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@gmail.com> wrote:
My view, is the children should get rugged e-readers.


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@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@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@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@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@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

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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
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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
-------------------------------------------------
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@clintonschool.uasys.edu
-------------------------------------------------
View my research on my SSRN Author page:
http://ssrn.com/author=1479660
--------------------------------------------------