Evolution of the 'Hole-in-the-Wall': A Status Review

The "hole-in-the-wall" experiments of 1999, as named by the popular media, started with an Internet-connected computer being embedded in a wall facing a slum in Kalkaji, New Delhi, India. Several studies showed that groups of children, when given access to the Internet, can learn by themselves. Children's academic marks improved, and their interest in learning new things increased, resulting in a significant decrease in school dropouts and increase in school attendance. Soft skills, such as confidence, communication, and self-regulation improved. This article traces the history of this experiment, the formation of "hole-in-the-wall education" (HiWEL) as an organization, technological and pedagogical advances, and how this simple idea is touching the lives of millions of children.