Introducing tech in the Classroom. What needs to be done?

HyracTech & Operation Bootstrap Africa

At HyracTech, we are big champions for incorporating technology in the classroom .We have put lots of efforts to ensuring that this can be achieved and we found out that; for this to work, everyone has to be involved and this includes teachers, students, administrators and the government.

We recently held a workshop in Arusha Tanzania, courtesy of Operation Bootstrap Africa (OBA).

Who is Operation Bootstrap Africa?

This is a non-profit organization that partners with communities in Kenya, Tanzania and Madagascar. They partner with local organizations/groups, use local resources and follow local priorities.

They are invested in projects that help improve access to education, provide health care, support sustainable agriculture and much more.

This particular workshop had one main purpose, introducing the HyracBox, our offline server- how it works in delivering educational content offline , and how teachers can integrate this in teaching in their classes so as to ease their work and encourage the use of technology in the classroom.

The three day event started on 5th March-7th March . The event was graced by twelve participants, which included teachers (STEM teachers) and program coordinators.

The one thing that stood out from this workshop was the fact that teachers are ready to take on a new approach in their classroom and do understand the need for ICT in schools. The most promising thing was the fact that some of the participants were actually incorporating technology in their classes.

So, what are the challenges teachers face in incorporating ICT in the classroom?

The need for incorporating ICT in the classroom has been one that is not only urgent but also very current. However, the use of ICT in the classroom especially in the developing countries has been faced with various challenges. These include:

• Inadequate infrastructure/resources

These include resources such as computers, classroom space, projectors and tablets.

• Lack of effective and efficient training

Without proper and efficient training in ICT, there is no way technology adoption can be a success.

• Lack of time to integrate ICT in the classroom

There are strict timetables in most schools with very short sessions for a class which can hinder use of technology in the classroom.

• Preference of traditional methods of learning

The adoption of technology in the classroom is highly dependent on teachers and how they perceive this. Preference of traditional methods of teaching has been a big barrier to adoption of technology in the classroom

What can be done to change this narrative.

It is important for all stakeholders to play their role in ensuring that technology is not only introduced but also adopted. Organizations such as Operation Bootstrap Africa play a vital role because of the work they do with local partners and schools.

Governments should work on equipping schools and pushing for the adoption of ICT by providing incentives to teachers.

Teachers should be well trained to ensure that they are confident with technology.

We are grateful to be working with an organization that is invested in the adoption of technology in the classrooms. We are excited for the future in #Tanzania.

How do you think technology can be utilized right now to solve the school in-attendance due to #CoronaVirus?