Objective and Tasks

The objective of FreeEducationCenter.com is to provide free education in multiple languages and in many fields via a friendly and attractive interface. The first task has been to create new software that can run Education Centers like this one, and that can also be installed on any type of computer (Windows, Linux and Mac) for those who do not have access to the Internet. The software has been named “Learning Now” and it is now running this Education Center.

Our second and current task is to establish a network of Associations and Organizations [NGOs] which are now working on educational projects and who are using “Learning Now” for additional support to their students and to the methods in use.

A new educational tool

Learning Now v1 (Apprendre Maintenant v1)* is a brand new educational tool originally designed for a 15 to 35 years-old public. Today's version can be used for a larger audience. It is a great new (Freeware - open source) software for building interactive and multimedia books, courses, presentations, digital rooms and educational games for all ages. The project initiated in Jamaica in September 2004 with the support of the UNESCO in Kingston.

Learning Now v1 is the perfect tool to implement new teaching methodologies taking full advantage of all current multimedia resources available to educators.

Using this software you can:

• Create interactive Training Courses and Presentations of all types and for all ages (5 to 90 years old).
• Build Free Internet or Intranet Training Centers.
• Distribute courses and presentations on the web or on CDs to reach those who need free education worldwide.
• Create Electronic Community Centers (web sites) filled with collections of cultural archives, story books, catalogs and interactive training courses developed and updated with the support of local educators and reflecting your own cultural identity. Read more about the possibilities.

The sofware can be used to create any type of courses, for any age, any language.

Go to the Education Center section to see a demo of Learning Now v1.

References:

• Short article (February 2007) about the project - UNESCO portal (software known as "Easy Skanking").
• Short note about Literacy according to EFA
• About the Literacy Course included here.
• Bluefields goes high tech - JamaicaObserver.com.
• Bluefields Bay residents get 'free' computer classes - JamaicaObserver.com.

The Electronic Help Book [Learning Now Manual (1.5 MB)] includes step-by-step instructions, samples and tips that answer any question a user might have.

The Help Book is written to motivate teachers and instructors to use this new tool. Educators will find a lot of new ideas and suggestions that will help them improve their own creativity and develop new methodologies.

The 100-pages book is formatted as a standard “How to” book and can be printed on black and white or color printer for fast reference. It is written in simple English without any technical jargon. It explains simply, with examples, how the editor works.

What type of courses can be created with Learning Now v1?

Learning Now v1 is much more than just software for children. Enumerating each type of courses and books that the software can create could take pages!

If you have anything in particular in mind, do not hesitate to contact the author and confirm that it could be developed using the Editor.

Built on a modular structure, new features can be added to the software according to educators and users' needs. The author is open to all suggestions.

New methodologies need to be implemented to take full advantage of all the resources available to educators. It’s not about reinventing the wheel, it’s about readjusting the way children and people in general receive education.

So here is a brief outlook of what can de done.

• Pre-School and Kindergarten.
• Anything that one can think of for this age frame can be created in just hours. This is really easy.
• Primary School – Elementary School.
• Same as above. You can easily create courses covering as many subjects and areas as you can find in school books, but with a different perspective.
• 13 to 25 years old.
  • Besides initiations courses like Literacy and Numeracy for young adolescents and adults with poor reading skills, you can create and integrate into this same interface the following types.
• Courses on Foreign Languages, Social Studies, Literature.
• Courses on Human Sciences, Technology, Geography and History. The list goes on.
• Computer training courses from hardware to software. The interface supports the integration of computer software lessons on how to use (compatible with Adobe Cativate projects) such as:
• Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Photoshop, Sound Editing and Video Editing packages.
• Web Page Design, Web Servers Management, and so on…
• Training courses on all major professions and crafts.

As soon as time allows it, we will present a few samples on the Education Center.

• 25+ to 100 years old.
• Same as above.

For more detailed information about this new interactive educational tool, its features and its potential, open Learning Now Help Book. Go also to Tech Info and Current Status.

Copyright Notice:

All Music and photos are property of their authors (the usual copyright applies to all the music) and should only be used within this program. We want to thank Dan Glaser for his pictures of Robins Bay - Saint Mary. The 3d character was originally created by Julien Tromeur in 2003, and left "like waiting for us" in a lost Internet open source download area. Julien, please contact me!

Learning Now v1 computer program is protected by copyright law and international treaties. Unauthorized use, reproduction or distribution of this program, or any portion of it, may result in severe civil and criminal penalties, and will be prosecuted to the maximum extent possible under the law.

Free License in the West Indies - In May 2006, The people of Jamaica and the West Indies received a perpetual, royalty-free, exclusive license limited to Jamaica and the West Indies and following the terms of the GNU General Public License [see JAMAICA: News Release].

Notices, terms and conditions are located at the Free Software Foundation at the following address: http://www.gnu.org/licences/.

Learning Now v1 was developed - up to May 2006 - with the support of UNESCO, the Jamaica Sustainable Development Network Ltd, and the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica. Since June 2006, the author has continued the research - alone - and has produced a lot of improvements to the software.

Learning Now - Version 1.2
Copyright © Fabrice Menoyot - 2006-2009