Editor's note (Pamela McLean - email pam54321@googlemail.com)
This chat took place on Friday September 28th in the WorkNets English Chat Room The full archive can be seen there. This version has been edited down (removing some of the greetings etc) so that the main conversation is easier to follow. I have also removed some typing errors (mostly my own) for the sake of clarity. I have not altered anything where the original word was not clear to me. I have added a few notes as (This colour in italics ....) to explain some of the references. I think the time codes are the times in Lithuania (home of the chat room).
[16:53] <serina> Hi Pam! was there a chat scheduled for today?
(snip)
[17:05] <Pam> Hello Serina
[17:05] <Pam> It is a very special event
[17:06] <serina> It is. I just hope the group manages to access the room today
[17:06] <Pam> The TT Kenya groups are having their first follow up meeting after the TT course that I ran with them in August
(TT is the Teachers Talking about ICT in-service training programme)
[17:06] <Pam> Ah - so you know about it.
[17:07] <serina> Did you learn anything new in Kenya?
(It was my first visit to Kenya - I started to develop the TT programme with teachers at Fantsuam in North Central Nigeria)
[17:07] <serina> i've been reading all the correspondence but I am very tied up with work and research most of the time
(There are two complementary yahoo groups where Serena may have been reading about TT Kenya. They are the Learning From Each Other yahoo group
and http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CawdTeachersTalking/ )
(snip)
[17:10] User mbithi enters the room English.
[(snikp)
[17:11] <Pam> Hi Mbithi
(snip)
[17:13] <mbithi> hi pam
[17:13] <Pam> I am so excited - I am sitting here at home clapping my hands to see that "Hi Pam"
(It was not certain that the TT group would succeed in getting online. During our one week course there were four online session scheduled but only two were possible because of power cuts on Thursday and Friday. Access to the Internet is a luxury. The programme plan is for six more practical sessions - one a month for six months - to continue if funding can be arranged.)
[17:14] <serina> It feels great!
[17:14] <mbithi> well we are here all of us except David and Krishna have not yet arrived
(David Mutua is the driving force behind TT Kenya. We first met when he was serving with VSO - Voluntary Service Overseas - in Oyo State in Nigeria and we subsequently worked together on TT at Fantsuam. On his return to Kenya David managed to get funding from COL - the Commonwealth of Learning - for TT Kenya. Dr Krishna Alluri of COL is currently in Kenya so they were travelling from Nairobi to meet the teachers.)
[17:15] <Pam> We will hope David and Krishna arrive before the end
[17:15] <mbithi> we sent our laughters too
[17:15] <Pam> Let's hope they do not get another puncture
[17:16] <serina> So what are teachers talking about?
[17:16] <Pam> I am laughing too - I am tempted to get up and skip around the room - but then I cannot type
[17:17] <serina> :))
[17:17] <mbithi> our topic today: implementing ICT in learning and the bottlenecks involved
[17:17] <Pam> Serina - please introduce yourself
[17:17] <serina> interesting
(snip)
[17:18] <Pam> Wow it is a big topic
[17:18] <serina> I'm a Kenyan living in Sweden at the moment... an audiologist by profession
[17:18] <Pam> How are you arranging your meeting...
[17:19] <mbithi> teachers also wish to share their experience back in our schools with all of you out there
[17:19] <Pam> Have you discussed these issues before coming online?
[17:20] <Pam> Yes - we need to develop good ways so that your experience is schools can be shared more widely.
[17:20] <mbithi> well cizor the system administrator is not around, we cannot even get him and we are also
[17:21] <mbithi> we are only logged in using one staff machine
(The TT Kenya group are meeting at Holy Rosary Secretarial College in Tala, where we held the one-week course. This meeting is possible sometimes at the end of a Friday afternoon because the college students are not using the ICT room then. Holy Rosary College also runs Cisco training courses and this is how it comes to have an Internet link - the only one for many miles around in this rural area)
(snip)
[17:22] <serina> at least you are logged in (
)[17:22] <Pam> Hmm - there are many practical details to get sorted before we can arrange to invite people who are not already our friends...
