[Rwanda-learningteam] Some changes at Kagugu!

[Julia Reynolds]

Hello Everyone,

Yesterday we were at Kagugu for training with beginner-level teachers
and to do an inventory of broken/old software laptops. Of course, that
process frustrating and the number of unreflashed laptops is
staggering (considering Brian reflashed at least 500+ on his own), but
I thought I would share with you are some really cool developments:

----I first met with Simon, he took me to his class in which some
children were using the laptop to record their homework for the night.
He said that now, after the training, the school has designated
computer-time, to teach children how to use the laptops, and he is
waiting for the time and thinks it will be very easy. I explained to
him that it is good for all kids to know how to use but the idea is
for the laptops to be used IN the classroom. He was very excited and
said "yes, that is what I wanted to do!" I told him we can support him
in this. He says he wants to teach using the laptop with both his P4 &
P5 classes, so twice a week. He will call me and let me know when we
can come to help him.

--One of the KIE students doing the tech. survey came running to tell
us that a teacher is teaching with the laptop about the skeleton! The
teacher is even letting the class take home the laptop to continue
studying and to do research on the different parts of the body. He
will continue his lesson, using the laptop, the following day taking a
closer look at the human ear.

--I saw another young girl taking home her laptop and I was curious if
she was from the same class. It turns out that she was from another
class who had also given the children homeowrk on the laptops to write
a story about themselves!

--A bit off the topic but, I thought, a nice story, Lote, the KIE
intern says that working with us and seeing different ways of teaching
and using the philosophy of learn by doing has changed the way he will
teach forever. He says that he teaches an ESL class and has changed
his menthedology for his students to learn by doing or just speak
English without the usual tedious studying. He said his class now
praises him and they say the spent so much money to learn English
before but they never did, until they were with him. He is very happy.

--Lastly, just to bring a smile, please check out the picture I took
from Kagugu yesterday. This is real creativity! I say we buy this boy
a tie!

-Julia


-- 
Julia Reynolds
One Laptop per Child (OLPC)
julia at laptop.org
+0750552766
juliarwanda.wordpress.com
www.laptop.org
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