1 School Based Community Learning Centers Can ICT be of Any Help?

2 Overview of Presentation World Links context World Links context Objectives of Pilot Objectives of Pilot Areas of Intervention Areas of Intervention Costs Costs Impact and Results to Date Impact and Results to Date Next Steps Next Steps

3 Mission To improve educational outcomes, economic opportunities and global understanding for youth in developing countries, through the use of technology and the Internet.

4 Today Since 1997:  programs in over 22 developing countries  collaborating schools in over 50 partner countries  over 200,000 teachers and students, in 1000 schools, per year  hundreds of projects Challenge: To reach the most rural schools on a sustainable basis Challenge: To reach the most rural schools on a sustainable basis World Links Partner Countries

5 Impact of World Links Program on Teachers How to use Internet software How to develop web pages How to design and use student assessment materials How to design and lead collaborative student projects Attitudes about teaching How to integrate computers into the curriculum Percentage of Teachers Responding “A Lot” or “A Great Deal” Percentage of Teachers Responding “A Lot” or “A Great Deal” WL Teachers Source: SRI Study of World Links programs. Data is for illustrative purposes only, and does not represent all data points on questionnaire.

6 Impact of World Links Program on Students Improved attitudes towards technology Improved communications skills Improved knowledge or awareness of other cultures Improved school attendance Increased scores on national tests Improved ability to get better jobs upon graduation Percentage of Teachers Responding “Large Impact” or “Great Impact” Percentage of Teachers Responding “Large Impact” or “Great Impact” WL Teachers Source: SRI Study of World Links programs. Data is for illustrative purposes only, and does not represent all data points on questionnaire.

7 Gender Impact: Key Findings Same “ High ” Impact for boys and girls Same “ High ” Impact for boys and girls Knowledge about other cultures Knowledge about other cultures Attitudes towards school Attitudes towards school Higher Impact for Girls Higher Impact for Girls Academic results Academic results Information-reasoning Information-reasoning Self-esteem Self-esteem Communication skills Communication skills Higher Impact for Boys Higher Impact for Boys Access to computers Access to computers Technological skills Technological skills “Our self-esteem has really improved because of the World Links program. Now we can rub shoulders with boys that want to step on our toes. We walk with our chests out! Anytime we are confronted with questions we feel confident answering, even with older people we come boldly!” - Female World Links participant, Ghana “Our self-esteem has really improved because of the World Links program. Now we can rub shoulders with boys that want to step on our toes. We walk with our chests out! Anytime we are confronted with questions we feel confident answering, even with older people we come boldly!” - Female World Links participant, Ghana

8 World Links Tracer Study World LinksControl Group RespondentsUniversity Are Computer Literate 100% 58% Have Taught Others Computer Skills80% 28% Use Computer Skills to Aid Studies100% 35% Are Pursuing a Degree Related to ICTs36% 13% Are Currently Employed in ICT Field17% 0% Are Planning a Career in the ICT Field43% 13% Females Pursuing an ICT Related Degree 24% 0% Females Pursuing an ICT Related Career 24% 0%

9 Wireless Pilot Objectives l Provide Access: Reach most rural areas in Uganda l Test Technology: Determine use and maintenance of VSAT technology l Financial Sustainability: Determine demand and willingness to pay l Push Regulatory environment: Licenses for rural wireless connectivity l Community impact: determine info services and impact on rural communities and increase school and community interaction. l Educational impact: benefits of rural connectivity on schools and for life long learning l Provide Access: Reach most rural areas in Uganda l Test Technology: Determine use and maintenance of VSAT technology l Financial Sustainability: Determine demand and willingness to pay l Push Regulatory environment: Licenses for rural wireless connectivity l Community impact: determine info services and impact on rural communities and increase school and community interaction. l Educational impact: benefits of rural connectivity on schools and for life long learning

