Hi Pelle,

I believe we're talking about children who've never had contact with a computer or even seen one. (I stand corrected of course as I don't know the community at all).

But assuming that I'm right, the best thing to do might really be just to set up a simple enough syllabus where they are trained on the basics i.e. what is a computer, the uses of a mouse, navigating across the screen and different windows, connecting to get internet access, surfing on the web, and so on.

while that is being done, to make the learning experience fun, is to introduce different subjects that they learn at school in a digital way ie. math, science, geography, history, English or French, etc. For example, make learning geography interactive by getting them to look up an online map of where Africa is and where Jinja central is situated, etc. The point is little steps, one at a time, leading to endless possibilities.

BTW, I met with the Managing Director of an interactive content learning company in Johannesburg today that focuses on Africa. They have created and published digital content, integrating core subjects with computer literacy. Their curriculum material, targeted at children ages 4 to 18 years have also been licensed to the UK. Check out the website http://www.learnthings.co.za/. If you think their experience and material is exactly what could help Jinja, let me know.

Knowledge is wide. We shall begin with the basics. We have topics like Introduction to computers,Microsoft Word,Typing lessons and typing speed improvement then as one progresses he/she can then go higher with Microsoft Excel & Access. Most IT training centres in Uganda dwell around those topics because having studied that, one can easily get a job. The IT training centre should be ready to issue certificates on completion.

Daniel and Eileen make excellent points and suggestions. Can I offer three broad concepts:

[1] you need a small number of people who can understand the inside of the computer and fix problems. You will have a small number of people with natural ability and strong desire to do this kind of thing. Build this strength. Keep it separate from the rest. We all need mechanical or electrical expert assistance to fix a bike, a car or a radio or TV. With computers as with those other things, most people want the use rather than the maintenance and repair. This team, this project, should not shape the project. The mechanic may tell you 'do not drive on bad roads' but does not tell you the social, business or other project for which you use a car.

[2] Work from the inside of life rather than the outside. Motivate people by explaining that computers might help them deal with everyday issues and create valuable new opportunities to build on life. Brainstorming discussions among people who know nothing about computers may get the best, most innocent of ideas about thing they want to work more efficiently. Reject nothing from those ideas, look to see if computers can help.

[3]Applications rather than systems. Select critically important applications relevant to the points emerging from [2]. If the fit of needs to applications is poor - if the computer's applications do not help with life's problems - do not damn life, question the computer, demand more before asking people to warp life to fit the computer.

best wishes

Dennis

Dear Dennis,

Yes, Dennis, your ideas are always a refreshing thought. It's the reason why so many people listen to your posts.

Best regards,

Junjun :-)

hi
we olso need to include pac man
most loved game by children easy to understand for begginers

and spelling insructre soft wear
thank u :-)

Yes its Good for Computer training in Jinja
According to me who is a student of IT Makerere at the same time coming from the Region of Busoga and we need to know the available materials before we suggest what to train but i can have some suggestions down,below are my suggestions

Computer Aplications like Ms Word,Ms Excel,Access,PowerPoint
Maintenenace of hardware and software
providing user support
internet surfing
Networking and Ineternet configuration,cabling
Marketing our agricultural products on Internet E-Commerce
And many other areas

i will offer my time to help in training most of the listed items when the time has come to start training
since its my area of expertise

i always pray for the success of such projects because i can give some help and guidence

my contacts
limowic@yahoo.com
rickwasa@gmail.com
rwaiswa@cit.mak.ac.ug
Mobile:+256-712-079329
C/O
RICHARD WAISWA
LIFE MISSION FOR ORPHANS AND WIDOWS' CONCERN-UGANDA
P.O.BOX 25 IDUDI IGANGA

Dear All

As the subject of computer is vast,so i think you should
MAKE PACKAGE SYSTEM-(it is very common in India)

I mean to say-if we make group system(which system is very common in India),THEN THE TRAINING WILL BE BOTH BENEFICIAL FOR STUDENTS(AS IT WILL BE QUITE CHEAP,IN CHOOSING PACKAGES)
& FOR IMPROVING THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE CENTRE.

STUDENTS WILL BE MORE ATTRACTED,IF CHARGES ARE NOMINAL.

The different packages which you make,depends on you.

For eg.-

1)Simple basics of computer + internet knowledge.

2)Simple Basics of computer + Details study of "word"

Moreover all people may not like to learn everything at the same time.

The other points we have to keep in mind-

1)The Financial condition of computer centre has also to be strengthened.

2)From the earned money(fees of students),the faculties has to be paid.

3)The other expenses as Electricity bill,Hardware mechanics (regarding any defect) has to be paid.

4)The other expenses as-centre boy(helping in cleaning computers & other such work),Centre Maintenance etc,has also to be kept in mind.

