and domestic practices of provided education service to

refugees. International experience in the field are narrowed the best practices of UNHCR and

their education strategy 2012-2016 [6]. Domestic study was base on monitoring of all current

government or non-government activities in refugee camp under governance of Sofia

municipality. The result of UNHCR analyze show very broad concept of educational

platform. Even though the authors claim the universality of the platform we found some

3

underperformed and not taken in account objectives. There were not heed the scarcity of

basic infrastructure as electricity grid, and in other hand the tutor training courses was only

oriented to civilian volunteers and use of potential proficiency from education specialist

coming from refugee group was not underlined. The last claim is important for our research,

because those potential professionals are native to the refugee group, and they could provide

better communication and education service.

The results from SAfR and Sofia Municipality activities identified that there were

failed or missed educational platform provided by the local authorities. Probably this is result

of indigent organizational skills, bad management or missed plan of educational system for

unexpected big migration group of people. Other state agent as Ministry of education and

science was much more active. The ministry opens a not functioning school for education

needs of refugees, where Educational inspectorate of Sofia city was going to provide

language classes to 130 refugees [11]. Number of activities was registered from non-

government organizations (NGO). Mostly they was focused in organizing volunteers and

training them for language tutors. During the analysis of NGO’s activities were not found

information for provided common knowledge class of particular subject conformable to High

school or Middle school knowledge requirement.

Both stakeholders somewhere and somehow swap their position with churning

volunteer groups with trained specialist but with absence of governs and opposite waste

governance power with time-consuming solutions in jurisdiction, administration and budget

feed issues. In section discussion is illustrated current picture of accommodation and learning

problems of refuge pupils and drawing a new replicable educational platform built on

collaborative stakeholder’s interaction (including beneficence) and novel philosophy of

creating digital classroom undertaking philosophy of low power communing recycled devices.

2. Objectives

Identified four relative objects concerning refugee pupils education platform:

learning foreign (domestic) language; classroom environment and IT equipment; Learning

content; Socialization. In Table 1 are illustrated stakeholder activities (Yellow box team):

Table 1.

Objectives Activities First knowledge Provide language classes to refugees. Classes are divided to several groups formed

by different language skills and lawful age (growing up students are separated

4

from adults). Encourage refugees with professional background in education to help language class tutors.

Digital class room Analysis current trends in mix reality between traditional and digitalized education in state supported schools. Create a prototype of digital classroom based on portable low energy consuming digital devices. Create a list with desired specification of old touch screen smart devices (smartphones or tablets ) with Android OS appropriately for recycling and converting them to “credit card” [5] size personal computers. Start donation campaign to collect used touch screen smart devices. Install Linux on Android based touch screen devices. Install Open software class room manager application; Design the Yellow boxes’ box.

e-Learning content Select an appropriate education offline and online learning content fulfilling specific educational needs.

Socialization Reduce level of isolation, through usage of online and offline social networks.

3. Goals

Build low-cost educational digital platform; Select “first knowledge” e-learning

content as teaching materials; Teach and transfer refugee pupils from camps’ Yellow box

class room to Primary, High or Middle schools’ classes; These goals implicitly will provide

better socialization of growing up refugees; Encourage re-usage (recycling) of old

smartphones as digital partially will protect the environment; and will introduced the

idea of low power consuming devices usage in education , which will overcoming energy

scarcity in disadvantage groups.

4. Others educational projects in the field

UNHCR education strategy [6] undertake common environment of educational

platform, strongly suggest cooperation between state and non-government agents with UN

body and insist of implementation hardheaded curriculums. It is obvious that reality differ

from theory. Dynamics of given violent conflict (which generate migration of people from

country to country) incites uncertainty and shortens the life cycle of any particular strategy,

initiative or solution for solving refugee education problem. In our opinion main problem for

sustaining refugee education platform is not the mass of refugee wave (number of registered

5

refugees), but it is the uncertainty of all those daily, weekly or monthly migration waves

(migration never happen in particular predictable time with approximately foretold number of

refugee). Cause forming a class with a particular curriculum is hard for the new comers to

catching up first two weeks of the class. In this way we suggest a forming a mini classes

every first and third Monday of each month (every two weeks). Cooperative and

collaborative skills are desire to be developed in all student groups, this will be done with

hiring upper level class with assisting one step lower level class in learning and homework

solving as well. Expected result is providing acquired knowledge and skills to lower level

classes and increasing socialization of growing up refugees between themselves firstly. The

mixture classes will be under leadership of appointed teachers. Duration of certain class is 24

weeks, divided to two sessions, with 2 weeks break between. Two sessions are identified

with visiting or holding another level class, where the particular class will have different roles

of assistant or follower.

