Technology has transcended cultures, races and economies to become a driving force in the lives of people across the world. Over a billion people have access to the internet and billions more have mobile phones.

The reliability and affordability of digital technology has helped close the digital divide between affluent and emerging economies and enabled young people where ever they are to join the digital world.

The work of the Logged On Foundation is focused on narrowing the divide by providing computer equipment and helping to prepare children through education programs to live in world where technology, social media and online communities will be important to the way they communicate and learn.

At the end of last year, we installed a computer centre at the Shree Bhumeshwor Secondary School and provided technical training and a computer teacher as a first step in introducing technology into education in rural Nepali schools. The centre was also used by the community to connect to the internet.

We returned in May 2012 to started a project that focused on developing English communication and digital literacy skills of teachers and students at the school. We did this by using a technology-driven, student-centred approach to education for inspiring and building the skills, confidence and self-esteem of children in an environment where rote learning is the norm.

Using computers, cameras and other technology, we were able to open up new and powerful avenues for learning and creativity as well as allowing children to showcase their talents for others to appreciate. We worked with teachers and several classes of students that were divided into working groups and asked to take photos around the village and in their home, as well as write about Nepal, their life at home, in the village and at school.

When they completed their task, the student groups came together in the computer centre to discuss the material collected, prepare their content using photo editors and Microsoft Word, and to collectively decide what was to be included on a Blogspot web page they constructed online. In essence, they collectively created the school’s and community’s first ever website.
 
 

 
 
When the site was launched, it took some convincing that what they created was available on the web. Around 70% of households in the village of Astam have at least one member of the family overseas who have permanently moved or have temporarily immigrated to another country for employment.

So following the launch of the website, we observed via Facebook and emails the accolades and congratulations that were sent to students from their families, friends and Nepali people from around the world. The sense of achievement when they realised that they were the first to publish this type of material about their village for a global audience and the fact that they were more than capable of doing so was palpable.

What we’ve learnt as an organisation is that it isn’t enough to simply provide the hardware – teacher training and the skills to maintain technology is at the core of enabling technology in the classroom that provides long-term benefits to the community.

We worked besides local teachers to respond to their needs and on how to use and maintain the technology within the school. We are fortunate that we had our local computer centre champion and teacher, Ves Raj Bastola, who has worked hard to help realise the computer centre project and who we have spent many months training on all aspects of hardware, software and the use of computers and the internet in education at his school.

 
http://sblss.blogspot.com.au

 
 

 
Project Directors: Bhumeswor School Teacher, Ves Raj Bastola with Logged On’s CEO, Mark Pinoli.
 

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