The solar-powered classroom. (Credit: Image courtesy of University of Southampton)
A major difficulty in teaching science subjects in developing countries, especially in rural schools, is that students are rarely able to get ‘hands-on’ experience of experiments. This could be partly due to a lack of equipment, chemicals and facilities but mainly because of a lack of electricity and running water.
Now, Professor Tony Rest, a visiting Chemistry academic at the University of Southampton, and Keith Wilkinson, formerly a teacher at the International School at Lusaka in Zambia, have devised a solar-powered solution based on a digital projector and low-cost solar energy panels so that students can gain access to IT and other modern teaching methods.
