In classrooms, notebooks and blackboards are slowly disappearing- even in progressive countries, personal computers and tablets are replacing them. Today, we look at how education is using technological inventions to train students.
Education in Africa
In some parts of Kenya, education is still low and dropout rates are high. Teachers in one area of Nairobi decided to invest in personal computers for students. With information technology, they tried to get young people to learn.
The word “education” in Swahili translates as E-limu. And so does the name of the application created by the programmers for schoolchildren. The authors of the program tried to make education in the poorest Kenyan schools as informative as possible. This is aimed at maximizing students’ attention to learning.
Nearly half of all Kenyan students drop out at age 14. But the author of this project, programmer Nivi Mukherjee, believes that making learning more interesting and engaging, can encourage children not to drop out of school.
The project was started in Kawangwar, the poorest suburb of Nairobi, where drug addiction, prostitution, and crime are rife. Most students can count themselves lucky to be in school.
Although the project has just begun, teachers consider it an overall success. Students are doing better and attendance is up as well.
Education in Estonia
In Estonia, a new educational program has been developed to promote “deep technical skills” among the population. It was developed in cooperation with nonprofit foundation Tiger Leap Foundation From now on all schoolchildren – from 1st to 12th grades – will have to take programming lessons.
An experimental IT program for first graders has introduced in some Estonian schools a few years ago with good results. This year it was decided to introduce it nationwide. If before programming was an elective, it is already a compulsory general education subject. Estonia needs a large number of qualified developers.
In the first lessons, the teacher has a difficult task – to explain to children that the computer is not just a platform for games, and to teach them how to use the keyboard and mouse. At the end of the school year, children will have learned to make animations, program simple applications, and master several computer programs.
Estonia has a highly developed online culture. Here, Internet users can vote electronically and have access to medical records.
INTRODUCTION OF TECHNOLOGY INTO THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Education in Japan
Age is not a barrier to learning new technology. For many Japanese children, creating robot cars has become a real passion. In the following story, we meet a professor from Japan who is known for the robots he created. He is convinced that the basics of robotics should be taught at a young age. Let’s listen to the professor and his students.
Children in elementary school are fascinated by the mysteries and riddles of robotics. The study of this discipline can instill in them an interest in math, science, and technology. Children make their first attempts at building robots as young children, then they are gripped by the dream of becoming a good engineer.
One of the robots that can provide invaluable assistance to humans in performing difficult and dangerous tasks is the robot snake. Because of its flexibility and ability to explore hard-to-reach places, it is very useful in rescue work.
Many students, as soon as they arrive at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, immediately think about building humanoid robots. But Professor Hiroshi convinces them that other, non-human forms are more practical and useful. Professor Hiroshi is involved in a UN project to develop remote-controlled robots capable of disarming mines. Students who want to resemble their teachers still have a long way to go.
Just imagine, some time ago you didn’t have Internet but know you can contact anyone through it. If you need any help, technology’s advisors can help you with it too. For example, if you are studying and need some help, a science homework helper can help you with any kind of work.
Isn’t it a beautiful century to leave in?