SIMON’S REPORT 18: The Itch to Scratch

Our OLPC project is taking a new look every day. With every new understanding of the ability of the OLPC XO’s, I am trying to make developments in the projects that will make them more appealing and satisfying to the demands of teaching various subjects at our partner institutions.

Monday: Ntugi Secondary

At Ntugi, the students are working on a Scratch project. Scratch is an animation Activity that I recently introduced to the Computer Club . Being a high school, I saw it good if they started Scratch at the more abstract level of learning about the flow charts used in programming in order to make them able to arrange the building blocks to achieve a specific objective. They were able to learn this and for demo, I had them draw a flow chart that guides a person repairing a non-functioning bulb. This was to help them learn how to use the symbols properly. They will then work on a flow chart that will directly be used to create a program with Scratch.

Tuesday: Ngare Ndare Secondary/Lewa Primary

At Ngare Ndare we are working with the teachers to develop a syllabus that integrates the computer technology into their teaching. We are focusing on two subjects (Chemistry and Physics) and we have found many areas that XO’s could assist in teaching. This will be very important since we are hoping to launch a new pilot at Ngare Ndare once they have a power supply; they are currently being served by the 4 XO’s I carry in my backpack to the school. Once they have the laptops on site, and know how to use them, it will be easy to integrate the subjects.

At Lewa Primary school, the teachers were learning to use the word processing application to prepare exams for the students. They are preparing such that when they get power and machines in the school, they will be able to process evaluation tests in school. 

Wednesday: Subuiga Primary

At Subuiga , we are working on a Scratch project that can lead the way to creativity by both the teachers and students in creating projects of their preference. We worked on the flow chart and next time we will be arranging the blocks as per the flow charts to create a program.

Thursday: Lewa Conservation Education Centre

The CEC at Lewa is another institution that is by all means trying to maximize the usage of the machines in its functioning. Ephantus has presented teaching materials that I am trying to adapt to Scratch. This week, we had students from Rugusu Primary School who had a chance to use the machines in evaluating their learning during the day and learn basic computer operation.

 Friday: Leparua Primary

At Leparua, introduced the Scratch activity to the students for the first time. I wanted to explain how a computer animation could be used as a teaching tool. To do this, I started by explaining how a person would do some activities after he/she is given some instructions, in person, in the classroom. We had one person being offered instructions to do different things and they performed those tasks as instructed. The next step was now to change the presentation from the classroom to the laptop screen and to show the students that typed commands as a script in Scratch could make an animated person, called a Sprite in Scratch, follow instructions also.

These instructions are  given by the programming building blocks in Scratch.

The students were able to move the Sprite on the screen using the motion blocks and control blocks to make a dancing sprite. We will by the next time involve sound in the sprite and use bubbles to have the script communicate. The kids learned very fast, and they are in Grade 7!

Am looking forward towards next week. Thanks to all support given to me.

Post by Simon Mwangangi

SIMON’S REPORT 16: No lack of enthusiasm…but we need more laptops!

Following the fieldwork I carried out for the last week, here is a report on the performance and progress of the pilot projects around Lewa at the institutions targeted by the Ntugi group.

Monday: Ntugi Secondary

At Ntugi, the spirit of collaboration and creativity in project development has been shown by the performance of the Computer Club. The Club is growing larger every day - 35 students now - and there is much more contact time between the students and the OLPC XO’s.

Last week, I introduced the club to the Sugar operating system’s  ability to share activities between several students and now it is being well practiced and peer editing is improving the students typing speed, grammar. It is  helping more in sharing of ideas, especially the write activity. It’s a forward step in development.

Tuesday: Ngare Ndare Secondary/Lewa Primary

I carry four XO laptops in a backpack to these two schools. I use two int he morning at one school, and then two in the afternoon at the other. This is because there is no power yet at the schools, and I have to conserve two with full batteries for the afternoon school.

With only two laptops to use at Ngare Ndare Secondary and Lewa Primary, my main teaching is limited to the teachers’ PD. We are helping them expand their knowledge on the abilities of the XO’s, and on computer and Internet literacy, and with this basement of knowledge, they can develop projects to suit their preferences in teaching once they get enough laptops for the students. They are also happy to learn computer skills like typing and computer operation. In a way this is good because the teachers will be ready for the students who learn so fast at a young age that it can be hard for teachers if they are not given sufficient and advance training.

Wednesday: Subuiga Primary

I am at Subuiga all day so I can deploy allfour laptops in my portable backpack kit.  Unlike Ngare Ndare and Lewa Primary, at Subuiga at least a small group of students can be included in the program. I am working with the administration to set a regular time for the students. With the whole day there I should be able to handle both the teachers and the students group.

Thursday: Lewa Conservation Education Centre

As there is constant development at the new Conservation Education Centre, one of the development targeted is the computer lab, and the development of fun environmental and conservation-related activities. I am using the Scratch Activity to develop some designed games that will help in teaching the students visiting Lewa different conservation ideas. Apart from games, there will also be presentations by use of the laptops. But, last Thursday we had a black out and were not able to do anything with the laptops.

 Friday: Leparua Primary

Leparua is a wondeful school full of ambitious students and very willing to participate in new projects. Leparua students have adapted to the new way of collaboration learning where they are using the shared Write Activity in asking and answering each other questions and competing to be the best group. This is promising to improve their learning in school since every group wants to always win by asking the toughest questions and answering many questions. The teachers are also becoming interested in this since every teacher wants his/her subjects discussed for better results.

Am looking forward towards next week.

Post by Simon Mwangangi