Your Name and Title: Kim Sivick, Coordinator of Lower School Technology
School or Organization Name: Springside Chestnut Hill Academy
Co-Presenter Name(s): Richard Mwenyi, Bududa, Uganda *** Richard will join this session if possible. As with any individual relying on solar power and intermittent connectivity, his participation cannot be guaranteed. Sessions scheduled 2-5 pm Ugandan time (in our experience) have the greatest possibility of success.
Area of the World from Which You Will Present: Philadelphia, PA, U.S. & Bududa, Uganda.
Language in Which You Will Present: English
Target Audience(s): Teachers, Students
Short Session Description (one line): Creating authentic learning experiences for elementary age students, a U.S. - Uganda connection .
Full Session Description (as long as you would like): US teacher partnered with Richard Mwenyi of Bududa, Uganda to increase student awareness of education challenges among schools in Uganda. Our students were able to communicate via Skype with Richard, the Ugandan teacher. We sent him a used computer and a flip video camera and he was able to e-mail teachers and Skype with our students. Students prepared questions and engaged in regular dialogue. Lack of funds and teacher training appeared to be the most pressing issues for the Ugandan schools. Our students helped raise money to send this teacher a solar panel so that he could regularly charge a computer. This single solar panel has opened educational doors previously not available. Through the support of one teacher, the teaching practices of many have been impacted.
A relationship between the US and Ugandan teachers has been established and the Ugandan teacher continues to Skype with our students and record short videos of life in the school/village which he uploads to Youtube for our students.
This work is ongoing as our students are challenged to find ways to improve education in developing countries.
This session will cover:
- Establishing a relationship with a teacher in a developing country.
- Getting started
- Dealing with the unreliability of connectivity in developing countries
- Video conference calls
- Finding/raising funds
- Modeling empathy
Project Goals:
- Create authentic learning experiences
- Create awareness of developing countries and their challenges
- Empower our youngest students to make a real world change
- Give students a global voice
- Develop problem-solving skills
- Demonstrate empathy and understanding for individuals in developing countries
- Cultivate a generation of change makers
Websites / URLs Associated with Your Session: http://ksivick.com/ksivick/WELCOME.htm
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