Technology & the 2012/3 elections
Hi, I received a very interesting email from one of the 2012 presidential candidates Hon. Peter Kenneth and the concept is brilliant with technology being applied in a very professional manner. I would have liked to post the link but due to the fear of contravening the rules of this forum I have restrained my self even though doing so would have propelled me to the top of the leader board, but instead I will try to explain the features. The concept is to take a message viral using social media and mobile, on offer (yes me is donkey) is a free meal and an opportunity to have a meeting with the candidate together with 10 ones 10 friends but as usual there is a catch. To be able to qualify for the one on ten meeting you must be one of the 5 top recruiters onto the campaign, the site even has a ranking board to show you how you are doing. It integrates seamlessly with facebook and twitter for easy spreading of the message. The site is simple and uncluttered which allows you to better take in the available options, the flow of the requests require more thought as you move down the page until they finally ask for your address list. I again repeat that this is a brilliant application of technology and with 17 million mobile users & 14 million internet users Peter Kenneth's campaign team might just be able to pull off an Obama on the other candidates. Regards Robert Yawe KAY System Technologies Ltd Phoenix House, 6th Floor P O Box 55806 Nairobi, 00200 Kenya Tel: +254722511225, +254202010696
A good read from the BBC below. Ndemo. 11 January 12 06:06 By Judith Burns Education reporter, BBC News The current programme of information and communications technology (ICT) study in England's schools will be scrapped from September, the education secretary will announce later. It will be replaced by an "open source" curriculum in computer science and programming designed with the help of universities and industry. Michael Gove will call the current ICT curriculum "harmful and dull". He will begin a consultation next week on the new computing curriculum. He will say this will create young people "able to work at the forefront of technological change". Speaking at the BETT show for educational technology in London, Mr Gove will announce plans to free up schools to use curricula and teaching resources that properly equip pupils for the 21st Century. He will say that resources, developed by experts, are already available online to help schools teach computer science and he wants universities and businesses to devise new courses and exams, particularly a new computing GCSE. The education secretary will say that the inadequate grounding in computing offered by the current curriculum is in danger of damaging Britain's economic prospects. He will call for a revival of the legacy of British computer pioneer Alan Turing whose work in the 1930s laid the foundation of the modern computing industry. "Imagine the dramatic change which could be possible in just a few years, once we remove the roadblock of the existing ICT curriculum. "Instead of children bored out of their minds being taught how to use Word or Excel by bored teachers, we could have 11-year-olds able to write simple 2D computer animations," he will say. Computer games entrepreneur Ian Livingstone, an adviser to Mr Gove, envisages a new curriculum that could have 16-year-olds creating their own apps for smartphones and 18-year-olds able to write their own simple programming language. 'Slaves to the interface' Mr Livingstone, co-author of last year's Next Gen report which highlighted the poor quality of computer teaching in schools, told BBC news: "The current lessons are essentially irrelevant to today's generation of children who can learn PowerPoint in a week." "It's a travesty given our heritage as the most creative nation in the world. "Children are being forced to learn how to use applications, rather than to make them. They are becoming slaves to the user interface and are totally bored by it," he said. Other experts voiced concerns about a shortage of teachers qualified to deliver the new curriculum. Bill Mitchell, of British Computing Society, said: "It is tremendous that Michael Gove is personally endorsing the importance of teaching computer science in schools. "There are, of course, significant challenges to overcome, specifically with the immediate shortage of computer science teachers." While Prof Steve Furber, chairman of an imminent Royal Society report on computing in schools, said non-specialist teachers might find the plethora of alternative teaching resources confusing. "We look forward to hearing more about how the government intends to support non-specialist teachers who make up the majority of the workforce in delivering an excellent ICT education without official guidance on lesson content," he said.  End. Sent from my BlackBerry® -----Original Message----- From: robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> Sender: kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.keDate: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:18:19 To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke> Reply-To: robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: [kictanet] Technology & the 2012/3 elections _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke 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.
Bwana PS, May I first wish you a fruitful and happy 2012! Now, if I may ask, just what is stopping Kenya from implementing similar policies? Why would those who know and understand not be given leeway to advise the implementors accordingly? And what stops the implementors from fast tracking such noble ideas? What needs to be done??It is time for action really. Regards, Gilda Quoting bitange@jambo.co.ke:
A good read from the BBC below.