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11 Areas of Intervention Assessment and Evaluation Assessment and Evaluation Awareness Raising, Site Assessement, Community Needs Survey, High Impact Knowledge Assessment, Impact Evaluation – To be delivered Awareness Raising, Site Assessement, Community Needs Survey, High Impact Knowledge Assessment, Impact Evaluation – To be delivered Technology Implementation Technology Implementation Computer Labs with LAN, Licensing Requirements for Wireless, VSAT and Spread Spectrum Computer Labs with LAN, Licensing Requirements for Wireless, VSAT and Spread Spectrum Training Training Technical Training, Pedagogical Training, Management Training, Content and Usage Training, Evaluation and Lesson Sharing Workshop Technical Training, Pedagogical Training, Management Training, Content and Usage Training, Evaluation and Lesson Sharing Workshop Content and Services Content and Services Tele-medicine, e-commerce, e-learning, NGO networking Tele-medicine, e-commerce, e-learning, NGO networking Coordination and Support Coordination and Support Schoolnet Uganda coordinator, Technical coordinator, and Community Learning Center specialist Schoolnet Uganda coordinator, Technical coordinator, and Community Learning Center specialist

12 Capital Costs Total$30,340 per school Start up and Administration$1,700 Start up and Administration$1,700 Community Survey, Schoolnet Ug staff and office Training$860 Training$860 6 training events Computer Lab Equipment$17,550 Computer Lab Equipment$17, computers, scanner, printer, UPS, Camera, LAN VSAT Equipment$10,230 VSAT Equipment$10,230 Equipment, survey, shipping, installation

13 Recurrent Costs Total$1,680 per month per site Management Costs$120mo Management Costs$120mo Staff, rent, overhead VSAT Connectivity $440mo VSAT Connectivity $440mo Internet, license Computer Lab $590mo Computer Lab $590mo Lab manager, power, maint. Depreciation $530mo Depreciation $530mo On all equipment

14 Educational Impact School/Classroom Administration Electronic Exam Database Electronic Students Records (Class-lists) Electronic Marksheets Content and Pedagogy Using the web to find enhanced teaching materials New methods of teaching, including the use of CDs Downloading and using online tests and marking guides Collaborative projects with other schools Professional Development Online conferencing with other teachers Online consultation on grammatical errors, especially the English department through s.

15 Community Impact Economic Development. Economic Development. Tourist guides and small businessmen are using computers and the Internet in their day-to-day activities. Tourist guides and small businessmen are using computers and the Internet in their day-to-day activities. Telemedicine content and consultations developed. Telemedicine content and consultations developed. Life Long Learning. Life Long Learning. More and more upcountry students and in-service teachers are enrolling for distance education courses in and outside Uganda. More and more upcountry students and in-service teachers are enrolling for distance education courses in and outside Uganda. Partnerships developing with educational institutions delivering distance education courses. Partnerships developing with educational institutions delivering distance education courses. Community interest in the School Community interest in the School Schools and community interaction has increased. Schools and community interaction has increased. Catalytic project for national rural communications development programs. Catalytic project for national rural communications development programs.

16 Example: ICT Training for the Business Community – Kigezi SBT

17 Content Example: Market Information Through

18 Service Example: Tele- Medicine ( Linking Moroto Hospital to Mulago Hospital) Linking Hospitals in Moroto (worst health indicators) to Mulago for E- consultations – breaking down doctor isolation and reducing the referral cases from the district

19 Lessons Learned The Concept Works – Sustainability not yet proven The Concept Works – Sustainability not yet proven Community Involvement essential Community Involvement essential Needs survey to proceed all activities Needs survey to proceed all activities Build ownership and involve in management Build ownership and involve in management Head Teachers important Head Teachers important Training, training, training Training, training, training Demand and ability to pay strong thus far but not certain Demand and ability to pay strong thus far but not certain Need to tailor content to meet community needs Need to tailor content to meet community needs Choose open standards for Equipment Choose open standards for Equipment Technology stable but need to build in replacement costs Technology stable but need to build in replacement costs Pay attention to Indoor Units, electricity, and wireless survey Pay attention to Indoor Units, electricity, and wireless survey