Invariably the education year starts on 15th of September. State policy of school

education (primary, high and middle school), are under principality of Ministry of education

and science.

Table 2

Stakeholder Goals (in education field) Activities Ministry of education and science

The aim is to provide a place where children undergo a 6-month language course to be able then to attend schools in the country.

Minister of education claim that in addition to building the ministry will assist with books, materials and trained teachers [11]

Education inspectorate – Sofia city

Provide education facilities (building)

n/a

TimeHoroes Organize volunteer groups in aim to help refugee pupils to learn their lessons.

So far, over 70 volunteers helped children and adolescents from 5 to 17 to adapt more easily in Bulgarian society. Every day in the afternoon from 14:00 to 16:00 the volunteers work with the children on lessons and homework.

UNHCR-Bulgaria UNHCR in Central Europe works to provide asylum seekers access to territory, to fair and efficient procedures for asylum and decent reception

n/a

6

5. Yellow box educational platform

5.1. Yellow box platform principles

Yellow box is designed on principles low power consuming touch screen smart

device (such as smartphones device with ARM controller); open accessed software and free

educational e-content (for example video lectures uploaded on www.ucha.se which free of

charge provided educational content covers all different grated from Primary to High school);

mobile and easy to install in class devices; and in the end but not less important is the

mobility of the Yellow box. The Yellow boxes’ device has to be stored in a single case (box).

5.2. Educational platform

Table 3

Recycling low

power consuming

computing devices

“Recycling and reusing old mobile phones can have a positive impact on the environment by saving energy, protecting natural resources and stopping materials which can be reused from being taken to landfills where they go to waste.” [18] “Mobile phones and tablet devices are packed with reusable materials including precious metals, plastics and copper. Recycling these devices means these materials can be conserved and it also limits the air and water pollution that is produced whilst mobile phones are being manufactured [18]. Recycling mobile phone and tablet and providing them as studying or teaching tool will have positive impact on social welfare with introducing innovative IT technologies to education process and protecting environment. Example: Recycle for kids [19].

Low energy

consuming personal

computers [7], [8]

In case of scarcity of electricity, low energy consuming devices are desirable. Have to be choosen the best computing platform providing standard software features as installing popular application software as Open Office, VoIP applications as Skype (or substitute), Internet browsing, Media player, etc.

Online accessible

data storage [12]

Online storage will be used saving variety of content such as homework, e-learning content, multimedia files. The storage will compensate limited hard disk space of low energy consuming computers.

Online e-leaning

portal [13]

Online e-learning portal will provide identical, easy to access anytime, anywhere digital educational content. Content developers from UCHA.SE provide a Internet portal (including storage) fulfilled with full lecture materials from 2 grade till 11 grade. Provided learning content is interactive multimedia (text, audio, video).

Internet access In area of Sofia city had developed wire and wireless (WiMAX) broadband Internet access [14]

Online multimedia Video content [15]; Lecture slide [16];

7

application

5.3. Hardware comparison between low cost computing devices

In figure 2 shows simplified hardware frame of Raspberry Pi [8] computer and

exploded view of Nokia N900 [20]. Here the concept is to show the similarities and

deference’s between two different devices. “The Raspberry Pi is a credit-card-sized single-

board computer developed in the UK by the Raspberry Pi Foundation with the intention of

promoting the teaching of basic computer science in schools” [21]. “The Broadcom SoC used

in the Raspberry Pi is equivalent to a chip used in an old Smartphone (Android or iPhone).

While operating at 700 MHz by default” [21], where the processor is based on ARM

architecture. Operating memory chip is allocate close to the CPU with leaving 128 MB for

the processor and the rest is for Operating system (Linux) and video decoding. This concept

of shared RAM memory is comparatively to Smartphone Nokia 701 [22]. The Raspberry Pi

contain local area network controller, which support different digital resolutions; video

controller; audio controller; camera interface; and number of I/O plugging as USB; HDMI;

RCA video; LAN; Audio; micro USB; The running Operating system is Linux based, and all

installed application are Linux compatible.