Warm regards,
Sushmita
India

Hi neighbours,
Yes i agree with Sushmita the advise she has brought up it makes sense as the discusion is still open i can not stop people to to bring their advise and more so our facilitator is coming back he has the program with him what we are going to other wise i have bought your idea.
Thank you so much Sushmita.
Yes neighbours thank you so much for all your contributions they have given us a good picture of how you look at Jinja Central and other projects which are run by Nabuur please keep it up. :-o

Hello , I hope I will be of help in teaching networking,programming C++,java and sql database management .
I also have a question to ask, are these computers running on linux or microsoft operating systems.

As well as training in computer and office skills, you could also provide your students with practical training/advice on how to get and keep a job - CV writing, interview skills, increasing confidence, managing money etc. Also small business skills for those wanting to start a business of their own. I realise you might be doing both of these already as part of the other (non-computer) you already run but have not seen it mentioned anywhere.

There will be courses available on CD (or maybe free download to burn onto CD) for a variety of things, not necessarily directly related to computers. Once people have the basic computer knowledge this kind of training will enable them to focus on other things that interest them, which could lead to employment in other areas.

Once you have internet access, and assuming your connection is good enough, you may also be able to offer access to various online training courses.

Mary

Dear all,

Just got back from a short trip last week... and have been busy with arranging the computers. I'll try to summarize ideas over the weekend. I'll ask Paul to share his ideas too.

Thanks!!

Pelle

Thank you for the progress so far made. Being a vocational training centre for orphans and disabled persons, the ICT training in my view could be used as a support tool. The learners should be taught how the surf the net for example, get used to the different surf engines so that they could be able to use them. For instance the Centre might serve as a Business Clinic. After offering some classes on business clinics as a topic, the learners could be encouraged to use the internet as a tool to identify areas of growth for their business to increase on their productivity.

Dear all,
Again if you are teaching them with the most common packages like excel, its important to show learners how they can apply it in real business life for example book keeping. Besides, I felt having an entrepreneurial mind set would be so rewarding to the beneficiaries of the centre. Entrepreneurial skills with a vision to increasing productivity focusing on the vulnerable community especially the small business people would be great.

Dear all,

Thanks for all the great ideas!

I've tried to summarize them below:

Basic assumptions:
1. Work from the inside of life rather than the outside. Motivate people by explaining that computers might help them deal with everyday issues and create valuable new opportunities to build on life.
2. Applications rather than systems. Select critically important applications relevant to the points emerging from 1.

Basic computer use
Assuming we're talking about children who've never had contact with a computer or even seen one, the best thing to do might really be just to set up a simple syllabus where they are trained on the basics i.e. what is a computer, the uses of a mouse, navigating across the screen and different windows, connecting to get internet access, surfing on the web, and so on.

Educational support
while the children learn to use the computer, to make the learning experience fun, is to introduce different subjects that they learn at school in a digital way ie. math, science, geography, history, English or French, etc. For example, make learning geography interactive by getting them to look up an online map of where Africa is and where Jinja central is situated, etc. The point is little steps, one at a time, leading to endless possibilities.

Office applications
Microsoft Word, typing lessons and typing speed improvement then as one progresses he/she can then go higher with Microsoft Excel & Access. Most IT training centres in Uganda dwell around those topics because having studied that, one can easily get a job. The IT training centre should be ready to issue certificates on completion.

Training technicians / system administrators
You need a small number of people who can understand the inside of the computer and fix problems. They should also be able to set up networking and internet configuration / cabling etc.

Other ideas mentioned:
• Maintenance of hardware and software
• providing user support
• internet surfing
• Marketing our agricultural products on Internet E-Commerce
• You could also provide your students with practical training/advice on how to get and keep a job - CV writing, interview skills, increasing confidence, managing money etc. Also small business skills for those wanting to start a business of their own. You might be doing both of these already as part of the other (non-computer) you already run but have not seen it mentioned anywhere.
• There will be courses available on CD (or maybe free download to burn onto CD) for a variety of things, not necessarily directly related to computers. Once people have the basic computer knowledge this kind of training will enable them to focus on other things that interest them, which could lead to employment in other areas.
• For instance the Centre might serve as a Business Clinic. After offering some classes on business clinics as a topic, the learners could be encouraged to use the internet as a tool to identify areas of growth for their business to increase on their productivity.
• Again if you are teaching them with the most common packages like excel, its important to show learners how they can apply it in real business life for example book keeping. Besides, I felt having an entrepreneurial mind set would be so rewarding to the beneficiaries of the centre. Entrepreneurial skills with a vision to increasing productivity focusing on the vulnerable community especially the small business people would be great.

Courses could be packaged (and offered for a certain fee), for example:
• Simple basics of computer + internet knowledge.
• Simple Basics of computer + Details study of "word"

thanks Pelle

The project is said to be for orphans and disabled persons... Can you or Paul indicate to what extent this all relates to children (as in the summary) and to what extent to youth and adults.

My sense of looking first to the 'inside' of life was for an exploration in the minds of the community of what they would wish to be able to do more efficiently with computers -- to manage business finances? to contact the outside and learn new techniques for this or that? To be able to write and publish this or that? etc ... with a view to developing motivation to understand how computers might change life. Motivation as the key to ensuring that the project proceeds...

sincerely

Dennis