Kids Learn Computers via “Hole in the Wall” Experiments

Dr. Sugata Mitra, a scientist at NIIT, a global IT Learning Solutions Corporation, made a “hole in the wall” in 1999 that separated the NIIT premises from the adjoining slum in Kalkaji, New Delhi. Through this hole, a freely accessible computer was installed and the slum children with no prior computer experience, learnt to use the computer on their own. And so started the a series of “Hole in the Wall” Experiments based on Dr Mitra’s hypothesis that

The acquisition of basic computing skills by any set of children can be achieved through incidental learning provided the learners are given access to a suitable computing facility, with entertaining and motivating content and some minimal (human) guidance.

Promoted as Minimally Invasive Education (MIE), the scope broadened with formation of the Hole-in-the-Wall Education Ltd (HiWEL), a tie up between International Finance Corporation and NIIT, that has now set up many such Learning Stations up in India and abroad. Hole-in-the-wall Learning Stations seek to create a new way to learn by providing unrestricted computer access to groups of children in an open playground setting.

An idea can change your life… Thanks Rajiv for the tip!