Ndemo.
11 January 12 06:06
By Judith Burns Education reporter, BBC News
The current programme of information and communications technology (ICT) study in England's schools will be scrapped from September, the education secretary will announce later.
It will be replaced by an "open source" curriculum in computer science and programming designed with the help of universities and industry.
Michael Gove will call the current ICT curriculum "harmful and dull".
He will begin a consultation next week on the new computing curriculum.
He will say this will create young people "able to work at the forefront of technological change".
Speaking at the BETT show for educational technology in London, Mr Gove will announce plans to free up schools to use curricula and teaching resources that properly equip pupils for the 21st Century.
He will say that resources, developed by experts, are already available online to help schools teach computer science and he wants universities and businesses to devise new courses and exams, particularly a new computing GCSE.
The education secretary will say that the inadequate grounding in computing offered by the current curriculum is in danger of damaging Britain's economic prospects.
He will call for a revival of the legacy of British computer pioneer Alan Turing whose work in the 1930s laid the foundation of the modern computing industry.
"Imagine the dramatic change which could be possible in just a few years, once we remove the roadblock of the existing ICT curriculum.
"Instead of children bored out of their minds being taught how to use Word or Excel by bored teachers, we could have 11-year-olds able to write simple 2D computer animations," he will say.
Computer games entrepreneur Ian Livingstone, an adviser to Mr Gove, envisages a new curriculum that could have 16-year-olds creating their own apps for smartphones and 18-year-olds able to write their own simple programming language.
'Slaves to the interface'
Mr Livingstone, co-author of last year's Next Gen report which highlighted the poor quality of computer teaching in schools, told BBC news: "The current lessons are essentially irrelevant to today's generation of children who can learn PowerPoint in a week."
"It's a travesty given our heritage as the most creative nation in the world.
"Children are being forced to learn how to use applications, rather than to make them. They are becoming slaves to the user interface and are totally bored by it," he said.
Other experts voiced concerns about a shortage of teachers qualified to deliver the new curriculum.
Bill Mitchell, of British Computing Society, said: "It is tremendous that Michael Gove is personally endorsing the importance of teaching computer science in schools.
"There are, of course, significant challenges to overcome, specifically with the immediate shortage of computer science teachers."
While Prof Steve Furber, chairman of an imminent Royal Society report on computing in schools, said non-specialist teachers might find the plethora of alternative teaching resources confusing.
"We look forward to hearing more about how the government intends to support non-specialist teachers who make up the majority of the workforce in delivering an excellent ICT education without official guidance on lesson content," he said.
â â â â â â
â End.
Sent from my BlackBerry®
-----Original Message----- From: robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> Sender: kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.keDate: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:18:19 To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke> Reply-To: robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: [kictanet] Technology & the 2012/3 elections
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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. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
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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.
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+1. Nice post. Why dont we do the same Gilda asks? I think UK has got it right. You got start your intervention at elementary school because the system is self-imposing that is to say that if students have never for example seen a Linux/Open platform, when they become teachers (at primary and secondary schools) or Lecturers at university level they cannot really be expected to teach anything else - other than the Closed platforms they have been feeding on... UK is basically adopting the strategy that Korea, Brazil, etc did adopt ages ago and that Kenya has just refused to adopt the Open Models (remember the fight about the hard-wired KRA Simba System? ). This being the year of action, I promise to make a change at my University and provide more "Open-Model" opportunities to my students. I hope somebody else on the list can do the same at Secondary level. We can actually begin to make the change. After all "Sisi Ndio Sirkal" (we are actually the government - not Ongeri the Minister of Education). walu. --- On Wed, 1/11/12, godera@skyweb.co.ke <godera@skyweb.co.ke> wrote: From: godera@skyweb.co.ke <godera@skyweb.co.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] School ICT to be replaced by computer science programme To: jwalu@yahoo.com Cc: "KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions" <kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Date: Wednesday, January 11, 2012, 4:16 PM Bwana PS, May I first wish you a fruitful and happy 2012! Now, if I may ask, just what is stopping Kenya from implementing similar policies? Why would those who know and understand not be given leeway to advise the implementors accordingly? And what stops the implementors from fast tracking such noble ideas? What needs to be done??It is time for action really. Regards, Gilda Quoting bitange@jambo.co.ke:
A good read from the BBC below.
