By Jean Fairbairn | EIFL Communications Manager
“We have been teaching in the abstract, which makes it very difficult to explain even the simplest of things to pupils. But with the computers coming in, I believe it will make our work easier,” said Mr Vincent B. Attah, a teacher in Lagos Town, Western Region, Ghana.
Mr Attah was one of 25 teachers and librarians who attended intensive training in Winneba, Ghana, for the Hands-on computer classes for 1,800 Ghana children project. The librarians and teachers will lead the project in Ashanti, Western, Upper East and Volta regions, taking solar-charged laptop computers and wi-fi internet to poor and rural schools to give the children hands-on computer classes, and help them pass their exams.
During the five-day course (25 – 28 August), librarians from the four regional libraries and teachers from 15 schools learnt essential technology skills and how to manage large classes to ensure that all students have the opportunity to use the laptops. Each teacher received a USB flash disc pre-loaded with content based on the school curriculum and e-tests to give the children practice answering exam questions. They also learnt how to integrate e-books into classroom teaching.
“I really enjoyed myself. As an ICT teacher, I have learned a lot especially from the first day’s teaching demonstrations. The teaching helped me to group students, and to teach practical computer lessons” said Mr Peter Afrifa Bonsu, a teacher from Ashanti region.
Earlier in August, librarians from the three regions visited Volta Region, to learn from Volta Regional Library’s mobile library service, which has been providing hands-on computer classes for children in underdeveloped parts of Ho municipality for the past three years.
Over two days (21 – 22 August) in Volta the visiting librarians learnt to how to prepare the mobile library vans for the classes; how to use solar power, and to download software updates and troubleshoot technical problems so that they will be able to maintain the laptops. They also visited schools to see the hands-on classes in action.
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