🚀 go-pugleaf

Update
^^^^^^


Hi to all...

We hope to build a network, via E-Mail, of persons interested in this idea, 
and who can help us brainstorm to improve and tweak aspects of the project, 
from curriculum development to finding/shipping donated computer equipment, 
from writing grant proposals to actually going to Ghana on their own, 
rolling up their sleeves, and lending a hand.

A wonderful opportunity!


==========================================================================

[GHANA]

RE:  Computer Literacy / Distant Learning
     Curriculum development / Search for funding, computers, volunteers

     Lack of funding and insufficient computer equipment remain major       
         obstacles

Please cc: your response to Dr. Osei Darkwa: darkwa@tigger.cc.uic.edu



I thought an update on Ghana's Computer Literacy/Distant Learning project 
would be of some interest.  Things are really moving along!  At 
this point, we would welcome your participation in discussions on the 
direction and implementation of this project.  Thanks to those of you who 
have already offered or provided assistance.

We hope to build a network of individuals and organizations via the Internet 
interested in being kept informed about the progress of this undertaking, or 
perhaps even willing to engage in discourse or provide pro bono consulting, 
as this project moves toward fruition.

It is being launched in Ghana as a non-profit endeavor under the aegis of a 
highly-regarded NGO, the Voluntary Workcamps Association of Ghana 
(spearheaded by Dr. Osei Darkwa and Bill Owen), in conjuction with a 
consortium of organizations and individuals in Ghana and around the world.  
This is a unique endeavor for which there is a great deal of enthusiasm, and 
whose promise we hope will serve as an example for similar efforts in other 
African countries.

The first volunteers (from the USA, Australia, Germany and elsewhere) are 
slated to arrive in Ghana within a few weeks to begin working with their 
Ghanaian counterparts in launching the Computer Literacy/Distant Learning 
Project. 

Lack of funding and insufficient computer equipment remain major obstacles.
 
We hope that some of you will be able to share ideas on this matter; and we 
hope that you will help us to identify persons with whom we might do well to 
contact and open channels of communication.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Regards,

Cecil

---------------------

Cecil R. Washington
UC Berkeley

Computer Literacy in Africa/Distant Learning Project
Operation Crossroads Africa, Inc.-NYC

E-Mail:  crw@loop.com

Phone/FAX: 310-632-1582

3697-1/2 Platt Ave.
Lynwood, CA 90262-3641

----------------------------------

Please cc: your response to :

    Dr. Osei Darkwa: Faculty, University of Illinois, Chicago
                     Director of Computer Literacy/Distant Learning [VOLU]

                     darkwa@tigger.cc.uic.edu

Office:        (312) 996-8508 
Home number:   (708) 848-7054
FAX            (312) 996-2770

Address:  621 S. Maple
          Oak Park, IL 60304

=========================================================================

General discussion of program's objectives and purview (Bill Owen):


OBJECTIVE: that individuals and institutions in Ghana adapt on a regular 
basis curricula in use in N. American community colleges, basic schools 
and adult and youth education programs (via Internet access)


The Users in Ghana: private software training schools, teacher training 
colleges, Ghana Association of Business and Communication Centers (GABCC), 
Ghana Assoc. of Science Teachers, Mathematics Association of Ghana, non-
governmental organizations


The Content:  software applicatios (computer literacy), computer mediated 
learning in math/science for teacher training, environmental/health 
sciences and nursing training (Edmund Browne), electronics-telecoms, 
building trades, hotel management and tourism 



HOW to reach the above objective:

1.  EQUIPMENT RECYCLING

Used computers sent to Ghana via a contract with an agency like the East-
West Education Consortium, Cambridge, Ma and other bulk equipment 
recycling or shipping projects.

Ghanaian and international donations for purchase of computer equipmen in 
Ghana for Ghana public use


2.  INTRODUCTORY COMPUTER LITERACY COURSE delivered by VOLU, 1996


The course provides an orientation and basic skills with the PC:  word 
processing, spreadsheets, dbase management, presentation, email to VOLU 
alumni, VOLU headquarters staff, GAST, MAG as well as Liberian refugees, 
district assembly staff-Dodowa.  The training would be residential at 
Kordiabe training center and non-residential atthe VOLU headquarters, 
Accra  (supported by Operation Crossroads Africa, Paul Barry, German 
Volunteer Service (GVS)


3.  DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS


The general training effort by VOLU in 1996 in Accra, over time, becomes 
specialized and no longer exclusively tied to PC skills:

