So assuming you have read the posts from Darren and Jerram you are well aware of their preparedness (that is a word I think I just came up with). Let me just give you a little insight to what I am thinking....
I think it was right at about 8 months ago Jerram and I were sitting and at our computers at our respective jobs and instant messaging each other, and he was talking about how he had been invited by Darren to go o Africa to do some mission work and work on computers...I know what we are doing is much more in depth than that description but through IM you abbreviate a lot. I was very excited for him and that I wished I could go...Jerram being the optimist he is was like"why don't you come too?" And the first thing that went through my mind was, "he's nuts, what do I have to offer Africa?" As I thought about it I told myself, "It's not what I have to offer Africa, its what GOD is giving me the gift of travel and the knowledge of his word; to share it in another country with children who may not know Christ-that is amazing."
It is currently 24 hours before the 3 of us board our first plane to start our 28 hour trek to Nairobi. The only technology I am taking to Africa is my iPod and my digital camera. (I know it sounds like I am not as cool ad the guys, but honestly I am going to me learning along with the team at MITS).
I am taking 40 pounds of school supplies, an English curriculum, children's books, sports equipment, games and a bunch of other goodies that was donated. I was truly blessed by my students this past school year when I was telling them of my opportunity of going to work at MITS, they were all ready to help. My high school students collected school supplies, personal hygiene supplies, books and clothes. Even some of the coaches from my school wanted to help by donating the sports equipment and the unused FCA t-shirts from last year which are imprinted with letter's spelling out GOD'S TEAM on the front. I was so AWESOME to watch the staff and students selflessness in giving to others that they have never met...Being a public school teacher we are told not to share the word of God in our classrooms, but I feel that there truly is a place for GOD in my classroom.
I am excited to leave tomorrow...a little anxious....but I know I am going over to work with MITS for a reason. I am confident that the children and the staff will learn so many new ways to use technology from Jerram and Darren... I hope I am able to teach the curriculum and the give the teachers there enough helpful resources that they are able to teach for many years to come. I am also looking forward to just getting out there and breaking in the sports equipment, playing games with the kids and learning about them as individuals.
Most of all I am looking forward to the growth I am going to gain with this trip in my faith, my knowledge of another culture and personal growth in myself.
Now I am off to finish packing and spend the last few hours with my children.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
What Will We Be Doing, You Ask?
Um... Well... We THINK that one thing we will have the opportunity to do will be to work with both kids and faculty on how to teach using their computer facilities. Just like we try to model here in Irving ISD, we've thought about how to walk through some sample lessons that encourage kids to think and that empower them through the use of technology. So, one hope is to use the digital cameras that we're taking to teach a PhotoStory lesson. Something like this:
Thinkfinity PhotoStory Lesson
Overview
Students are introduced to concepts of social justice, such as diversity, tolerance, equity, and equality, through a literary text, class discussions, and guided research. Students plan a service-learning project, then work in small groups using Photo Story software to produce a multimedia presentation designed to foster community support for the project. Students also use the ReadWriteThink.org Printing Press to create informational flyers about the project. The lesson concludes—and the service-learning project begins—with a showing of the Photo Story productions for parents and other community members.
Instructional Plan
Preparation
1. Download Photo Story 3. Familiarize yourself with the Instructions: Using Photo Story 3 to Create Persuasive Slide Shows handout, and practice the steps involved so you can demonstrate the process to students. You may also wish to refer to Create Your First Photo Story. Make a copy of these instructions for students.
2. Bookmark the Persuasion Map and the ReadWriteThink Printing Press on your classroom or lab computers. Familiarize yourself with these tools and be prepared to assist students, particularly if the class has not used them previously.
3. Decide how you will gather images for the Photo Story slide shows and make the necessary arrangements for these activities [e.g., an Internet search for appropriate images (Session 5) or a field trip to take original photos (Session 6)]. If you plan to have students conduct an Internet search, bookmark any search engines and Web directories you would like them to use on your classroom or lab computers (see Search Engines and Web Directories in the Resources section).
... The lesson goes on and on (you can see it on the main page) and it will require some quite obvious modifications. I chuckle thinking about showing these kids a video from street kids in San Diego - considering that they come from the streets of Nairobi. Maybe we could help them make their own video of themselves/their lives?
At any rate, this is really doable with what we'll have access to. I'm curious to see what they will come up with.
