BRITISH COUNCIL, CONNECTING CLASSROOMS: I.T. TRAINING IN RUSIZI DISTRICT, BUGARAMA SITE - RWANDA

We passed through Nyungwe forest to reach Bugarama, the forest is a 1h 30 min drive.

We passed near the real river Nile source: river Nile flows from Nyungwe forest – RWANDA.

Training participants

Introduction

From 30th March up to 31st March 2012 at Groupe Scolaire Saint Paul Muko, located in Western Province, Rusizi District, Bugarama sector held a training conducted by British Council-Rwanda. The training was conducted in collaboration with two Rwandan Digital ambassadors, Claude SEBASHI and Louis MUSITAFU.

The trainees were from 8 different schools neighbouring Groupe scolaire Saint Paul Muko

• Groupe Scolaire Saint Paul Muko• Groupe Scolaire Saint Bénoit Hangabashi;• Groupe Scolaire Muganza;• Busasamana Primary School• Groupe Scolaire Murira • Groupe Scolaire Nzahaha• Saint Basile Nyabunyegeri Primary School• Musumba Primary School

Names of participants

• NYIRANSENGIYUMVA Siporah• NYIRAHABIYAREMYE Jeanne d’Arc• TWAYIGIRA Theoneste• HAGENIMANA Alexis• UWIZEYEYEZU Marie Therese• NDIMUBANZI Therese• BISENGIMANA Immaculée• UWIZEYIMANA Emmanuel• UWIZEYE Isaiah• MUKANTWARI Emelyne

A two days training time table.

• The training began on Friday 30/03/2012 at 8:00a.m:

Time range Activity8h 30min. – 10h45 min. Lessons10h45 – 11h00 Morning Break11h00 – 13h00 Lessons13h00 – 14h00 Lunch14h00 - 17h00 Lessons

Rules and regulations during training.

• To switch off the mobile phones during the time of training;

• Respect time management;• Avoiding unnecessary movements in the hall

during training;• Ask only questions related to training.

TRAINEES’ EXPECTATIONS ABOUT THE TRAINING.

• Knowing other teachers from different schools;

• Improve skills in ICT;• Know what is British Council Connecting

Classrooms;• Know how ICT can be used in teaching and

learning;• Using websites to exchange information

regarding teaching.

THE CONTENT OF THE TRAINING

• What is British Council connecting classrooms;• How can we use ICT to enhance Teaching and

learning;• Introduction about computer skills; • How to use “schoolsonline.britishcouncil.org”

website;

TOPIC ONE: WHAT IS BRITISH COUNCIL, CONNECTING CLASSROOMS?

• Connecting Classrooms is a British council global project that establishes and develops long term, sustainable partnerships between educational authorities and schools in the UK and the rest of the world with a view to creating global citizens.

• British Council Connecting Classrooms is a program that recognizes people and encourages links between young learners for all regions across the globe to create a greater future for all of us.

• British Council Connecting Classrooms is for advance for developing international partnership.

• They encourage young people from countries around the world to share their experience and knowledge.

• Through the project facilitated by British Council, students, teachers and communities are coming together.

TOPIC TWO: THE USE OF ICT IN LEARNING AND TEACHING.

ICT is used to enhance teaching and learning and to make our daily work more easier. ICT offers possibilities to:

• Make use of ICT’s provisional nature, flexibility and feedback.

• Access range of sources by students and teachers, explore and interpret evidence.

• Present material and communicate with others. • Explain and stimulate

• Engage, involve and motivate.• Encourage, either teachers or learners, to satisfy

their curiosity.• enhancing enquiry skills and critical thinking• providing access to sources of all kinds • providing access to people in a range of geographies• developing understanding and empathy• Ccontributing to pupils awareness of and the impact

of ICT.

TOPIC THREE: http://schoolsonline.britishcouncil.org

Participants studied in details how to be registered on schools online, how to login, how to use its main tools like: My Projects, with sub menu tools such as: Add chat room, Add Photo album, Add Project Section, Add Folder etc.

We have also seen the use of My Message, My Forum, how to find a partner school and how to create a project and in creating our project we have just created a space called AMAHORO.

Conclusion

At the end of the two days training following conclusions were made by participants:

• Participants thank BC for organizing a nice training for them;• Participants said that the training was very interesting and

trainers were very active and master the content;• All schools represented had time to register on the website;• Schools are ready to use the website for the purpose of

teaching and learning;• Teachers and schools are going to share this experience with

others in their respective schools and also extend the training to other schools in Rusizi District - RWANDA.