E-Learning africa 2007

The Burundi ProjectThe Burundi Project

Sewing the Digital Divide Sewing the Digital Divide

by Empowering Teachersby Empowering TeachersSewing the Digital Divide Sewing the Digital Divide

by Empowering Teachersby Empowering Teachers

by

Paolo Brunello

WITARWITARpresentspresents

eLearnig Africa 2007eLearnig Africa 2007Nairobi, 28-30 MayNairobi, 28-30 May

Nairobi, 28-30 May 2007

Sewing the Digital Divide by Empowering Teachersp a o l o . b r u n e l l o @ w i t a r . o r g

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The Bateson’s MagnifierThe Bateson’s MagnifierThe Bateson’s MagnifierThe Bateson’s Magnifier

CONTEXTCONTEXT

RELATIONSHIPSRELATIONSHIPS

CONTENTCONTENT



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On one side…On one side… 2005200518831883

The Istituto Tecnico Alessandro The Istituto Tecnico Alessandro RossiRossi

The Istituto Tecnico Alessandro The Istituto Tecnico Alessandro RossiRossi

• Heavily contributed to the development of the Veneto regionHeavily contributed to the development of the Veneto region

• Founded in 1878 by Alessandro RossiFounded in 1878 by Alessandro Rossi

• Trained 5 generations of techniciansTrained 5 generations of technicians

WORLD ISTITUTO TECNICO ALESSANDRO ROSSIWORLD ISTITUTO TECNICO ALESSANDRO ROSSI

WITARWITAR

Istituto Tecnico Alessandro Rossi ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Istituto Tecnico Alessandro Rossi ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Our Mission:Our Mission:PROMOTING THE PROMOTING THE

TECHNICAL TECHNICAL AND CRAFT AND CRAFT CULTURE CULTURE

IN THE IN THE DEVELOPING DEVELOPING COUNTRIESCOUNTRIES

Our Mission:Our Mission:PROMOTING THE PROMOTING THE

TECHNICAL TECHNICAL AND CRAFT AND CRAFT CULTURE CULTURE

IN THE IN THE DEVELOPING DEVELOPING COUNTRIESCOUNTRIES

20022002



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The bridgeThe bridge

ISTITUTO TECNICO ISTITUTO TECNICO ALESSANDRO ROSSIALESSANDRO ROSSIISTITUTO TECNICO ISTITUTO TECNICO ALESSANDRO ROSSIALESSANDRO ROSSI

LYCEE TECHNIQUELYCEE TECHNIQUEALESSANDRO ROSSIALESSANDRO ROSSILYCEE TECHNIQUELYCEE TECHNIQUE

ALESSANDRO ROSSIALESSANDRO ROSSI



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VSAT donated by EUTELSATVSAT donated by EUTELSAT512 kbps up/dn dedicated512 kbps up/dn dedicated

VSAT donated by EUTELSATVSAT donated by EUTELSAT512 kbps up/dn dedicated512 kbps up/dn dedicated



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On the other side…On the other side…Since 2003 WITAR raised and invested Since 2003 WITAR raised and invested

€€ 400.000400.000 supporting the supporting the

Lycée Technique Alessandro RossiLycée Technique Alessandro Rossi

The Lycée Technique Alessandro The Lycée Technique Alessandro RossiRossi

QuickTime™ e undecompressore

sono necessari per visualizzare quest'immagine.



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Cultural ContextCultural ContextCultural ContextCultural Context

ITALIAN ITALIAN CULTURECULTURE

SchoolSchoolCultureCulture

Business Business CultureCulture

BURUNDIANBURUNDIANCULTURECULTURE

SchoolSchool CultureCulture

BUSINESS BUSINESS CULTURECULTURE

INTERNETINTERNETCULTURECULTURE

e-Le-LINSTRUCTIONALINSTRUCTIONAL

PARADIGMPARADIGM

e-L CONSTRUCTIONIST APPROACHe-L CONSTRUCTIONIST APPROACH

6 Feet under6 Feet under



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RelationshipsRelationshipsRelationshipsRelationships

““Rich bazungu”Rich bazungu” ““Poor Africans”Poor Africans”

HIERARCHYHIERARCHYHIERARCHYHIERARCHY

STATUSSTATUSSTATUSSTATUS



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WITAR e-Learning ProgramWITAR e-Learning ProgramWITAR e-Learning ProgramWITAR e-Learning Program