[17:23] <mbithi> we have kind off - briefly
[17:23] <Pam> The first computer is the most valuable one
[17:23] <Pam> So you are acting as the spokesman for the whole group
[17:25] <mbithi> and its good to meet and talk serina too. guys here are happy to meet are
[17:25] <mbithi> yeah
(snip)
[17:26] <mbithi> but all the others are contributing all round me and its hot down here and the fans are not on
[17:26] <mbithi> oh somebody's just switched them on
(snip)
[17:28] <serina> How many are you all in all?
(snip)
[17:29] <mbithi> the teachers really appreciated all that they learned and others from our schoo
[17:30] <mbithi> are also so eager to join this group
[17:30] <mbithi> we are twenty of us
(There were twenty six participants on the course - held in the holidays. Teachers need to get time off to attend the Friday meetings and some have difficult journeys. Twenty is a good number to attend.)
(snip)
[17:33] <mbithi> And this guys all say that they are newbies no more
(During the TT programme we sometimes did activities where participants were classified as "know-its" or "newbies". We had a way of sharing information where we would work in groups - all focussing on the same topic - e.g. a comparison between a typewriter and computer used as a word processor. The idea is that the people in the group who already have some knowledge - the "know-its" - share their knowledge with the people who do not know - the "newbies". Then there is feedback to the whole class. The newbies keep taking turns to say something they have learned. Any misunderstandings or mis-information can be recognised and cleared up. It is a way to make sure everyone has the same basic information.)
(snip)
[17:36] <Pam> So - TT group..
[17:36] <mbithi> about the other teachers who would like to join, David had advised us not to bring them for now coz of the limited funds
(About these other teachers: on the last day of the course the participants - in four groups- had to give presentations on what they had learned and how they were going to share something with others. The participants decided to pass on information to their colleagues. As a result meetings have been held in various schools. Now other teachers want to be included in TT.)
[17:36] <Pam> how do you want to use the one computer?
[17:37] <Pam> will we continue to chat or do you also want to do other things?
[17:37] <mbithi> we plan to be here till 5.00pm kenyan time.
[17:37] <mbithi> by the way what time is it there?
[17:38] <Pam> Here it is five past two
[17:38] <mbithi> we are just about to log on with another machine: the server.
(snip)
[17:39] User john enters the room English.
[17:40] <Pam> Hello John
(snip)
[17:40] <john> am okey pam
(snip)
[17:41] <john> we are doing well and majority of us are knowits
(snip)
[17:43] <john> everything is okey in TT KENYA 2007 and we are doing quite well
[17:44] <john> We wanted to discuss the problems encountered in implementing the use of ICT in KENYA
[17:44] <Pam> So now you have two computers working....
[17:44] User Nzomo enters the room English.
[17:44] <john> YES
[17:44] <john> We are using the server.
(snip)
[17:45] <Nzomo> mbithi has been automaticallly logged out
[17:45] <Pam> Hello Nzomo
[17:46] <john> we really miss ur methodology of teaching and wish u could come to kenya again
(snip)
[17:46] <Pam> Thank you John
[17:46] <Nzomo> hi pam
[17:47] <Pam> WE must make the most of our time online
[17:47] <john> nzomo is taking mbithis place
[17:47] <Nzomo> how about the todays topic
(snip)
[17:47] <john> online chatting will provide exchange of ideas and opinions
[17:47] <Nzomo> yeah
[17:47] <Pam> Yes
[17:48] <Nzomo> hope you are ready to share with us about the topic
[17:48] <Pam> Let us move from chat to the topic
[17:48] <john> we also miss the booklets you promised us with and and appreciate the CD-ROMS you provided us
(Pam's NB these booklets were ICDL self instruction booklets - I have permission from the publishers to photocopy them for my teaching. The teachers had the opportunity to use the booklets during the course, but plans to get them photocopied did not work out. The CD-ROMS had copies of all the teaching materials that I intended to use on the course, plus various extra resources. )
17:49] <Nzomo> pam we appreciated so much for what we learned from you in our first meeting
[17:49] <Pam> We need to collect your thoughts in a way we can share more widely.
