ICT Training to Primary Schools’ Pupils in Tanzania - Training Guide

Training Activities at Kumbukumbu Primary School

Mode and Nature of Training

Training was basically hands-on activities to suite the duration of six (6) hours where no lecture notice was provided to pupils.

Training Guides

 Internet

·         What is Internet?  Advantages of internet.

·         Web 2.0 especially in the part of search engines.

·         The Power of Internet through different gadgets in Learning!

·         Use technology meaningfully and avoid the dirty stuff.

·         Introduction to OER, Wikis and the importance of CC licenses.

               

Ms Word

·         Creating New Documents

·         Saving Documents

·         Formatting Documents

·         Working with Pictures

·         Working Drawings

Ms Excel

·         Creating New Documents

·         Saving Documents

·         Formatting Excel Sheets

·         Working with simple excel formula

·         Working with Chat Drawings

ICT Training to Primary Schools’ Teachers - Training Guide

Chapter 1: Introduction to computers

  >> Learning outcome

-          Describe the importance of computers in todays world

-          Identify the main parts of a computer and learn how to use them

What is a computer?

A computer is an electronic device that you can use to store and process information. Computers can be used to help you perform various tasks, such as:

- Sending email messages

- Delivering presentations

- Tracking data

- Writing text

- Organizing files, to mention a few.

Roles of computers

Brief on how important computers are in today’s world i.e. how computers manage traffic lights, regulate machines in hospitals etc..

What is a computer made up of?

Computers consists of 2 main components:

·         Hardware

Definition: physical parts of a computer.

(What physically makes up a computer, what are the functions of each partand show them how each is operated)

Input device	Output device	Storage
Keyboard	Monitor	Internal storage
Mouse	Printer	External storage    - CD    - DVD    - Hard Disk Drive    - Flash Drive    - Floppy (Explain difference between bits/bytes and compact/hard disk)
Scanner	Speakers
Modem

-          Central Processing Unit

-          Cables

(Additional hardware components, which include RAM, Memory, Cards, Case and Digital Cameras etc. may be added if time permits)

·         Software

Definition: set of instructions that enable a computer to perform a certain task.

-          What is the purpose of computer software?

-          Types of software and their examples

-          Commercial software’s and open source software’s and their examples

End of first lecture

Basic Computer Operations

How computer works input, output and its central processing unit

·         How to turn on/off a computer and monitor and about the power saving modes.

-          Log off

-          Restart

-          Shut down)

·         Keyboard layout and data entry

-          Overview

-          Special keys

-          Function keys

-          Alphabet keys

-          Navigation keys

-          Numeric keys

·         Using a mouse *bring a different mouse for variation

-          Right click

-          Left click

-          Middle scroll

·         Files and documents and how to save them and print

·         Backing up files

·         Folders and Directories

·         Menus, Desktop, Taskbar and control panel

·         Troubleshooting

Brief intro into common computing devices

·         Desktop computers

·         Laptops

·         All in one computers

·         Tablets

·         Smartphones

Try and bring some for illustration purpose?

End of second lecture

Chapter 2: Introduction to computer programs

>> Learning outcome:

- Explore programs available in windows

-Learn how to use Word, Excel and maybe PowerPoint?

Computer programs

Programs help us do a variety of things on the computer such as write a letter, create a spreadsheet, or develop a presentation. Programs may also be used for entertainment purposes such as listening to music, playing games and communicating with others.

·         Describe the types of productivity programs and their uses.

·         Describe the types of communications programs and their uses.

·         Describe the uses of educational and entertainment programs.

Built in programs

Additionally Installed programs

Microsoft

Word

·         Word Processing

-          Definition and how it works

-          Inserting, deleting, moving and copying characters

-          Database and its operations

Example exercise (writing a letter, how to save it and how to access/edit it later. Creating tables, changing font and sizing of characters etc.)

End of third lecture

Excel

·         Spreadsheet

-          Functions of spreadsheets

-          Rows columns and cells

Example exercise (create simple file, use functions to add/subtract values, create a basic graphs bar graph, line graph and pie chart)

Exporting excel files into word such as graphs etc.

