Transcript Tablet PC project FoRM V 2014

Digital Education in a SIDS
the Mauritian experience
Ricaud AUCKBUR
Director (E-Education)
Ministry of Education , Mauritius
Wednesday 25 Feb 2015 – UNESCO Paris
1
Mauritius at a glance
Independence from UK : 1968
Region : Africa
Sub Region : Mascarene Indian Ocean
Country Size : 60km x 40 km
Population : 1.3M, multi-ethnic
Diversified Economy : Tourism, Services
sector, Sugar, Textile ,ICT, Seafood
Narrow natural resource base
GDP per capita : US$ 9200
Mo Ibrahim Governance Index : 1st in Africa
Gender parity in Education (in fact girls do
better than boys …)
Government visioning
Transforming the country into a knowledge-focussed nation …
…meaning :
•
•
•
•
developing our only natural resource : our people
investing in an HR profile adapted to 21st century needs
fighting digital isolation, including digital gender-divide
bringing digital education to all students including the
marginalised and students with Special Educational Needs
3
A digital learning experience for all
 Providing digital education to the marginalised, including girls from
vulnerable groups
 Students as a new learners through ICT
 Expanding educational environments through ICT
 ICT as an enabler in teaching and learning
 Supporting professional development for teachers and school staff
 Improving school administration processes
 Supporting effective educational information management.
4
Mobile Learning Initiatives
M-learning Tablet PC Project
• Since 2013
• Public national procurement through open tendering
• 26100 Android tablets provided to mid-secondary students and
educators
• Training of Educators
• Training of School Inspectors
• Provision of Pedagogical resources
• Provision of internet connectivity
• Implementation of an sms e-attendance system
Objectives of the Mauritius Tablet PC
Project
• Provision of students of Forms IV and V access to digital educational contents relevant to
their curricula.
• Ensuring a culture of information mobility through high speed fibre optic cables to every
secondary school
• Enhancing teacher-student and student-student interactions .
• Promoting Science education for girls . An effort to promote science education among
girls, who traditionally prefer Arts, Humanities or Social Sciences
• Improving learning for girls by providing them with anytime, anywhere opportunities to
become independent learners through technology.
• Providing easier access to information and e-services
• Increasing transition rate to higher education and further training, including encouraging
access for girls to higher education
• Preparing students and educators for mobile digital literacy and 21st century skills
• Bringing digital education to the socially deprived and marginalised (girls with SEN, girls in
schools from priority action zones)
Project details
• Digital pedagogical content in Tablet, relevant to mid
secondary Mauritian curricula
• Tablets equipped with Classroom Management Software to
enhance the teacher-learner interaction.
• Tablet usage guideline
• Parental control software
• Insurance cover
• Tablet provided freely to needy students, including girls
from disadvantaged backgrounds
• Tablets covered by 2-year warranty
• Tablets covered by insurance cover
Why a guideline ?
Guidelines prepared to sensitize new users of mobile technology on:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Educational Objectives
Responsibilities of head of school
Responsibilities of educator
Responsibilities of parents
Responsibilities of the student
Guidelines on Proper Usage
Insurance Cover
Disclaimer
Technical Warranty
Managing of m-education
• Setting up of a dedicated E-Education directorate at Ministry
• Creation of an inter-ministerial national committee for better
national coordination ( comprising Ministries of Education, ICT,
Finance, Gender)
• Subsidized internet connectivity
• Designation of one a public agency responsible for training
• Identification of one educator for training and training replication
on tablet usage, use of Classroom Management System and use of
OERs on the internet
• Training for School management
• Training of school inspectors
• Appointment of ICT Support officers in schools
Measures for the marginalised, including girls
• Collaboration between Min of Edu and Min of gender equality
• Online career-guidancing system to favour access
• Free ICT in community-centres and post offices to favour access to
marginalised
• Subsidised IC3 training – IC3 compulsory at early secondary level
• Remove discrimination : Free tablets to needy students at mid-secondary
• Contextualised resources - Delivery of training in local languages favouring
the marginalised
• Provide a space for women and ICT : Implementation of pro-girls ICT
events e.g. Digigirlz
End quote 1 – on SIDS
“SIDS can envisage rapid technological innovation,
especially in information and communications
technologies, that will help to overcome island
isolation, create new ways of maintaining social and
cultural ties across the island diaspora and help
evolve new economic activities.”
UNEP 2014 - GEO Small Island Developing States
Outlook.
End quote 2- on ICT for women’s development
Information and Communication technology by
itself cannot by itself answer all issues concerning
women’s development, but it does bring new
information resources and open new
communication channels for marginalised
communities
(V.Nath, LSE)
THANK YOU !
www.tabletpc.intnet.mu
Ricaud AUCKBUR
Director E-Education
Mauritius
[email protected]