[17:49] <Pam> I think there are two separate kinds of bottlenecks to consider.
[17:49] <john> we lack the the fincxes ( "finances"?) and the people on the ground have little know how of ict
[17:50] <Pam> There are the bottlenecks for the first group - you
[17:50] <Pam> and for the people you want to include next - all those who want to join you in TT
[17:50] <john> we also lack the neccessary expertise since most of kenyan are newbies
[17:51] <Pam> So we need to devise a plan that you think would work
[17:51] <Pam> Then we need to work out a detailed budget
[17:51] <john> and we would wish that training programs to enlighten people on the importance of ict
[17:52] <john> and also most rural areas lack power
[17:52] <Pam> then we can take the plan and the budget to people who might have the money and power to make it happen
[17:52] <Pam> Yes - we need to list carefully all the things that need to be put in place.
[17:53] <Pam> You are the experts
[17:53] <Pam> How would you start?
[17:53] <john> the alternative source of power available are generators.
[17:54] <Pam> Power is a big problem
[17:54] <john> first we acquire two pentium 111 compueter at a cheap[er cost and a printer and a scanner and see how we can acquire a two phase generator
[17:55] <Pam> perhaps we should start with what we do have - not with what we don't have and see how we could build up step by step
[17:55] <Pam> remember at present we have no money
[17:55] <john> let evelyn continue and i say that its nice chatting with u
[17:56] User john leaves the room English.
[17:56] <Pam> but we do have a group of people who have vision and knowledge
[17:56] <Pam> Thanks John
[17:56] <Pam> Hi Evelyn
[17:57] <Pam> Thanks for your emails. I hope you have had my replies. Last one sent last night.
[17:57] User mbithi_1 enters the room English.
[17:57] User Evelyn1 enters the room English.
(snip)
[17:58] <mbithi_1> well pam am back
[17:58] <Evelyn1> Hi Pam
[17:58] <Evelyn1> It is with David
( Evelyn is referring to my camera which I have lent/given to the teachers - I was hoping for photos of this session.)
[17:58] <Pam> Remember the three legged stood model of ICT4Ed
(This says that whatever we do with ICT needs to be put on a firm base - like a three legged stool - we need to get all three "legs" of ICT firmly in place
'I" The Information /content
"C" the Communication/people-with-a-purpose who need to communicate
"T" the Technology - the equipment and all that is needed to make it work)
[17:59] <Evelyn1> and he's on his way
[17:59] <mbithi_1> this machine is always being forced and logged out so Nzomo the other cameraman remember, is now out
[17:59] <Pam> Remember that it is your ability to collect local knowledge that persuaded me to leave that technology with you
(I am referring to the camera - It is my hope that other people who have more resources will recognise the potential of this TT group and will also help them so they do get access to the technology that they need.)
[17:59] <Evelyn1> Yes
(snip)
[18:00] <Evelyn1> We are already using it to share and get information
[18:00] <Pam> That is excellent.
[18:01] <Evelyn1> Our teachers are asking how soon they can join the TT group
[18:01] <Evelyn1> They are very eager and wanted to come with us today
[18:02] <Pam> Tell them you need their help to make a plan that will work
[18:02] <mbithi_1> oh yeah, that stool of course, its a real good way to illustrate ICT
[18:02] <Evelyn1> They are concerned about
[18:02] <Pam> Maybe you can report back to them what happened today.
[18:03] <Pam> If we can prove we have two legs of the stool in place then maybe we will get money to pay for the technology leg...
[18:03] <Evelyn1> the number of computers we are using, they are few
[18:03] <mbithi_1> and made it so clear for the teachers
[18:04] <Pam> Explain to them that is what you are doing - so they will see it is part of a plan and not a waste of time.
[18:04] <Evelyn1> Some of them are newbie's
[18:04] <Pam> You can start to teach them about computers even if they do not have computers....