Ndemo.
11 January 12 06:06
By Judith Burns Education reporter, BBC News
The current programme of information and communications technology (ICT) study in England's schools will be scrapped from September, the education secretary will announce later.
It will be replaced by an "open source" curriculum in computer science and programming designed with the help of universities and industry.
Michael Gove will call the current ICT curriculum "harmful and dull".
He will begin a consultation next week on the new computing curriculum.
He will say this will create young people "able to work at the forefront of technological change".
Speaking at the BETT show for educational technology in London, Mr Gove will announce plans to free up schools to use curricula and teaching resources that properly equip pupils for the 21st Century.
He will say that resources, developed by experts, are already available online to help schools teach computer science and he wants universities and businesses to devise new courses and exams, particularly a new computing GCSE.
The education secretary will say that the inadequate grounding in computing offered by the current curriculum is in danger of damaging Britain's economic prospects.
He will call for a revival of the legacy of British computer pioneer Alan Turing whose work in the 1930s laid the foundation of the modern computing industry.
"Imagine the dramatic change which could be possible in just a few years, once we remove the roadblock of the existing ICT curriculum.
"Instead of children bored out of their minds being taught how to use Word or Excel by bored teachers, we could have 11-year-olds able to write simple 2D computer animations," he will say.
Computer games entrepreneur Ian Livingstone, an adviser to Mr Gove, envisages a new curriculum that could have 16-year-olds creating their own apps for smartphones and 18-year-olds able to write their own simple programming language.
'Slaves to the interface'
Mr Livingstone, co-author of last year's Next Gen report which highlighted the poor quality of computer teaching in schools, told BBC news: "The current lessons are essentially irrelevant to today's generation of children who can learn PowerPoint in a week."
"It's a travesty given our heritage as the most creative nation in the world.
"Children are being forced to learn how to use applications, rather than to make them. They are becoming slaves to the user interface and are totally bored by it," he said.
Other experts voiced concerns about a shortage of teachers qualified to deliver the new curriculum.
Bill Mitchell, of British Computing Society, said: "It is tremendous that Michael Gove is personally endorsing the importance of teaching computer science in schools.
"There are, of course, significant challenges to overcome, specifically with the immediate shortage of computer science teachers."
While Prof Steve Furber, chairman of an imminent Royal Society report on computing in schools, said non-specialist teachers might find the plethora of alternative teaching resources confusing.
"We look forward to hearing more about how the government intends to support non-specialist teachers who make up the majority of the workforce in delivering an excellent ICT education without official guidance on lesson content," he said.

End.
Sent from my BlackBerry®
-----Original Message----- From: robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> Sender: kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.keDate: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:18:19 To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke> Reply-To: robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: [kictanet] Technology & the 2012/3 elections
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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. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
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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.
------------------------------------------------- This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/ _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com 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.
Happy New Year Gilda. On my part, I am making a formal proposal to MOE (will post it for your perusal). I know from past experience the excuse will the availability of teaching staff. Somehow we need to start developing capacity inthis area. At individual level we must begin putting these ideas to our preferred presidential candidates. Let them make promises then we hold them accountable when time comes. Unless we elavate such issues to national debates, nobody will listen or implement something that is a non issue. ICT became an issue when ordinary Kenyans started to agitate for a national policy. We can broaden the issue and seek for the overdue reforms to education sector. Regards Ndemo. Sent from my BlackBerry� -----Original Message----- From: godera@skyweb.co.ke Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:16:51 To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: Re: [kictanet] School ICT to be replaced by computer science programme Bwana PS, May I first wish you a fruitful and happy 2012! Now, if I may ask, just what is stopping Kenya from implementing similar policies? Why would those who know and understand not be given leeway to advise the implementors accordingly? And what stops the implementors from fast tracking such noble ideas? What needs to be done??It is time for action really. Regards, Gilda Quoting bitange@jambo.co.ke:
A good read from the BBC below.
Ndemo.
11 January 12 06:06
By Judith Burns Education reporter, BBC News
The current programme of information and communications technology (ICT) study in England's schools will be scrapped from September, the education secretary will announce later.
It will be replaced by an "open source" curriculum in computer science and programming designed with the help of universities and industry.
Michael Gove will call the current ICT curriculum "harmful and dull".
