Introduction
School computers Project
was established in 2007 as a division of Planet Training College. Planet Training College is a provider of basic IT training to the society among other
Professional courses . School Computers Project was established with the
aim of providing universal computer access to all students in the country. To
enable this vision School Computers Project conducted a pilot project in Mtambani Primary School in Dar Es Salaam for three year from 2008 to 2011. The pilot project was used as a
test bed for technology use in the school. The emphasis of this project was to
provide computers to schools and to teach computer skills only.
But the trends has
changed now, there is so much more the schools can do with computers. Countries
today increasingly recognize that educated citizens are critical to its chances
for success in the worldwide digital economy. Students need to develop 21st
century skills to be best prepared for this reality, and to have the
opportunity to succeed. These skills—technology and media literacy, effective
communications, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration—are best
developed in effective eLearning environments that include information and
communications technology (ICT).
As the name signifies
the program vision, mission, and objective is to provide access to computer to
every School in the country. In this document we use the word computer as a
generic term to include all hardware, software and services to bring meaningful
technologies in the society. With the society we mean schools and the communities
around the schools.
A strategic move is
required to ensure maximum benefit is realised. Down here is the program
explanation that will outline the features of the program and proposed
implementation strategies and plan
SCHOOL COMPUTERS
PROJECT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE
School Computers project
is the brainchild of Planet Training College that aims to bridge
digital divide in the country. The project has a very ambitious objective of
providing computer access for everyone in Tanzania. With the advance of
technology and availability of low cost computing around the world there is a
high demand of a structured and managed system of providing computer access to
wide number of people in the country.
Considerations have been
made during research and development of this program to ensure that the program
will be cost effective to all involved in the program.
Program Description
Computer access for
everyone offers low cost computing solutions to schools in order to improve the
standard of education in the country. Various technologies have been tried and
tested inside and outside the country and we have now been able to put in place
a combination of hardware, software and professional development program for
school improvement. The technology offered to schools has been proven to reduce
if not to remove most of the challenges schools are facing in introducing
technologies.
What will be implemented
inside the schools?
The program will provide
to schools
1. Computer Labs
2. Professional development of teachers
3. Local digitized contents
4. Internet connectivity*
Let us explain each part
of the program
Computer Lab
There are several modes
of setting up computer labs in schools. These include full PCs, laptops, notebooks,
thin clients, noPCs, ncomputing etc.
We suggest that every
school initially to be equipped with the computer lab at a ratio of 1 :20 this
number will increase when there are enough number of teachers and students who
can use the technologies.
The benefits of
using this kind of technology are
1. Reduced initial cost of purchase ( less than 200
USD per user for a large deployment)
2. Reduced cost for technical support
(support 2 computers in every school instead of 20)
3. Reduced electricity usage (the devices use 1
watt instead of 100 watt of the typical PC)
4. Longer life of devices (the devices do not have
any moving part thus they have lifespan of 50 years)
How does it work?
Currently computers are
very powerful and every day the power of computers are rising, on the other
part most many users including schools need very small power from the computer,
that most of the
power are not used. Now with the advent of virtualization,
ncomputing combines hardware and software that will tap the unused power of
these powerful computers and share this power with 10 other users. So there is
no need to buy 10 computers, only ONE is enough. With x550 ncomputing devices
each user experiences the desktop as if he is using independent machine. Now
here is a catch, these devices are low cost (less than 200 usd), maintenance
free (no hdd, ram, processor) low power consumption (uses only 1 watt). So this
solution has reduced or removed several challenges.
Technical supports
After
installing computers another big challenge is making them work consistently and
reliably. Many technology programs fails due to the lack of maintenance and
support
personnel, this is due to the great number of computers to be supported. In the setup that uses PC systems every school might need technical support personnel, but with our system we can use even the second level support. Example: Every 40 computers need one personnel to support them this means that every school will need one personnel for the program to be effective. But with our system one personnel will support 10 schools, that is 90% reduction of human resource and support cost.
personnel, this is due to the great number of computers to be supported. In the setup that uses PC systems every school might need technical support personnel, but with our system we can use even the second level support. Example: Every 40 computers need one personnel to support them this means that every school will need one personnel for the program to be effective. But with our system one personnel will support 10 schools, that is 90% reduction of human resource and support cost.
Again we have developed
a highly stable technical support system that utilizes
- Deep Freeze ( a restart to restore system) that
reduces system instability due to changes and also reduces the impact of virus
attacks ( more information on this is available at www.faronics.com )
- Computer diagnostic toolkits from www.uxd.com that removes any guesswork in computer
maintenance
Human resources
Professional Development
of Teachers and Teachers’ PC Program (TPP)
Teachers represent a
critical element in the success of any Learning environment since the teacher
must be the guide, mentor, facilitator, and coach to improve education outcomes
and help students develop 21st century skills.
One of the most
effective ways to create a near term, high impact education transformation is
by providing teachers professional development program coupled with the Teacher
PC program.