11 GOALGOAL

3 3 DrivesDrives

EDUCATIONAL SUPPORTEDUCATIONAL SUPPORTEDUCATIONAL SUPPORTEDUCATIONAL SUPPORT

WEBSEARCHING TRAINING WEBSEARCHING TRAINING WEBSEARCHING TRAINING WEBSEARCHING TRAINING

DISTANCE LEARNING DISTANCE LEARNING DISTANCE LEARNING DISTANCE LEARNING

e - COLLABORATIONe - COLLABORATIONe - COLLABORATIONe - COLLABORATION



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Drive 1Drive 1


IN-HOUSE PUBLISHINGIN-HOUSE PUBLISHINGIN-HOUSE PUBLISHINGIN-HOUSE PUBLISHING

TEACHERS

TEACHERS

STUDENTS

STUDENTS

WEB-SUPPORTED TEACHINGWEB-SUPPORTED TEACHINGWEB-SUPPORTED TEACHINGWEB-SUPPORTED TEACHING

WEBSEARCHING TRAINING WEBSEARCHING TRAINING WEBSEARCHING TRAINING WEBSEARCHING TRAINING

LECTURES PREPARATIONLECTURES PREPARATIONLECTURES PREPARATIONLECTURES PREPARATION



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ICT EmpowermentICT EmpowermentICT EmpowermentICT Empowerment

PIONEERSPIONEERSPIONEERSPIONEERS

OPINION LEADERSOPINION LEADERSOPINION LEADERSOPINION LEADERS

12Sewing the Digital Divide by Empowering Teachersp a o l o . b r u n e l l o @ w i t a r . o r g


WEB-SUPPORTED TEACHINGWEB-SUPPORTED TEACHINGWEB-SUPPORTED TEACHINGWEB-SUPPORTED TEACHINGQuickTime™ e un

decompressore DivX 4sono necessari per visualizzare quest'immagine.



IN-HOUSE PUBLISHINGIN-HOUSE PUBLISHINGIN-HOUSE PUBLISHINGIN-HOUSE PUBLISHING



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VIDEOCONFERENCEVIDEOCONFERENCEVIDEOCONFERENCEVIDEOCONFERENCE

TEACHERTEACHERSS

TEACHERTEACHERSS

STUDENTSTUDENTSS

STUDENTSTUDENTSS

11 - TO - CLASS LESSONS - TO - CLASS LESSONS 11 - TO - CLASS LESSONS - TO - CLASS LESSONS

DISTANCE LEARNING DISTANCE LEARNING DISTANCE LEARNING DISTANCE LEARNING

11 - TO - - TO - 11 LESSONS LESSONS11 - TO - - TO - 11 LESSONS LESSONSDrive 2Drive 2



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ItalianItalianteacher’s screenteacher’s screen

on projector, on projector, captured via captured via

VNCVNC

OnOnBurundian PC:Burundian PC:

same app same app and fileand file

OnOnBurundian PC:Burundian PC:

same app same app and fileand file Voice interaction Voice interaction

via Skypevia SkypeVoice interaction Voice interaction

via Skypevia Skype

11 - TO - CLASS LESSONS - TO - CLASS LESSONS11 - TO - CLASS LESSONS - TO - CLASS LESSONS



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MOODLEMOODLEMOODLEMOODLE


TEACHERTEACHERSS

TEACHERTEACHERSS

STUDENTSTUDENTSS

STUDENTSTUDENTSS

CLASS CLASS TOTO CLASS CLASS CLASS CLASS TOTO CLASS CLASS

e - COLLABORATIONe - COLLABORATIONe - COLLABORATIONe - COLLABORATION

TEACHER TEACHER TOTO TEACHER TEACHERTEACHER TEACHER TOTO TEACHER TEACHERDrive 3Drive 3

FAILED



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Why it did fail?Why it did fail?Why it did fail?Why it did fail?1.1. Unreliable infrastructure Unreliable infrastructure (black out, connection)(black out, connection)

2.2. MotivationMotivation– Voluntary base: Voluntary base: “You “You workwork for free” for free” – Strong Strong inertiainertia when restructuring job routines to when restructuring job routines to

implement innovation and learningimplement innovation and learning

• Pedagogic shift: Pedagogic shift: process vs contentprocess vs content• Language: Language: EnglishEnglish is poorly mastered on both is poorly mastered on both

sidessides• ““PCPC? Sounds ? Sounds complicatecomplicate already!” already!”• Tricky Tricky Teacher/Student power gameTeacher/Student power game: “: “Students Students

are generally better than their teacher with PC and are generally better than their teacher with PC and English”English”



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Lessons learnedLessons learnedLessons learnedLessons learned1.1. Context analysisContext analysis vs wishful thinkingwishful thinking

ICT EMPOWERMENTICT EMPOWERMENTICT EMPOWERMENTICT EMPOWERMENT

PIONEERSPIONEERSPIONEERSPIONEERS

OPINION LEADERSOPINION LEADERSOPINION LEADERSOPINION LEADERS

VISIONVISIONVISIONVISION SKILLSSKILLSSKILLSSKILLS INCENTIVESINCENTIVESINCENTIVESINCENTIVESRESOURCESRESOURCESRESOURCESRESOURCESACTION PLANACTION PLANACTION PLANACTION PLAN