Power point

End of fourth lecture

Chapter 3: Internet

>> Learning outcome:

-          Learn about the internet and how it works

-          The vast things that can be done with the Internet i.e. research, communication etc.

-          How to use the internet to research

-          How to send an email (basic communication via the internet)

·         What is the Internet?

-          Definition

-           History

-          How it works

·         How to access the Internet?

-          Modem

-          Browser software

-          Internet service provider (ISP)

·         What can you do with the Internet?

-          Email

-          World Wide Web

-          Social Networks

-          File transfer

-          Protocol

-          Instant messaging

-          Search Engines

-          E-commerce

·         Internet browser and some examples

·         Navigating the internet

Computer networks?

End of fifth lecture

Note:

-          Supply illustrated lecture notes for students to use to follow in class incase class is to fast and for future reference.

-          Allow 10-15 minutes for follow up questions

-          http://www.microsoft.com/about/corporatecitizenship/dl/courses/2695DE/onlinelauncher.htm a good computers 101 program used for reference.

-          Possibly bring a projector for demonstrations

Prepared by Neema Mziray, Volunteer

SOO Tanzania Launched Teachers &Pupils’ ICT Training

Creative Commons (CC) Tanzania through School of Open (SOO) programme trained Fifty (50) pupils from Kumbukumbu primary school on the benefits of Internet, Computer programmes information/knowledge sharing, and Open Education Resources (OERs) & other related programmes. This is one of the planned activities for SOO Tanzania, where, this training was preceded by donation of Computers, chairs & tables to the computer lab as CC Tanzania initiative to enable public schools to appreciate the use of ICTs in teaching and learning.

This event was officiated by the former Vice Chancellor, of Open University of Tanzania (OUT), Prof. Tolly Mbwette; who agreed to be the patron of CC Tanzania. The university supported the training by two providing training labs that were used by the pupils. Open and Distance Learning (ODL) computer labs were used in the training.

School of Open Tanzania’s program launched by Steven Lukindo; the Acting Director – Institute of Educational technology & Management (IEMT), Open University of Tanzania on April 17, 2014 with three days hands on workshop introducing Public Primary School pupils to Internet, ICT use in teaching and learning. Fifty young pupils from Kumbukumbu Primary School, Kinondoni Dar es Salaam Tanzania were trained in the use of Internet to access OERs, open web to aid teaching and learning using search engine Google. Pupils were also introduced to different computer programmes in learning; Microsoft Word and Excel. The concept of the commons, copyright, and how CC licenses have enabled the global OER movement was also introduced.

A one-month teacher training was also launched, commencing on 20th April 2015. Forty (40) primary school teachers are expected to be trained by SOO Tanzania. The training aimed at equipping teachers from the same school with ICT skills in teaching and learning. Internet, OERs and the commons concepts were introduced in details that comply with school’s ICT syllabus. This training was SOO’s follow up activity after the donation of computers by CC Tanzania to the same school. This training has been initiated by SOO Tanzania and the trainer is a volunteer from USA.

School of Open Tanzania has planed for a continuous training to more training to the public schools’ pupils and students on the benefits of sharing education resources and use of different customized teaching learning tools with local content.

In regard of the above, there are number of challenges encountered by SOO Tanzania including: lack of funding to carry out some of its key planned activities, time to merge busy schedules of facilitators work and volunteering activities, publicity, inadequate ICT facilities in most public schools, and low understanding of ICT in teaching & learning to most schools, perception change in sharing of innovations and creativity within the community. More publicity and training is required to take CC Tanzania to the next lever in the country

CC Tanzania through its SOO planned activities is planning to approach more donors/volunteers to support its 2015 roadmap, and publicizing its activities to teaching and learning institutions to attract awareness of how CC affiliates works for better sharing and bright future.

A group of 50 students from Kumbukumbu primary school and team of CC Tanzania during the ICT training that was held April this year.Photography by Erasmus K

More photographs follow here