Using kiwix to access Wikipedia to enhance T/L process

[Gurta]

I understand that many schools in this country of ours do not have computers, connection to the internet and the necessary equipement to support such as electricity, but this testimony (or is it?) can be useful for teachers in schools with some computers, some kind of access to internet and those with the interest to use IT in their teaching.

For one to use computers and IT in teaching as of present day technologies and developments it just takes the following:

1. Interest and readiness to do it! This is at the forefront as it needs individual input to implement. Sometimes the school admin (management) may not be so providing of all that is needed
2. Availability of few "good" laptop PCs. I recommend laptops, these are easier to set up and because my experience is based on their use. Also laptops (most of them) comes with wi-fi. This, as we shall see, is important.
3. Download and install kiwix 0.9 , this link will give options according to your OS. There are other many software suites that does almost the same job, but I recommend kiwix
4. Download a Wikipedia ZIM file, there are many on offer but to begin with I'd recommend Simple English Wikipedia. It is small (only 730MB) and therefore wouldn't eat much of your internet bundle.
5. Install these 2 (steps 3 and 4) on a good laptop. This laptop is important that is should be "work-worthy". This is because you are going to use it as a server so that all other computers (laptops) are going to use it.
6. Assuming that you are using Win 7 (Ultimate is better), create a ad-hoc network. Make it open and home, unless you have reasons not to. By doing this all other computers with wi-fi on and that are located on a location within 30ft. will be able to connect to it and access kiwix
7. On the laptop with kiwix installed, start the program. Make sure it is indexed and running. Click Tools --> Server. Decide on the port to listen (default is kept as 8000, this can be changed). Start the server
8. Hurray, now you have offline Wikipedia that can be accessed by a bunch of laptops. Just connect all the other laptops to the ad-hoc network you have created, start the web browser (Firefox is better), type in the address to which the server is set (something like http://127.0.0.1:8080). You and your students are set!

It is "free" in the sense that you wouldn't be paying for the software and experience is stimulating to the learners. Giveit a try and should you have any questions don't hesitate to post them here in this post of visit the kiwik page.