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#WhatWillItTaketo #DisruptEducation in Africa? @SocialAfrika @KenyanMarketer A presentation by Muthuri Kinyamu (@KenyanMarketer) Lead Social Media Strategist- Social Edge Africa

Free Laptops for Pupils in Kenya; A Guide on Implementing the Project

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Former SA president Nelson Mandela said that the internet and education are the two great equalizers in life, leveling the playing field for people, companies and countries worldwide. Those words must have inspired Kenya’s president-elect Uhuru Kenyatta when he promised Kenyans one solar-powered laptop per kid entering primary school. Tax Burden & Door To Discontent It may sound simple to execute but this is a huge project that requires massive budgetary allocations from treasury and thus could be a channel for corrupt government officials to siphon out money through the scheme. Laptops of course mean greater access to technology, information, and content nationwide, increased student interest in their education & development of 21st century skills and integration of teaching technology that supports improved learning. Sounds like a good plan however the government has to emphasize that it’s the student, the teacher, the parent, the community—not just the technology and the laptops that will work hard collaboratively to improve the learning outcomes. Secondly for effective learning to take place we must inspire kids to not only consume information but generate it, to produce ideas and share knowledge. Teachers Need ICT Know-How Teachers represent a critical element in the success of this initiative; in an e-Learning environment the teacher must be the guide, mentor, facilitator, and coach to improve education outcomes and help students develop 21st century skills. School administrators too are primarily responsible for adherence to policy, applying governance on usage of the e-Learning environment, and ensuring that the environment is operational. Professional development of primary school teachers thus needs to be put in place now for the e-learning program to be successful. Teachers and administrators must keep up with the changing environment of technology to provide the best resources for the program. The resources used for ongoing professional development may also be used for ongoing curriculum and content integration. Once the program is launched KIE can also allow teachers to share newly developed content, and collaborate on content creation. Multi-sector Partners Secondly the government must work with professional organizations, such as teachers unions and other societies to support the initiative. Some of the limiting factors of the program include; the availability of content, teachers trained specifically in the use of ICT with younger children, theft and proper handling of ICT equipment by the young ones. Finally should the students keep their laptops at school until they develop the necessary carefulness this could be a security challenge to schools as break-ins may become the order of the day! That said let us examine what the free laptops program requires to become a successful e-learning program; Components of an E-learning Program Solution elements 1. Technology-Affordable, rugged, energy-efficient, state-of

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Page 1: Free Laptops for Pupils in Kenya; A Guide on Implementing the Project

#WhatWillItTaketo

#DisruptEducation

in Africa?

@SocialAfrika @KenyanMarketer

A presentation by Muthuri Kinyamu (@KenyanMarketer)Lead Social Media Strategist- Social Edge Africa

Page 2: Free Laptops for Pupils in Kenya; A Guide on Implementing the Project

Former SA president and iconic leader Nelson Mandela said that “the internet and education are the two great equalizers in life, leveling the playing field for people, companies and countries worldwide”

Those words must have inspired Kenya’s president-elect Uhuru Kenyatta when he promised Kenyans one solar-powered laptop per kid entering primary school.

@KenyanMarketer #WhatItWillTaketo #DisruptEducation

Page 3: Free Laptops for Pupils in Kenya; A Guide on Implementing the Project

INTRODUCTION Sounds like a good plan however the government has to emphasize that it’s

the student, the teacher, the parent, the community—not just the technology and the laptops that will work hard collaboratively to improve the learning outcomes.

Secondly for effective learning to take place we must inspire kids to not only consume information but generate it, to produce ideas and share knowledge.

Finally please note that the free laptops isn’t the silver-bullet solution to all that ails primary education in Kenya; the Africa Learning barometer shows that there is a deeper learning crisis that needs to be addressed to raise standards and improve learning outcomes. Teaching is at the heart of the learning crisis and epidemic levels of teacher absenteeism.

#WhatItWillTaketo #DisruptEducation

@KenyanMarketer

Page 4: Free Laptops for Pupils in Kenya; A Guide on Implementing the Project

@KenyanMarketer #WhatItWillTaketo #DisruptEducation

FOUR TYPICAL ELEARNING ENVIRONMENTS

Page 5: Free Laptops for Pupils in Kenya; A Guide on Implementing the Project

@KenyanMarketer #WhatItWillTaketo #DisruptEducation

Solution elements1.Technology-Affordable, rugged, energy-efficient, state-of-the-art computer technology designed for educational environments. This includes all hardware involved in the program: laptops (sometimes called “platforms”), desktop PCs, servers, peripherals, and all other aspects of the technical infrastructure.