He will begin a consultation next week on the new computing curriculum.
He will say this will create young people "able to work at the forefront of technological change".
Speaking at the BETT show for educational technology in London, Mr Gove will announce plans to free up schools to use curricula and teaching resources that properly equip pupils for the 21st Century.
He will say that resources, developed by experts, are already available online to help schools teach computer science and he wants universities and businesses to devise new courses and exams, particularly a new computing GCSE.
The education secretary will say that the inadequate grounding in computing offered by the current curriculum is in danger of damaging Britain's economic prospects.
He will call for a revival of the legacy of British computer pioneer Alan Turing whose work in the 1930s laid the foundation of the modern computing industry.
"Imagine the dramatic change which could be possible in just a few years, once we remove the roadblock of the existing ICT curriculum.
"Instead of children bored out of their minds being taught how to use Word or Excel by bored teachers, we could have 11-year-olds able to write simple 2D computer animations," he will say.
Computer games entrepreneur Ian Livingstone, an adviser to Mr Gove, envisages a new curriculum that could have 16-year-olds creating their own apps for smartphones and 18-year-olds able to write their own simple programming language.
'Slaves to the interface'
Mr Livingstone, co-author of last year's Next Gen report which highlighted the poor quality of computer teaching in schools, told BBC news: "The current lessons are essentially irrelevant to today's generation of children who can learn PowerPoint in a week."
"It's a travesty given our heritage as the most creative nation in the world.
"Children are being forced to learn how to use applications, rather than to make them. They are becoming slaves to the user interface and are totally bored by it," he said.
Other experts voiced concerns about a shortage of teachers qualified to deliver the new curriculum.
Bill Mitchell, of British Computing Society, said: "It is tremendous that Michael Gove is personally endorsing the importance of teaching computer science in schools.
"There are, of course, significant challenges to overcome, specifically with the immediate shortage of computer science teachers."
While Prof Steve Furber, chairman of an imminent Royal Society report on computing in schools, said non-specialist teachers might find the plethora of alternative teaching resources confusing.
"We look forward to hearing more about how the government intends to support non-specialist teachers who make up the majority of the workforce in delivering an excellent ICT education without official guidance on lesson content," he said.

End.
Sent from my BlackBerry®
-----Original Message----- From: robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> Sender: kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.keDate: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:18:19 To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke> Reply-To: robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: [kictanet] Technology & the 2012/3 elections
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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. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
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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.
------------------------------------------------- This mail sent through IMP: http://horde.org/imp/
I like this line:- "It's a travesty given our heritage as the most creative nation in the world" Yes, that is the Brits for you , don't you just love them...? Harry -----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto:kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of bitange@jambo.co.ke Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 3:30 PM To: harry@comtelsys.co.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] School ICT to be replaced by computer science programme A good read from the BBC below. Ndemo. 11 January 12 06:06 By Judith Burns Education reporter, BBC News The current programme of information and communications technology (ICT) study in England's schools will be scrapped from September, the education secretary will announce later. It will be replaced by an "open source" curriculum in computer science and programming designed with the help of universities and industry. Michael Gove will call the current ICT curriculum "harmful and dull". He will begin a consultation next week on the new computing curriculum. He will say this will create young people "able to work at the forefront of technological change". Speaking at the BETT show for educational technology in London, Mr Gove will announce plans to free up schools to use curricula and teaching resources that properly equip pupils for the 21st Century. He will say that resources, developed by experts, are already available online to help schools teach computer science and he wants universities and businesses to devise new courses and exams, particularly a new computing GCSE. The education secretary will say that the inadequate grounding in computing offered by the current curriculum is in danger of damaging Britain's economic prospects. He will call for a revival of the legacy of British computer pioneer Alan Turing whose work in the 1930s laid the foundation of the modern computing industry. "Imagine the dramatic change which could be possible in just a few years, once we remove the roadblock of the existing ICT curriculum. "Instead of children bored out of their minds being taught how to use Word or Excel by bored teachers, we could have 11-year-olds able to write simple 2D computer animations," he will say. Computer games entrepreneur Ian Livingstone, an adviser to Mr Gove, envisages a new curriculum that could have 16-year-olds creating their own apps for smartphones and 18-year-olds able to write their own simple programming language. 'Slaves to the interface' Mr Livingstone, co-author of last year's Next Gen report which highlighted the poor quality of computer teaching in schools, told BBC news: "The current lessons are essentially irrelevant to today's generation of children who can learn PowerPoint in a week." "It's a travesty given our heritage as the most creative nation in the world. "Children are being forced to learn how to use applications, rather than to make them. They are becoming slaves to the user interface and are totally bored by it," he said. Other experts voiced concerns about a shortage of teachers qualified to deliver the new curriculum. Bill Mitchell, of British Computing Society, said: "It is tremendous that Michael Gove is personally endorsing the importance of teaching computer science in schools. "There are, of course, significant challenges to overcome, specifically with the immediate shortage of computer science teachers." While Prof Steve Furber, chairman of an imminent Royal Society report on computing in schools, said non-specialist teachers might find the plethora of alternative teaching resources confusing. "We look forward to hearing more about how the government intends to support non-specialist teachers who make up the majority of the workforce in delivering an excellent ICT education without official guidance on lesson content," he said.  End. Sent from my BlackBerry® -----Original Message----- From: robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> Sender: kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.keDate: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:18:19 To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke> Reply-To: robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: [kictanet] Technology & the 2012/3 elections _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/bitange%40jambo.co.ke 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. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet Unsubscribe or change your options at http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/harry%40comtelsys.co.ke 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.