[18:05] <Evelyn1> and they need the one week training
[18:05] <Pam> remember we did things for a No Computer Computer Course...
[18:05] <Pam> You can do the first day of the course ....
(We used the first day and a half to build a shared body of knowledge and prepare people for their online time. Online time is very precious. We had to be ready to make use of every moment.)
[18:05] <Evelyn1> We need teaching materials
[18:06] <Pam> we had no computers for that
[18:06] <mbithi_1> we will sit as a group, tt-kenya, and plan how we can be able to fix the third leg. ie the technology
[18:06] <Pam> You have all the materials that I used - on your CDs
[18:07] User florence enters the room English.
[18:07] <Pam> Perhaps you can run the first week slowly spread over a long time, bit by bit...
(snip)
[18:07] <Evelyn1> Hi Florence
[18:07] <Pam> Florence helped me to run the second TT programme in Nigeria
[18:07] <Evelyn1> Welcome, We are TT Kenya
(snip)
[18:07] <florence> hello Pam, and TT kenya
(snip)
18:08] <Pam> she sent you that first welcome message that was waiting as you joined the TT yahoo group
[18:08] <Evelyn1> Great Meeting You
[18:09] <florence> it good to know about TT kenya
[18:09] <Evelyn1> We are glad you can add ideas on how we can train other colleagues teachers
[18:09] <Pam> Florence we are trying to work out how TT Kenya people can include more teachers.
[18:09] <mbithi_1> is florence then in Nigeria Now
(snip)
[18:10] <Evelyn1> They want to start training this early and we are yet to complete our course
[18:10] <florence> good I 'ill be glad to
[18:10] <florence> yes
[18:11] <Evelyn1> In most schools there are no computers and power
[18:12] <Evelyn1> and most of our colleagues are newbie's
[18:13] <Evelyn1> These are some of our problems
[18:13] <Pam> So if you were to teach them something - how would we do it?
[18:13] <Pam> What do they need/want to know?
[18:13] <Evelyn1> Well Pam, We can start with the CD materials we have
[18:14] <florence> It is the same here in Nigeria
[18:14] <Pam> what are you thinking of?
[18:14] <Evelyn1> They want to be part of the TT group
[18:14] <Pam> how will you start?
(snip)
[18:14] <mbithi_1> and to add to what evelyn has just told you, the schools that do have the machines are the very old make. Probably pentium 1's, which cannot even be upgraded
[18:14] <Pam> so they want to be included in TT-online
[18:15] <Evelyn1> We need to organize ourselves
[18:15] <Pam> remember ther are 3 parts to TT
[18:15] <Pam> TT-online
[18:15] <florence> Pam i read on Graham e-notice on solar about some called Patrick in Kenya who powers his laptop using solat energy
[18:15] <Pam> Hands-on Computers - your old computers are fine for that
[18:16] <Pam> and NC3 the No Computer Computer Course for ideas and theory
[18:16] <mbithi_1> The teaching materials are also another bag, but we are happy that at least we can use
[18:16] <florence> I think we could start by learning using visual aid
[18:16] <Evelyn1> Florence, we can use Patricks idea
[18:17] <Pam> we need clear objectives....
[18:17] <florence> yes, that is the formular ,Pam
[18:17] <Evelyn1> Pam, we can start with the No - Computer Course
(snip)
[18:17] <Evelyn1> We need funds for the No Computer course
[18:18] <Evelyn1> and we forsee we will have many participants
(snip)
[18:19] <florence> yes, i do agree with Evelyn
[18:19] User william enters the room English.
[18:19] <Evelyn1> David and Krishna have arrived
[18:19] <Pam> Do you have enough ideas to start to make a plan?
[18:19] <Pam> Please greet them
[18:19] <Evelyn1> Yes
[18:20] <Pam> Get some photos taken
[18:20] <Pam> Remember that at secondary school you have 2 kinds of teachers..