School Computers Project
has signed License Agreement with Intel Corporation through its CSR program of
Intel Education to implement the Intel Teach program in Tanzania. There are initial 10 master teachers
who have been trained to deliver the program in the country and the
implementation of the training has started in the Country.
We have included a
presentation that outlines the Intel Teach program and the progression path. In
short the Intel teach program has been implemented in more than 50 countries as
seen in the presentation, and the program has benefited more than 6 million
teachers around the world and has helped in transforming the education systems
in several countries that has taken an active role in the implementation of the
program.
The Intel Teach program
can be included as a part of pre-service teacher training program in teachers
colleges. The teacher colleges can take an active part in deployment of the
Intel teach program. Some elements of Intel teach program can be included in
the teacher training curriculum. For more information about the program go to http://www.intel.com/education/teach/
In order for the
teachers to effectively use the knowledge they have acquired it is incumbent to
provide them with the access to computers. We suggest including a Teacher PC
Program with this School Computers Project, with the aim of providing a laptop
for every teacher in the country. Here several models can be used. One of these
models is to provide the laptops to teachers on credit; another is for the
school community to finance the laptops for teachers program. We are still
looking on the proper model that we can employ in this regard.
Local digitized Content
One of the challenges
facing many developing countries is how to teach science and mathematics, the
advent of computers makes teaching and learning various scientific concepts
easier. School Computers Project in collaboration with Intel have discussed the
implementation of the skoool portal to Tanzania. Skoool is a collection of digital resources to teach and
learn science and mathematics that can be customized and localized to suit the
country environment. Intel uses a transfer of technology model in deploying
these resources. A local team will put in place to receive and disseminate the
technology to others. We have included the skoool implementation document that
will provide an overview of the contents. And for more information and the
deployment of skoool around the world, check skoool.com
The beauty of these
resources is that you can deploy them as an online solution or an offline
solution. This will allow the distribution of the program easily even where
there is no connectivity.
(Suggestion work with
internet service providers or mobile phone companies to allow this portal to be
accessible free of charge)
Importance ( why this program is required?)
Implementation Strategy
The School Computers
Project program will be implemented in both primary and secondary schools by
establishing centers inside schools we will be able to reach a vast majority of
people across the country, since most of the schools are within the reach of
many community members. These centers inside the schools will serve students
and school staffs during school hours, and will be opened to public after
school hours to offer various services to the society.
(here we will need
to provide a detailed strategy of
implementation}
Examples:
Computers will be
provided to schools with:-
1.
A minimum of 300
students
2.
Computer Rooms
Grilled,Electrified and well Vanished
3.
Fence and Security
4.
Capable of
contributing to the Professional development fund (40,000/student/year)
5.
Computer lab Furnitures
e.g chairs, 2 conference Table
School Computers Project
will provide:-
a) Computers
b) Projectors
c) Whiteboards
d) Master Trainers
e) Technical support
f) Spin-off projects (ICUC, University of the people)
Administration
g) Computer Studies Curricum based on Subjects and
Technology Intergration
h) School Management Software
i) School Websit
NB: After certain milestones are reached ( Enough
Master trainers, student:Computer ratio 1:10, second level Tech Support, etc)
the program will be handed over to the school if the school has not
default in payment during the defined period of the Contract
Beneficiaries
The Project will benefit
the following groups:-
- School Students
- Teachers
- School Administration staff
- Students Parents
- Small business owners
- Local government officials
- Youths
Initial Project Targets
- To
install computer labs to every school in the country
- To
provide professional development to all school teachers and administration
staff
- To
establish Community learning centers in these schools
- To
provide computer access to all school students
Partners
-
Ncomputing Inc - Technology
-
Tamongsco - Coordination with non-governmental organization
-
Intel (under discussion) - Intel Teach program
- Intel skoool portal
-
Acer (Monitors and Computers)
-
Eduvision (under discussion) - digital textbook solution
-
Tanzania Teachers Association - Coordination with government school teachers
-
Ministry of Education -
-
Microsoft (under discussion) - provision of software for education
Fifth: Spin off Projects
As
seen in the name of the School Computer Projects. We have initiated a
discussion with ICWFD (International Commission on Workforce Development) to
offer the e-learning solutions. The idea as mentioned earlier is to turn the
computer labs in schools to become Community learning centers after school
hours. The project is under development now to be offered to general public
through establishing private e-learning center. By using the schools as
community learning centers the centers can generate enough income to sustain
the projects for the long term.
(other programs – Intel Easy steps (ICUC), IOU, UoP and digital
village)
Sixth: Running cost to
sustain the project
There
are several suggestions here, one of the suggestion is for the government to
initiate an ICT fund which will be used to generate funds to sustain the
program. The Project will receive funds from different donors
including phone companies, banks, employees, social security funds etc
This is only the summary
of ideas which can be immediately implemented and which are underway to be
implemented in schools in the country.
Planet
Training College,
P.O. Box 1511, Mwanza
Tanzania .
Tel: +255 737 202 831
Mob: +255 759 843 141
Email: planetheadoffice@gmail.com
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