3.3. Be patient: it will take longer, anywayBe patient: it will take longer, anyway

2.2. Support:Support:



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Contacts & ExtrasContacts & ExtrasContacts & ExtrasContacts & Extras• WEB: www.witar.org • Email: [email protected]• Phone: Burundi +257 79 90 36 91

Italy +39 329 491 88 80• Skype: pbrunello___________________________________

• ITIS Alessandro Rossi: www.itisrossi.vi.it

• LTAR Ngozi: www.ltarngozi.org

TechnicalitiesTechnicalities

FundingFunding

SustainabilitySustainability

PartnershipsPartnerships

http://www.witar.org/

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.itisrossi.vi.it/

http://www.ltarngozi.org/



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SustainabilitySustainability• AutofinancingAutofinancing

– Computer Literacy coursesComputer Literacy courses– Copy centerCopy center– PC maintenance & technical assistancePC maintenance & technical assistance– Electric installations serviceElectric installations service– Welding and machinery assistanceWelding and machinery assistance

• Becoming a Becoming a center of competencecenter of competence for: for:– Photovoltaic installationsPhotovoltaic installations– VSAT installationsVSAT installations



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Financial SourcesFinancial Sources

57%

19%

24%

Private (individualsand companies)Private institutions

Public

WITAR’sWITAR’s efficiency:efficiency:

Running costs Running costs Total expendituresTotal expenditures= = 9%9%



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PartnershipsPartnerships• WITAR signed an agreement with the WITAR signed an agreement with the Diocèse Diocèse

de Ngozide Ngozi, that is supervising the Lycée , that is supervising the Lycée Technique Alessandro RossiTechnique Alessandro Rossi

• Some collaboration with Some collaboration with Ngozi UniversityNgozi University

______________________________________________________________________________

• EutelsatEutelsat donated the VSAT equipement and donated the VSAT equipement and the connection and it is very responsive to our the connection and it is very responsive to our project needsproject needs



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TechnicalitiesTechnicalities

• Videoconference software: Videoconference software: SkypeSkype (www.skype.com)(www.skype.com)

• Learning Management System: Learning Management System: MoodleMoodle (www.moodle.org)(www.moodle.org)

• Remote Control software: Remote Control software: UltraVNCUltraVNC

(http://ultravnc.sourceforge.net)(http://ultravnc.sourceforge.net) • Touchtyping learning software: Touchtyping learning software: TypingmasterTypingmaster

(www.typingmaster.com)(www.typingmaster.com)

• Server:Server: Ubuntu Linux LTSPUbuntu Linux LTSP (www.ubuntu.com)(www.ubuntu.com)



http://www.edumedia.frhttp://www.edumedia.fr

QuickTime™ et undécompresseur TIFF (non compressé)

sont requis pour visionner cette image.

http://phet.colorado.eduhttp://phet.colorado.edu

Learning Objects WebsitesLearning Objects WebsitesLearning Objects WebsitesLearning Objects Websites



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What happened so far?What happened so far?What happened so far?What happened so far?

1.1. Heavy Internet useHeavy Internet use

2.2. Autonomous learningAutonomous learning

3.3. Peer-to-peer learningPeer-to-peer learning



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Hurdles to overcomeHurdles to overcomeHurdles to overcomeHurdles to overcome

INFRASTRUCTUREINFRASTRUCTURE1.1. School institutional School institutional “viscosity” “viscosity”

and and resilienceresilience2.2. ComplexComplex system and network system and network

administrationadministration3.3. Unreliable Unreliable logistics logistics in Burundi in Burundi

(i.e. black outs, PC failures, (i.e. black outs, PC failures, etc.)etc.)



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Italian teacher Italian teacher prepares a video…prepares a video…

Italian teacher Italian teacher prepares a video…prepares a video…

Video is Video is shown to shown to Burundian Burundian

classclass

Video is Video is shown to shown to Burundian Burundian

classclass

……transmitted transmitted and shown to and shown to

Burundian teacherBurundian teacher

……transmitted transmitted and shown to and shown to

Burundian teacherBurundian teacher

Burundian teacher Burundian teacher prepares class prepares class

to watch itto watch it

Burundian teacher Burundian teacher prepares class prepares class

to watch itto watch itVideoconference Videoconference

between between Burundian class Burundian class

and and Italian teacher Italian teacher

to discuss itto discuss it

Videoconference Videoconference between between

Burundian class Burundian class and and

Italian teacher Italian teacher to discuss itto discuss it

VIDEOCONFERENCEVIDEOCONFERENCEVIDEOCONFERENCEVIDEOCONFERENCE



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w w w . l t a r n g o z i . o r g / m o o d l ew w w . l t a r n g o z i . o r g / m o o d l ew w w . l t a r n g o z i . o r g / m o o d l ew w w . l t a r n g o z i . o r g / m o o d l e

Education

E-Learning africa 2007