Smartphone Nokia N900 was launch on 02 September 2009. Nokia N900 is

a Smartphone developed by Nokia with Linux based operating system [21]. The

microprocessor has ARM architecture produced by Texas Instruments. The Smartphone

contain video controller (PowerVR SGX 530); audio controller; digital camera; Connectivity

(WLAN IEEE 802.11 b/g; GSM850/900/1800/1900 and HSPA 10/2Mbps. Input output

interface is limited to micro SD card plug-in and audio I/O; and Bluetooth and Touch screen.

Figure 2. Raspberry Pi hardware frame [8] and exploded view of Nokia N900 [20]

a) Raspberry Pi [8] b) Exploded view of Nokia N900 [20]

8

5.4. Yellow box

Tool Description Number

Box

1

Software

Linux OS; Android OS; Class room manager

11

Teachers smart touch computing device 1

Students smart touch computing device 10

Wi-Fi access point 1

USB charger 1

Portable multimedia projector 1

Raspberry Pi media server 1

Portable battery 1

Portable mini screen

1

Cables USB cables; other cables

n/a

9

6. Expected results

6.1. Socialization

After attending and passing first knowledge class refugees will have the

knowledge to join state school in the country. Adaptation and socialization of the refugees to

the domestic society are desirable result as well. The digital classroom will provide not only

easy to learn environment, but will provide facilities for content creation; education

application development; online/offline cultural exchange; distance communication with lost

relatives; and etc.

6.2. Multifunctional digital classroom (Portable digital classroom)

Proposal is one more opportunity for improving the education environment in

refugee camp with introducing digital technologies. We are confident in the new digital

generation (children born in the Information age) that they will easy adopt the recent IT

technologies and will start to use not only for learning but for creating knowledge content as

well.

The digital classroom will provide: learning infrastructure; facilities for content

creation; sharing digital content; online/offline knowledge exchange; distance communication

with relatives (VoIP apps); and etc.

6.3. Unique and easy to replicate model of digital classroom

The principle of building portable digital class room based on low energy

consuming equipment; open accessed operation system (Android and Linux); and free of

charge online applications will give this universality of Yellow box for easy implementation

and adaptation in states with scarcity of infrastructure (as electricity) and educational

environment (as school and classroom).

6.4. Environmental protection

“Recycling and reusing old mobile phones can have a positive impact on the

environment by saving energy, protecting natural resources and stopping materials, which

can be reused from being taken to landfills where they go to waste”[6]

7. References

[1] Oxford English Dictionary Online. November 2010. Retrieved 23 February 2011.

[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refugees_of_the_Syrian_Civil_War

[3] http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-02/bulgaria-may-ask-for-eu-aid-to-handle-

rise-in-syrian-refugees.html

10

[4] http://www.aref.government.bg/

[5] http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/financing/fundings/migration-asylum-

borders/refugee-fund/index_en.htm

[6] UNHCR Education strategy 2012-2016

[7] Low energy consuming Personal computer: http://www.tinygreenpc.com

[8] Low cost and low energy consuming Personal computer: http://www.raspberrypi.org/

[9] TimeHeroes https://timeheroes.org/cvs/142

[10] http://www.caritas-bg.org/web/bg/caritas-sofia/novini/ot-caritas-sofia/item/3556-

obuchenie-na-dobrovolci-za-rabota-s-deca-bejanci-i-tarseshti-zakrila

[11]

http://www.dnevnik.bg/bulgaria/2013/09/12/2139196_kabinetut_shte_osiguri_sgrada_za_obu

chenie_na_decata/

[12] www.dropbox.com

[13] www.ucha.se

[14] http://www.slideshare.net/Monkata80/lombok-20978398

[15] www.youtube.com

[16] www.slideshare.com

[17] Raspberry Pi: http://infinigeek.com/introducing-raspberry-pi-rpi-a-fully-programmable-

pc/

[18] http://infinigeek.com/the-benefits-of-mobile-phone-recycling/

[19] Recycle for kids: http://www.benefits-of-recycling.com/recyclingforkids/

[20] http://thehandheldblog.com/2009/11/30/download-the-n900-service-manual-see-the-

n900-get-disassembled/

[21] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nokia_N900

[22] "Nokia 701 has a similar Broadcom GPU". Raspberrypi.org. 2 February 2012. Retrieved

22 June 2012.