Computer skills for Standard 5

Two boys from Standard 5

The idea came from the already established adult classes for the Bombolulu community, where volunteers teach English, maths and computer skills using laptops. My class in Precious Vision Care Center is absolutely mesmerised by computers. I used to bring my tiny net-book in the classroom to enhance the teaching process and they would love every second of it.

Madam Eri with boys in Standard 5

So I thought, why not try to teach them actual computer skills. With their amazing ability to understand technology and pick it up in no time, progress was anything but slow. I had one computer class a day, when the kids became familiar with the mouse, keyboard, how to type and navigate on the screen. GVI helped to contact a cyber café in Nyali, whose owner agreed to donate the space and the equipment to our class for one hour so that the kids could work in pairs, independently on a computer. I created Exercise Sheets, where the objective was for every kid to create their own personalised timetable in a word document. On the day we travelled to the cyber café and everyone begun working. In an hour’s time they had created 17 colourful timetables, which we printed and handed out at the end of the school day.

Making there timetables

The kids glowed and could not wait to show their creations to friends and family. The funny thing is, they still thought they were simply playing on a computer, when in fact they were acquiring knowledge and skills that one day might give them a competitive advantage and make a difference in their lives. I just hope that we will find a way with future volunteers to keep this project running.

Eri

Computer skills for Standard 5