Pupils engage in interactive learning from Everest
(March 2nd, 2007) For the pupils in 6. and 7. grade from 10 different schools in Hamar in Norway, the Spring term will provide a totally new learning experience. For six weeks, they will follow a Mount Everest expedition, and engage in interactive learning using advanced digital technology.
As the expedition moves from Nepal to Base Camp and on towards the summit of Everest, the pupils will be given interactive assignments from the Expedition touching upon subjects ranging from religion, culture, socio economics, geography, energy, mathematics, physics, motivation and communication.
A portal website is the centre of the interactive learning, and here the pupils can ask questions to the expedition, who will publish weekly assignments, video and audio recordings, every day tales from the expedition, blogs and more.
One of the technologies making this innovative school project possible is the fact that the expedition carries a mobile satellite communications terminal from Thrane & Thrane. The Nera WorldPro 1010 weighs only one kilo and provides telephony and data speeds up to 384 kbps. It simply plugs into the expedition team’s laptop PCs.
The expedition leader Alexander Gamme comments: “It is an incredible feeling to connect up your laptop in the middle of Himmalaya at plus 6000 meters altitude and receive emails, update our website and blogs, and send huge video files across the world. And it is so easy to set up and use.”
At one point, the satellite terminal was covered with snow and it was -15C, but it worked like a dream.
The Nera WorldPro 1010 uses the Inmarsat Broadbnd Global Area Network (BGAN) and is the smallest and lightest BGAN terminal available.
More information on the Nera WorldPro 1010.