iSchool Next Steps
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What's happening next? The next phase will involve selecting 100 schools from different parts of the country and ensuring there is a cross-section of rural, urban and peri-urban schools, government-run, grant-aided and community schools, basic and high schools. Improved academic achievement amongst schoolchildren Pupils will become more self-starting, self-motivated learners with improved ability to undertake independent research. They will demonstrate increased understanding of academic subjects and have better ICT skills. Examination results will improve. Improved Teacher Skills and Motivation Teachers will demonstrate increased subject knowledge and ICT skills and will make more use of computers and the internet. They will start to adopt more student-centred approaches to teaching, encouraging their students to do independent, project-based learning. They will have more job satisfaction, and there will be greater motivation to remain in rural areas. Improved access to learning materials via the iSchool website All Zambian learners will have free access to a portal of educational materials designed around the Zambian curriculum (the iSchool website), including locally produced material written by Zambian education professionals. Use of the materials will increase over time, and people will register for e-learning modules. Improved community access to online information Because schools will open up their computer lab as a community resource, and local community leaders will accept and promote use of the facility. There will be improved access to online education and information, especially for girls and vulnerable children. The level of understanding of community members about the internet will improve, numbers of people using the internet will increase, and people will take an interest in training courses and self-directed study. Information about health and HIV will be more widely available. Sustainability of school internet connections Schools will be assisted to generate sufficient income to cover the running costs of their internet connections (consumables, bandwidth and technical support) by running internet cafes, community courses or locally appropriate means. Savings will be identified (phone calls and administrative overheads). School Managers will take an active interest in monitoring of costs and reacting to internet usage reports. Technical skills will be developed amongst school staff, or affordable local alternatives identified. Appropriate equipment operational in 100 schools. Schools will have computers and connectivity equipment that is robust enough for their local environment, which can remain operational throughout the year, with minimum maintenance requirements. Rural and peri-urban schools will be represented, including those without a mains electricity supply. |
