The 'Hole in the wall' experiments: Self-organizing systems in primary education

By Sugata Mitra
Professor of Educational Technology
Newcastle University

ABSTRACT:

Groups of children can learn to use computers on their own, irrespective of who or where they are.

Groups of children, given access to shared, publicly accessible computers in playgrounds and other public areas, will teach themselves to use the technology on their own.

This was unknown prior to 1999, when it was discovered through a set of experiments conducted by NIIT Limited, an education and training multinational with its headquarters in New Delhi, India.

Through what is arguably the largest experiment in primary education in recent times, Sugata Mitra, then at NIIT went on to discover that the "playground" computers he had invented would:

1. Produce computer literacy

2. Improve math and English scores

3. Change social values

4. Improve school attendance

5. Reduce school dropout rates

6. Reduce petty crime

7. Generate local goodwill

8. Benefit boys and girls equally

Through five years of rigorous measurements across the Indian subcontinent, his results were verified amongst 40,000 of the world's poorest children. Almost half of these were girls.

These results have been documented exhaustively in the most journals and media in the world.

Over 40,000 references to this work are found on the Internet on the google search engine.

Without adult intervention or supervision, 40,000 village children experimented with computers and software to acquire an enduring understanding of the information age.

The Concept:

Minimally Invasive Education (MIE), as this method is sometimes referred to, is composed of several innovations in hardware technology, software technology, and cognitive design. It is one of the first attempts at applying the principle of self-organising systems to children's education. Self-organising systems are usually studied in the context of Physics and Mathematics.

Minimally Invasive Education:

Minimally Invasive Education (MIE) is new educational technology for achieving mass computer literacy, and some basic primary education at a cost that is considerably lower than traditional alternatives. It employs learning models such as collaborative constructivism and a series of interlocking innovations, both technological and pedagogical.

Computers are made available in shared, public spaces, free of charge and no structure is imposed on when, how or what children learn.