2. Connectivity-Affordable, high-speed Internet connectivity to rural and remote areas, and intranet connectivity within schools and communities. This includes all connectivity modes—wired and wireless, WiFi, WiMAX, and others.

3. Localized digital content-Collaborative rich-media applications, content, and curriculum material, localized for language and culture, and mapped to local curriculum standards.

4. Improved teaching methods and professional development-Interactive and collaborative teaching methods that help teachers deliver engaging lessons with the support of ICT. This must be coupled with readily available professional development to help teachers acquire the necessary ICT skills to assist studentsand to integrate technology into the education process.

COMPONENTS OF AN ELEARNING PROGRAM

Page 6: Free Laptops for Pupils in Kenya; A Guide on Implementing the Project

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5. Policy-Often administrative policies need to be created or revised to make eLearning possible. Infrastructure development policy to be examined so that electrical grid can be more rapidly deployed.Educational policy to be examined to allow eLearning-appropriate measures of school successEducational funding policy to be reviewed and revised as needed6. Funding strategies- GOK and other government agencies will typically be the primary sources of funding for the initiative. From direct subsidies and low-interest loans, to VATs and duties whose proceeds are applied to an e-Learning program, to reduction in VATs and duties on goods and services purchased by the e-Learning program.Telcos could partner with the Ministry of Education to advertise and increase awareness, Non-Government Agencies such as USAID, World Bank and Public Private Sector Partnerships where a private sector company e.g. Samsung or Toshiba may provide some form of capital investment, while the government provides something like matching funds, supportive government services, an in-kind contribution, or a contract.7. Success metrics and assessments Assessment means specifically measuring student success according to national standards. Many forms of testing can be used to assess student success. What’s different about eLearning is that traditional assessment methods don’t typically measure what’s special about eLearning, especially its emphasis on collaborative working skills. 8. Working with vendors (the “commercial ecosystem”) Commercial ecosystem is a term often usedto describe technology industry vendors and solution providers. Some of these companiesare local, such as regional Internet service providers and value-added resellers (VARs) of computer equipment and services. Others are recognized global companies, such as Microsoft or Intel.

SUPPORT SYSTEMS

Page 7: Free Laptops for Pupils in Kenya; A Guide on Implementing the Project

Teachers Need ICT Know-How Teachers represent a critical element in the success of this initiative; in an e-Learning

environment the teacher must be the guide, mentor, facilitator, and coach to improve education outcomes and help students develop 21st century skills.

School administrators too are primarily responsible for adherence to policy, applying governance on usage of the e-Learning environment, and ensuring that the environment is operational.

Professional development of primary school teachers thus needs to be put in place now for the e-learning program to be successful. Teachers and administrators must keep up with the changing environment of technology to provide the best resources for the program.  The resources used for ongoing professional development may also be used for ongoing curriculum and content integration. Once the program is launched KIE can also allow teachers to share newly developed content, and collaborate on content creation.

#WhatItWillTaketo #DisruptEducation

@KenyanMarketer

Page 8: Free Laptops for Pupils in Kenya; A Guide on Implementing the Project

@KenyanMarketer #WhatItWillTaketo #DisruptEducation

Teachers represent a critical element in the success of an eLearning environment since the teacher must be the guide, mentor, facilitator, and coach to improve education outcomes and help students develop 21st century skills. Activities• Prepare lessons• Use applications such as word processors and spreadsheets to speed teacher tasks• Map digital content to existing curriculum• Share content with students• Manage the classroom via instructor-based broadcast of content• Design, integrate, and organize curriculum• Manage class roster (for example, for recording attendance and grades)• Manage content access by students (especially for students who are ill, disabled, or on long leave)• Maintain degree of teacher-student interaction• Assess student performance, perform testing, and create reports• Build online communities and participate• Create and share content• Communicate effectively and frequently with students and parents

WHAT TEACHERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO DO

Page 9: Free Laptops for Pupils in Kenya; A Guide on Implementing the Project

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•Mobility and “anytime-anywhere” use. Teacher platforms need to go wherever teachers go and be easily transported.•Mainstream functionality, to take advantage of the world of applications and content, both licensed and public domain•Internet access•Connected or unconnected usage, so they can continue working even when not connected to the Internet or school network•Flexibility. Platforms should provide operating system choice (Windows* or Linux*), a wide and affordable range of mainstream applications, and usage models that will support students as their skills mature.•Capability. To ensure long-term success and viability of student 1-to-1 eLearning environments, select a computer with a robust feature set (including processing performance, disk capacity, memory, and the like), and establish a roadmap to continue improving the technology over time.