Way to go!! I was recently in India and there is a project known as IT@Schools in Kerala, its the most awesome and interesting...IT learning for the young.....I mean, watching,a 8year old, creating a cartoon, giving it voice(well, after two hours, I realized, that the cartoon was me,but....)....this is the most creative that I have seen, at such age....simply because of the curriculum n, the right knowledge, brings out ,the right skills and give room for creativity. what will this child be doing at age 14? Mr. Waudo, please, you need to check out that curriculum... Kind Regards, “To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there.” Kofi Annan On Wed, Jan 11, 2012 at 8:37 PM, Harry Delano <harry@comtelsys.co.ke> wrote:
I like this line:-
"It's a travesty given our heritage as the most creative nation in the world"
Yes, that is the Brits for you , don't you just love them...?
Harry
-----Original Message----- From: kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke [mailto: kictanet-bounces+harry=comtelsys.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.ke] On Behalf Of bitange@jambo.co.ke Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 3:30 PM To: harry@comtelsys.co.ke Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions Subject: Re: [kictanet] School ICT to be replaced by computer science programme
A good read from the BBC below.
Ndemo.
11 January 12 06:06
By Judith Burns Education reporter, BBC News
The current programme of information and communications technology (ICT) study in England's schools will be scrapped from September, the education secretary will announce later.
It will be replaced by an "open source" curriculum in computer science and programming designed with the help of universities and industry.
Michael Gove will call the current ICT curriculum "harmful and dull".
He will begin a consultation next week on the new computing curriculum.
He will say this will create young people "able to work at the forefront of technological change".
Speaking at the BETT show for educational technology in London, Mr Gove will announce plans to free up schools to use curricula and teaching resources that properly equip pupils for the 21st Century.
He will say that resources, developed by experts, are already available online to help schools teach computer science and he wants universities and businesses to devise new courses and exams, particularly a new computing GCSE.
The education secretary will say that the inadequate grounding in computing offered by the current curriculum is in danger of damaging Britain's economic prospects.
He will call for a revival of the legacy of British computer pioneer Alan Turing whose work in the 1930s laid the foundation of the modern computing industry.
"Imagine the dramatic change which could be possible in just a few years, once we remove the roadblock of the existing ICT curriculum.
"Instead of children bored out of their minds being taught how to use Word or Excel by bored teachers, we could have 11-year-olds able to write simple 2D computer animations," he will say.
Computer games entrepreneur Ian Livingstone, an adviser to Mr Gove, envisages a new curriculum that could have 16-year-olds creating their own apps for smartphones and 18-year-olds able to write their own simple programming language.
'Slaves to the interface'
Mr Livingstone, co-author of last year's Next Gen report which highlighted the poor quality of computer teaching in schools, told BBC news: "The current lessons are essentially irrelevant to today's generation of children who can learn PowerPoint in a week."
"It's a travesty given our heritage as the most creative nation in the world.
"Children are being forced to learn how to use applications, rather than to make them. They are becoming slaves to the user interface and are totally bored by it," he said.
