Bridge the Digital Gap for Guatemalan Students

Now nearing the fifth month of classes this school year, it’s been exciting to see the Computer Center in action! In our previous update, we shared that the center had been set up in the Colonia Molina school, with support from our Technology Team and the local Rotary club to ensure proper implementation. These 21 computers will serve the school’s 170 middle school students through ongoing digital literacy instruction and skills development.

These middle-school students have already begun at least 1 to 2 hours of hands-on computer instruction each week. Although early in the students’ development of digital literacy skills this year, their excitement and growth are already palpable. Over the Computer Center’s three-year curriculum, students cover 100 lessons. Lessons span from introducing the basic functions of the technology (like typing and web navigation) to understanding the Microsoft Office Suite to developing basic programming skills with Scratch programming to exploring the outside world through RACHEL, a portable server that stores vast amounts of educational content offline.

This center is being led by Colonia Molina’s teacher, Edna. She is in the process of completing a 72-hour training course facilitated by CoEd’s Technology Team and will receive 40 hours of continuing education each following year. This ensures that teachers remain up to date with technology trends and education best practices, and are empowered to manage their school’s Computer Center for the long term, with CoEd acting in a supporting role. Edna will ensure that many generations of students at Colonia Molina continue to gain vital 21^st-century technology skills, which will prepare them to compete for better jobs and break the cycle of poverty.