Frequently Asked Questions - Broadcast 16th July 2009: ICT and education

Computers are not cheap. Viafrica helps the schools that apply for a computer room and who meet the requirements with setting up a computer room. However, it is only the start. The school should be able to create financial resources for maintenance of the computers and for buying new ones in the future. A way of generating money for this might be opening up your computer room for the community after regular school hours (and possibly even giving them computer lessons). By doing this, the school generates extra income and the people from the community benefit from having computers in their vicinity and learn how to use them.

You can apply @ Viafrica. These people can help you sort out the requirements of the school and what you need to do in order to have a computer room at your school. Some requirements:

• School needs to be able to maintain CLASSworks financially for now and in the future (money should be set aside for new computers and for maintenance)
• Use of computers should be supported by the school management
• Schools need to have proper room for a computer room (connected to power, dust free, etc)
• Schools needs to make two teachers available for training so that Viafrica can train these people to become ‘computer teachers’. There are additional teachers’ trainings after implementation of a computer room, so teachers should be available for training in the future as well.

No, but it can make things a lot easier and more fun.

First of all, computers can be used for school administration.

Second, really expand the amount of teaching materials available at school. You will not need a library full of books as computers can contain a lot of information.

Third, computers can help making the lessons more lively. Electronic teaching materials can contain movies, other animations and exercises that require much more input and cooperation between children. This might also help making classes more attractive to both pupils and teachers.

Fourth, computer classes should not only be seen as an extra subject in the school curriculum. Computers can also be used in other subjects like math, biology or English to name a few. They can also be used to link different subjects to each other (why not use results from a practical Biology class for mathematical calculations in Math class).

Fifth, it improves the teachers’ and pupils’ computer skills which might also be helpful outside school. E.g. as more and more companies start using computers, it might help students in finding a job in the future if they have gained computer skills at school.

CLASSworks, an abbreviation for 'Computer Learning And Sustainable Support works', guides a school through all the essential parts connected to the management and usage of a computer lab. CLASSworks starts with the preparation of a suitable computer room, the training of teachers and the management of hard- and software. CLASSworks is the main programme of Viafrica. Through CLASSworks schools are supported with the realisation and implementation of a digital learning environment. Viafrica delivers hard- and software, trains teachers and supports schools with the usage through seminars, trainings, maintenance and end-user support. Schools are responsible for the running costs, teachers and infrastructure.