Other experts voiced concerns about a shortage of teachers qualified to deliver the new curriculum.
Bill Mitchell, of British Computing Society, said: "It is tremendous that Michael Gove is personally endorsing the importance of teaching computer science in schools.
"There are, of course, significant challenges to overcome, specifically with the immediate shortage of computer science teachers."
While Prof Steve Furber, chairman of an imminent Royal Society report on computing in schools, said non-specialist teachers might find the plethora of alternative teaching resources confusing.
"We look forward to hearing more about how the government intends to support non-specialist teachers who make up the majority of the workforce in delivering an excellent ICT education without official guidance on lesson content," he said.

End.
Sent from my BlackBerry®
-----Original Message----- From: robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> Sender: kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.keDate: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:18:19 To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke> Reply-To: robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: [kictanet] Technology & the 2012/3 elections
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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.
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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.
Hi Listers, i am looking for Local based professional bodies for ICT practitioners Kindly assist Thanks On Wed, Jan 11, 2012 at 3:29 PM, <bitange@jambo.co.ke> wrote:
A good read from the BBC below.
Ndemo.
11 January 12 06:06
By Judith Burns Education reporter, BBC News
The current programme of information and communications technology (ICT) study in England's schools will be scrapped from September, the education secretary will announce later.
It will be replaced by an "open source" curriculum in computer science and programming designed with the help of universities and industry.
Michael Gove will call the current ICT curriculum "harmful and dull".
He will begin a consultation next week on the new computing curriculum.
He will say this will create young people "able to work at the forefront of technological change".
Speaking at the BETT show for educational technology in London, Mr Gove will announce plans to free up schools to use curricula and teaching resources that properly equip pupils for the 21st Century.
He will say that resources, developed by experts, are already available online to help schools teach computer science and he wants universities and businesses to devise new courses and exams, particularly a new computing GCSE.
The education secretary will say that the inadequate grounding in computing offered by the current curriculum is in danger of damaging Britain's economic prospects.
He will call for a revival of the legacy of British computer pioneer Alan Turing whose work in the 1930s laid the foundation of the modern computing industry.
"Imagine the dramatic change which could be possible in just a few years, once we remove the roadblock of the existing ICT curriculum.
"Instead of children bored out of their minds being taught how to use Word or Excel by bored teachers, we could have 11-year-olds able to write simple 2D computer animations," he will say.
Computer games entrepreneur Ian Livingstone, an adviser to Mr Gove, envisages a new curriculum that could have 16-year-olds creating their own apps for smartphones and 18-year-olds able to write their own simple programming language.
'Slaves to the interface'
Mr Livingstone, co-author of last year's Next Gen report which highlighted the poor quality of computer teaching in schools, told BBC news: "The current lessons are essentially irrelevant to today's generation of children who can learn PowerPoint in a week."
"It's a travesty given our heritage as the most creative nation in the world.
"Children are being forced to learn how to use applications, rather than to make them. They are becoming slaves to the user interface and are totally bored by it," he said.
Other experts voiced concerns about a shortage of teachers qualified to deliver the new curriculum.
Bill Mitchell, of British Computing Society, said: "It is tremendous that Michael Gove is personally endorsing the importance of teaching computer science in schools.
"There are, of course, significant challenges to overcome, specifically with the immediate shortage of computer science teachers."
While Prof Steve Furber, chairman of an imminent Royal Society report on computing in schools, said non-specialist teachers might find the plethora of alternative teaching resources confusing.
"We look forward to hearing more about how the government intends to support non-specialist teachers who make up the majority of the workforce in delivering an excellent ICT education without official guidance on lesson content," he said.

End.
Sent from my BlackBerry®
-----Original Message----- From: robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> Sender: kictanet-bounces+bitange=jambo.co.ke@lists.kictanet.or.keDate: Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:18:19 To: <bitange@jambo.co.ke> Reply-To: robert yawe <robertyawe@yahoo.co.uk> Cc: KICTAnet ICT Policy Discussions<kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke> Subject: [kictanet] Technology & the 2012/3 elections
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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. _______________________________________________ kictanet mailing list kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet
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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.
participants (7)
-
bitange＠jambo.co.ke -
Edna shiko -
godera＠skyweb.co.ke -
Harry Delano -
Judy Okite -
robert yawe -
Walubengo J