Thin Clients: Empowering Low-Income Family Students with Educational Tools from Revitalized Discarded Computers in Humanitarian Non-Profits
Lin Yong, Chengyao Wu, Astin Taomy Lin, Sara Koeth, Nico Kaszynski, Tariq Zaman, Charles Noah Lin, Ming Chen · 2023
This research paper delves into the potential of leveraging thin client operating systems (OS) to transform discarded computers into valuable educational tools for supporting low-income K-12 school students, with a particular focus on addressing humanitarian needs. The study presents its initial findings and insights obtained during a collaborative pilot project involving Awakening Your Child Total Potential (AYCTP), a non-profit organization based in Ohio, in conjunction with the College of Engineering and Computing (CEC) and the Farmer School of Business (FSB) at Miami University, along with the Miami University Humanitarian STEM Service Corp (HSSC) student club. The pilot initiative targeted 40 K-12 students including refugees, orphans, and low-income individuals in Cincinnati, OH, Athens, Greece, and Thailand. By repurposing and distributing donated computers from Miami University, AYCTP and HSSC aimed to provide these students with access to educational technology. Beyond the hardware provision, the project also explored the potential of offering crucial STEM classes, training, and mentorship to the recipients of these computer donations, with the aim of fostering their interest in STEM fields and higher education prospects. In addition to distributing educational computers, the research team developed custom courses to cultivate the student’s interest in STEM subjects and computer programing, utilizing both the donated computers and affordable devices like Raspberry Pi. The ultimate objective of this endeavor was to empower underprivileged students, enabling them to tap into their full potential and create brighter futures for themselves.