[18:20] <william> hallo pam/florence
[18:20] <Evelyn1> Ok
[18:21] <william> its william with mbithi typing for me
[18:21] <florence> welcome David and Krishna
[18:21] <william> we will take the photos for you
(snip)
[18:22] <william> about the plan, we are going to sit down as a group and make the best that we can be able to master
[18:22] <william> remember we are so determined
(snip)
[18:23] User Evelyn1 leaves the room English.
[18:23] <florence> i will appreciate that
[18:23] User priscilla enters the room English.
[18:23] <florence> Maybe sometime the teacher could hire a computer for their practical too
[18:23] <serina> determination is important and so is motivation
(snip)
[18:24] <william> we are thinking of setting up a community information center
[18:24] <Pam> some who need to teach ICT- some who want to learn for their own professional development
(snip)
[18:25] <william> our idea is to have people access technology in the cheapest possible way
(snip)
[18:25] <Pam> You know from Google and wikipedia that ICT is useful for all areas of the curriculum
[18:26] <Pam> a community information centre would be ideal
[18:26] <priscilla> we hope you will help us achieve our objectives
[18:26] <florence> ICT is a means (a vehicle that transport) so via it you can learn about your professions too!
[18:26] <william> with the help of you, our communty, churches and schools including individuals who are trully impressed with this our initiative
[18:26] <serina> and also benefiting
[18:27] <Pam> Please share your idea for how it would be....
(snip)
[18:27] <priscilla> how can ICT help us in our professions
[18:28] <florence> I agree will the info center as the hub of information for everyone
(snip)
[18:28] <william> pam David and Krishna is just standing behind me and they all say hello, David is introducing Krishna to us
[18:28] <priscilla> we are glad to have a chat with you
(snip)
[18:29] <Pam> We must be very clear in our thinking because there is much confusion about ICT and education
[18:29] <florence> Most information for anything you can think is on the net (ICT) world, because we are now in a time of knowledge sharing
[18:29] <priscilla> hoping they will share ideas
(snip)
[18:30] <florence> some are free, some are commercial
[18:30] <priscilla> we are communicating with Krishna
(snip)
[18:30] <serina> are we talking of using interactive applications and things like that or using resources on the internet like the Wikipedia???
[18:31] <florence> everything we need to do in the future will be powered by ICT, the earlier we join the better
[18:31] <Pam> Serina this is why we have to think clearly
(snip)
[18:31] <priscilla> we have appreciated their contribution towards changing us from newbies to know its
(snip)
[18:31] <Pam> and always make sure people are referring to the same thing
[18:32] <priscilla> yes
[18:32] <serina> and from what i have gathered so far, you are talking about the first steps
(snip)
[18:33] <florence> it was nice meeting you TT kenya
[(snip)
[18:33] <Pam> first answer the question ICT for what?
[18:33] <priscilla> we are also too glad to meet you florence hoping we will go far
(snip)
[18:34] <serina> the answer will put everything else in perspective
(snip)
[18:34] <priscilla> wish we can communicate to the other members of tt nigeria.greet them
[18:35] <serina> nice chatting to you florence
[18:35] <Pam> if for example it is ICT to learn to teach chemistry better then it will be different to some other requirement.
[18:35] <Pam> Remember that you can communicate through the TT group.
[18:35] <Pam> You can exchange emails
[18:36] <priscilla> serina,we will plan how we can use solar energy
[18:36] <william> We are going on with a meeting
[18:36] <Pam> you do not always need to exchange information like this "in real time"
(snip)
[18:37] <serina> solar energy is a good solution...from what i gather, is the TT group in Ukambani?
(snip)
[18:37] <william> Mbithi has just communicated with Krishna
(snip)
[18:37] <priscilla> Krishna is telling us how we can use the computer keyboard
[18:38] <serina> So you are not just thinking of hardware but connectivity as well...interesting
[18:38] <william> We just wanted to let you know we are grateful
[18:38] <Pam> I think there are many people interested in using solar but it is not readily available for us yet
[18:39] <Pam> perhaps it should be part of the technology leg of the stool when you write your ideas
(snip)
[18:39] <william> Yes, TT is in Ukambani
[18:39] <Pam> I am happy Krishna is with you
[18:40] <Pam> He has great knowledge and experience of many things that are interesting to you.