A.  Computer Literacy-Business Skills Training
B.  Computer Mediated Instruction Pilot Project-MathsCRYout(h)
C.  Community College Distance Learning
D.  Community Computing Demonstration Project


Computer Literacy-Business Skills Training:

VOLU designs, implements and evaluates a computer literacy and 
business skills program to produce teams of computer literacy 
trainer/consultants as well as youth with the ability to use software to 
solve business problems,i.e., computer literacy.  GABCC and other 
institutions involved in the delivery of business and computer software 
training apply the instructional innovations developed and delivered by 
VOLU trainer - consultants and the computer literacy business skill 
program (supported by Operations Crossroads Africa, Paul Barry, Singapore 
International Foundation, US Community Colleges)


Computer Mediated Instruction (CMI) in Maths/Science (MathsCRYout(h)

VOLU adds computer mediated instruction to the software applications being 
taught.  The focus would shift to lower primary to middle school students 
as described in the VOLU proposal to USAID and SIF for the Maths, 
Computers and Rural Youth (MathsCRYout(h) effort for the Techiman District. 
The CMI demonstration uses commercial software to accelerate math skills, 
but as a supplement to the national school curricula. The output is 
the creation of math clubs, math whizzes and improved scores on 
standarized tests and changes in career aspirations.   The CMI efforts 
could also be run through GABCC and the Archdioceses of Accra and a number 
of private schools in the country.  The overall aim of this effort would 
be to inform Government about the effectiveness of computer mediated 
instruction in basic education. (supported by the Ghana National Service 
Secretariat, Operation Crossroads Africa, SIF, US Community Colleges, 
Ministry of Education, USAID)


Community College Distance Learning

A number of software training schools in addition to the computer literacy 
training within VOLU would add a distance education component.  This would  
assist private candidates to gain access to community college associate 
degree programs in the US.  Local youth would master computer literacy 
skills while receiving courses via email as required by the associate 
degree program.  Government and donors might want to use this distance 
learning system to provide in-service training to government and PVO staff.


Community Computing Demonstration Project

In the locations where the computer literacy - business skills, computer 
mediated instruction (maths/science) and US Community College distance 
learning efforts prove effective, these projects would be expanded to 
become a demonstration of community computing.  This demo would exchange 
information and stimulate problem-solving within a particular town or 
neighborhood.  It would be based upon the principles of voluntary 
social action on the part of the key community institutions that decide to 
take part.  Each institution would be responsible for the storage and 
exchange of information.  The result of the community computing 
demonstration would be an assessment of how Internet and computer tools 
contribute to socio - economic development.  It could include the sustained 
use of a local electronic bulletin board system (BBS) and listservs to 
unify community activists.  Successful community computing efforts would be 
supported through becoming affiliates with NGhO-Net in Ghana and with 
the National Pubic Telecomputing Network (NPTN) and the new Organization 
for International Community Networking (Morino Institute, Reston, Va.).


5.  INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMPUTER LITERACY IN AFRICA- 1998

Electronic and then face-to-face conferencing (Accra) would be organized 
to exchange lessons learned about the use of computers in Africa, bringing 
together practitioners with government, donor and corporate leaders. 
(supported by HABITAT, UN agencies, donors).

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Producing the 5 outputs described above is expected to lead to the 
achievement of the overall objective of having institutions in Ghana 
make use of the wealth of pre-tested educational tools, curricula from 
schools and community colleges, etc. in North America and worldwide.


By 1997, there would be a number of alternative institutions in Ghana that 
could be contributors and targets for the Ghana Computer Literacy Project:


SchoolNet, Accra (private, donors)

110 district science centers, Ministry of Education (ODA-UK)

AAU on-line to rural schools (Dutch finance of VSAT uplink)

Datatel Education Network  (GOG, IBRD, Ghana Telecom, private)

NGhO-Net BBS for 630 NGOs plus Internet access (Danita)

5 university campuses/CSIR  (IBRD)

Ghana Telecom Internet Service (public-private partnership)


--
Wilfred Owen, Jr.
Reston Enterprises Ltd.
P.O. Box 252, Techiman, B/A
Ghana

Email: wowen@reston.aau.org

**********************************************************************


Sorry for the length. I hope this has been of interest to some.  

Thanks in advance for sharing your ideas with us, particularly about our two 
most worrisome problems, finding funding and finding/shipping donated 
equipment for this project!

-Cecil