[kictanet] Day 5 : Ensuring Effective Implementation of the Laptop Project - The Key Variables (Day 5:Wrap up and Way Forward (Key declarations, what next)

Fri Jun 14 12:47:02 EAT 2013

Dear Muraya

I think this is the point where you and I differ. I myself am a teacher. If
there are no good teachers, find a good teacher. That is the priority.
After they have a good teacher, we get an e-reader.

It is cheaper, more cost effective and more efficient to have a human being
teach 20 students, then to give a class of clueless children a laptop.

In fact, I guess that 90 percent of the people on this list, including
myself, did not have a computer growing up. I did not start using computers
until my masters, yet, I am literate and can conduct multivariable
calculus.

Kind regards.

Warigia

On Fri, Jun 14, 2013 at 12:42 PM, S.M. Muraya <murigi.muraya at gmail.com>wrote:

> My view, is the children should get *rugged* e-readers.
>
> http://gigaom.com/2012/04/27/worldreader-kids-e-readers-kindles/
>
> Yesterday, the 2013/2014 .KE Budget mentioned allocations for building
> labs in primary schools.
>
> Some of our children in rural areas will gain more from e-learning than
> they will from their teachers.
>
> This does not exclude the need for good teachers, but in some places,
> there are no good teachers.
>
> :)
>
>
> On Fri, Jun 14, 2013 at 11:56 AM, Warigia Bowman <warigia at gmail.com>wrote:
>
>> Dear Muraya
>>
>> I simply am saying, that we must prioritize electricity supply and decent
>> classrooms. I am not opposed to laptops in classrooms per se, but I think
>> they are a gimmick, if we do not ensure that students are getting an
>> excellent analog education first.
>>
>> I like the lab idea.
>>
>> I like involving country governments and NEMA in waste disposal.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Fri, Jun 14, 2013 at 11:52 AM, S.M. Muraya <murigi.muraya at gmail.com>wrote:
>>
>>> Ms.Warigia,
>>>
>>> Should we limit the devices (not necessarily laptops) only to areas with
>>> good electricity supply + decent classrooms?
>>>
>>> Very few decent libraries exist in Kenya after books are vandalized and
>>> not replaced. Maybe why we could do with e-readers.
>>>
>>> Every school should have a lab/workshop or volunteers to assist with
>>> repairs. Laptop or tablet maintenance, should earn IT college students
>>> credits in their programs.
>>>
>>> Electronic waste disposal, should involve county governments and NEMA
>>> for (well specified) direction.
>>> On Jun 14, 2013 10:07 AM, "Warigia Bowman" <warigia at gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> For the laptop program to truly be effective, we must ensure first,
>>>> that all primary school supplements are disbursed by the government in a
>>>> timely manner, so that children can start learning, irrespective of
>>>> socio-economic status.
>>>>
>>>> Let me reiterate my concern that until we get the basics right, laptops
>>>> wont improve matters.
>>>>
>>>> Second, we must ensure that students are learning in appropriate
>>>> surroundings. Are buildings present, clean and safe? Is some kind of
>>>> rudimentary library available?
>>>>
>>>> Third, we must ensure that teacher training is at adequate levels in
>>>> basic topics.
>>>>
>>>> Fourth, without electricity, all of this laptop mania is pointless. Are
>>>> steady streams of electricity available at implementation sites?
>>>>
>>>> Fifth, is Internet freely available at implementation sites? Who is
>>>> paying for the Internet?
>>>>
>>>> Sixth, is there a clear curriculum?
>>>>
>>>> Seventh, are teachers and students being trained on the proper care,
>>>> and maintenance of equipment?
>>>>
>>>> Finally, is there an environmentally appropriate means of disposal,
>>>> refurbishment, and recycling when laptops reach the end of their life
>>>> cycle.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Fri, Jun 14, 2013 at 9:27 AM, Victor Gathara <vgathara at vimak.co.ke>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Barack,
>>>>>
>>>>> I think its fair to say that most IT projects that fail really do so
>>>>> as a result of project management failure so a strong project (or
>>>>> programme?) management function needs to be built into this project.
>>>>>
>>>>> As an example there is the question of quality assurance. How will we
>>>>> ensure that the project delivers a quality 'product'? Also how will success
>>>>> (or failure) of the project will be measured? I think its important that an
>>>>> objective quality assessment be done at regular points in the project
>>>>> life-cycle to monitor progress and introduce changes if required.
>>>>>
>>>>> If it is rolled out as a project then it really must have an end (when
>>>>> the project closed down and hands over to the operational regime where
>>>>> laptops are just as essential in classroom as textbooks)...It would be
>>>>> important to work out what that regime would be...
>>>>>
>>>>> Victor
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On 13 June 2013 23:46, Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack at gmail.com>wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Listers,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Many thanks to all who have contributed to this weeks discussion the
>>>>>> threads are still open, today we discuss any issues that are significant to
>>>>>> the project and that may have been overlooked, the discussion is open.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Best Regards
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Barrack O. Otieno
>>>>>> +254721325277
>>>>>> +254-20-2498789
>>>>>> Skype: barrack.otieno
>>>>>> http://www.otienobarrack.me.ke/
>>>>>>
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>>>>>>
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>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>>> platform for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy
>>>>> and regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>>>>>
>>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
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>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Dr. Warigia Bowman
>>>> Assistant Professor
>>>> Clinton School of Public Service
>>>> University of Arkansas
>>>> wbowman at clintonschool.uasys.edu
>>>> -------------------------------------------------
>>>> View my research on my SSRN Author page:
>>>> http://ssrn.com/author=1479660
>>>> --------------------------------------------------
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
>>>> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
>>>> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
>>>> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>>>>
>>>> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
>>>> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
>>>> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
>>>> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Dr. Warigia Bowman
>> Assistant Professor
>> Clinton School of Public Service
>> University of Arkansas
>> wbowman at clintonschool.uasys.edu
>> -------------------------------------------------
>> View my research on my SSRN Author page:
>> http://ssrn.com/author=1479660
>> --------------------------------------------------
>>
>
>

-- 
Dr. Warigia Bowman
Assistant Professor
Clinton School of Public Service
University of Arkansas
wbowman at clintonschool.uasys.edu
-------------------------------------------------
View my research on my SSRN Author page:
http://ssrn.com/author=1479660
--------------------------------------------------
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