[18:40] <priscilla> we need the knowledge about solar energy
[18:40] <serina> Ukambani usually has hot weather... as Pam says, solar can be part of the tech. leg
[18:40] <Pam> Learn all you can from him before he leaves.
[18:41] <priscilla> we can have the expertise from our chemisty teachers
[18:41] <Pam> Yes - but also remember we must build from what we have..
[18:41] <william> If we adapt solar, it will greatly assist us
[18:42] <Pam> If we show what we can do with just a little then perhaps people who want to try out things like solar will want us to try it out for them
[18:42] <william> The other problem we have is internet connection
(snip)
[18:42] <priscilla> we are happy there is an alternative source of energy which is at our reach
[18:43] <Pam> we must have a big vision - but we must not let our struggle with few resources cause us to give up.
[18:43] <priscilla> yes
[18:43] <Pam> we must keep on demonstrating what we can do
[18:43] <serina> take it a step at a time
[18:44] <Pam> so people will want to help us to do more
(snip)
[18:44] <Pam> even if they are tiny tiny steps we can keep on moving
[18:44] <priscilla> Him Pam this is David
[18:44] <Pam> we must never stop
[18:44] <serina> it will be more effective as well
[18:45] <Pam> hi David
[18:45] <serina> hi David
[18:45] <priscilla> How are you? Am here with Krishna
[18:45] <Pam> so you have been able to bring Krisha and your group together
[18:45] <priscilla> He is talking to the teachers
[18:45] <Pam> it is a great achievement
(snip)
[18:47] <priscilla> May be talk about TT Kenya
(snip)
[18:49] <william> Some schools have started teaching computers at primary level
[18:53] <priscilla> Looking at the Wikieducator now..
(snip)
[18:58] <priscilla> WE are actually talking of how teachers can build content on it..
(snip)
[19:00] <Pam> Everyone who has a wiki wants people to fill it for them - but how is that to be done? it takes so much time and our teachers cannot afford to go online...
[19:00] <Pam> unless there could be an agreement....
[19:00] <priscilla> We are just discussing not committing
[19:01] <Pam> So when people put stuff in they then get time online to use as they choose.
[19:02] <Pam> Maybe your community information centre could be set up for the dual purpose of info to teachers and content from teachers
[19:03] <Pam> But no-one should underestimate the work involved in creating and inputting content.
[19:04] <priscilla> Pam, we are leaving now..
(snip)
[19:04] <Pam> Ok
[19:04] <Pam> great to be with you
[19:04] <priscilla> We have extended the time beyond the time agreed
[19:04] <Pam> look forward to emails
[19:05] <priscilla> Yes oooooo
[19:05] <william> Pam, It was great chatting online.
[19:05] <priscilla> BFN
[19:05] <Pam> BFN - yes but you only had two computers and no techie
(snip)
[19:06] <william> Pam, Terry, Cathy wish you well
[19:06] <priscilla> We had agreed to have three groups to have a coordinated discussion
[19:06] <Pam> sounds good
[19:06] <william> Terri wants to tell about her daughter
[19:06] <priscilla> But went down to two ..not too bad
(snip)
[19:07] <william> She will communicate with David
(snip)
[19:08] <Pam> I think you must go
[19:08] User william leaves the room English.
[19:08] <Pam> Bye
[19:08] User nzomo_2 leaves the room English.
[19:09] User Nzomo leaves the room English.
[19:09] User mbithi_1 leaves the room English.
[19:09] User mbithi leaves the room English.
(snip)
[19:11] <Pam> So Florence
[19:12] <Pam> your name is still here - are you really here or have you gone...
[19:14] <Pam> You and David and I never imagined meeting in this chat room when we were working together on TT in Nigeria
[19:20] <Pam> I think you have gone and David/Priscilla too - but in case you do come back to log out - bye for now, it was great to be with you again.