WHAT TEACHERS WILL NEED

Page 10: Free Laptops for Pupils in Kenya; A Guide on Implementing the Project

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• Perform simple homework tasks using Microsoft Word*, PowerPoint*, and othercommon applications• Take form-based tests and Access simple content•Access facts and concepts within subjects• Do project-based activities and perform research on the Internet• Access curriculum content localized for language and culture (especially important for students who are ill, disabled, on long leave)• Publish research projects• Acquire a deep understanding for interrelated concepts, misconceptions andreal-world systems, within and across subjects• Be able to solve complex, real-world problems• Create and participate in student groups (local, national, and worldwide)• Participate in discussions and exchange experiences• Consume and publish a wide range of media, including photos, videos and podcasts• Perform investigations and make reports, presentations, and demonstrations

WHAT STUDENTS WILL NEED TO DO

Page 11: Free Laptops for Pupils in Kenya; A Guide on Implementing the Project

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•Mobility and ease of use (Laptops)•Ruggedness•Age-appropriate content•Anytime-anywhere usability•Mainstream functionality•Internet access•Connected or unconnected usability, so they can continue working even when not connected to the Internet or school network•Protection from viruses and inappropriate Internet content•Physical security and theft deterrence measures•Ability to incorporate peripheral devices

WHAT STUDENTS WILL REQUIRE IN PROGRAMME

Page 12: Free Laptops for Pupils in Kenya; A Guide on Implementing the Project

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Parents may need to do one or more of the following.

Activities• View student portfolios• View student progress and up-to-date results• Mentor and support student activities

Requirements Access to computer Parental content

WHAT PARENTS MIGHT NEED

Page 13: Free Laptops for Pupils in Kenya; A Guide on Implementing the Project

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School administrators are primarily responsible for adherence to policy, applying governance on usage of the eLearning environment, and ensuring that the environment is operational.Activities• Set policy that facilitates early use of ICT in the classroom• Reward teacher performance• Set reporting and assessment standards that comprehend early development of ICT skills• Use results to measure return on investment (ROI) and effectiveness of eLearning environment• Set up administrative management systems to unify state, province, or town processes• Teachers create and participate in communities of practice • Students join in subject matter user groups• Parents communicate with teachers, students, other parents• All communities support continuous improvementRequirements Access to current policies that may affect program Measurement and assessment tools and plan Unified regional access (wireless/WiFi) Purchase plan

WHAT SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS MIGHT NEED

Page 14: Free Laptops for Pupils in Kenya; A Guide on Implementing the Project

@KenyanMarketer #WhatItWillTaketo #DisruptEducation

• Greater access to technology,information, and content nationwide.

• Increased student interest in theireducation, and development of 21stcentury skills.

• Integration of teaching technology thatsupports improved learning

RESULTS:

Page 15: Free Laptops for Pupils in Kenya; A Guide on Implementing the Project

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These could include: Geography and terrain (for example, rural, remote, or rugged) Population density Electrical power (quality and existence) Availability of broadband Internet connectivity Weather, climate, and other environmental concerns Socio-economic factors Language and customs Cultural appropriateness of content Existing or legacy infrastructureIn addition to constraints on technology, there may also be constraints on other aspects of an eLearning program—the policy, funding, success metrics and assessments, or the commercial ecosystem. Be sure to consider any limitations on these elements as well.

CONSTRAINTS & LIMITATIONS TO AN ELEARNING PROGRAM

Page 16: Free Laptops for Pupils in Kenya; A Guide on Implementing the Project

@SocialAfrika and @SocialPROclubs Muthuri Kinyamu

0202486331/ 0724215977

www.muthurikinyamu.blogspot.comwww.socialproclubs.wordpress.com

@KenyanMarketer

Contact Person:

@KenyanMarketer LEARN: SHARE: DISCOVER MORE

Page 17: Free Laptops for Pupils in Kenya; A Guide on Implementing the Project

Follow me @KenyanMarketer for more!

@KenyanMarketer LEARN: SHARE: DISCOVER MORE

THAT SAID HON. PRESIDENT

UHURU KENYATTA I WILL BE WAITING FOR THE LAPTOPS

#iBELIEVE!