Thinkfinity PhotoStory Lesson
Overview
Students are introduced to concepts of social justice, such as diversity, tolerance, equity, and equality, through a literary text, class discussions, and guided research. Students plan a service-learning project, then work in small groups using Photo Story software to produce a multimedia presentation designed to foster community support for the project. Students also use the ReadWriteThink.org Printing Press to create informational flyers about the project. The lesson concludes—and the service-learning project begins—with a showing of the Photo Story productions for parents and other community members.
Instructional Plan
Preparation
1. Download Photo Story 3. Familiarize yourself with the Instructions: Using Photo Story 3 to Create Persuasive Slide Shows handout, and practice the steps involved so you can demonstrate the process to students. You may also wish to refer to Create Your First Photo Story. Make a copy of these instructions for students.
2. Bookmark the Persuasion Map and the ReadWriteThink Printing Press on your classroom or lab computers. Familiarize yourself with these tools and be prepared to assist students, particularly if the class has not used them previously.
3. Decide how you will gather images for the Photo Story slide shows and make the necessary arrangements for these activities [e.g., an Internet search for appropriate images (Session 5) or a field trip to take original photos (Session 6)]. If you plan to have students conduct an Internet search, bookmark any search engines and Web directories you would like them to use on your classroom or lab computers (see Search Engines and Web Directories in the Resources section).
... The lesson goes on and on (you can see it on the main page) and it will require some quite obvious modifications. I chuckle thinking about showing these kids a video from street kids in San Diego - considering that they come from the streets of Nairobi. Maybe we could help them make their own video of themselves/their lives?
At any rate, this is really doable with what we'll have access to. I'm curious to see what they will come up with.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Figuring Out Communications
So, one of the things that I have been trying to 'research' is how to best communicate while in Kenya for almost a month. There isn't a whole lot that I've found, so I'll be sure to post exactly how we go about it when we get there.
The above statement assumes internet connection and it looks like internet cafe's are running about $1 and hour. The unknown is in the connection speed, if we'll be able to connect our Eee PC to wireless and use it (to upload photos and use the webcam) or if we'll be able to use the assumed dial-up connection at the facility. We'll find all that out in just a few days...
Here is our plan for now:
* Take a low-profile, flash drive based computer with Windows XP and 802.11x wireless capabilities. If we can get online with this device (wireless hotspots) we will be able to IM, use the webcam and post entries to the blog. The plan is to use MSN messenger and SKYPE to communicate with folks back home as much as possible.
* Purchase a CelTel cell phone when we get to Nairobi and put some prepaid minute on it (probably $60 worth). I expect the phone to cost about $30 and $60 worth of minutes (with an international calling card) should give us enough for emergency purposes. CelTel has the best coverage in Kenya. I'll also locate a number for the police in Nairobi to have on hand. Having a cell phone will additionally give folks back home a way to call us directly in case of any emergencies.
* Our last means of communication will be through the MITS facility. Located outside of Nairobi, we should have phone access and possible low-speed internet. While we may not be able to post as many pictures as we would like, we should at the very least be able to write.
The above statement assumes internet connection and it looks like internet cafe's are running about $1 and hour. The unknown is in the connection speed, if we'll be able to connect our Eee PC to wireless and use it (to upload photos and use the webcam) or if we'll be able to use the assumed dial-up connection at the facility. We'll find all that out in just a few days...
Here is our plan for now:
* Take a low-profile, flash drive based computer with Windows XP and 802.11x wireless capabilities. If we can get online with this device (wireless hotspots) we will be able to IM, use the webcam and post entries to the blog. The plan is to use MSN messenger and SKYPE to communicate with folks back home as much as possible.
* Purchase a CelTel cell phone when we get to Nairobi and put some prepaid minute on it (probably $60 worth). I expect the phone to cost about $30 and $60 worth of minutes (with an international calling card) should give us enough for emergency purposes. CelTel has the best coverage in Kenya. I'll also locate a number for the police in Nairobi to have on hand. Having a cell phone will additionally give folks back home a way to call us directly in case of any emergencies.
* Our last means of communication will be through the MITS facility. Located outside of Nairobi, we should have phone access and possible low-speed internet. While we may not be able to post as many pictures as we would like, we should at the very least be able to write.
Almost Time...
Things are strewn across our bedroom, duffel bags are ready and waiting, last minute challenges are popping up and things are somehow falling into place. We will be gone for three weeks, leaving this week on July 10th to start our 28 hour trek to Nairobi, Kenya.
My wife, Emily, and I will be accompanying Darren Wilson on what I am dubbing a 'contract mission work' trip to Made in the Streets - a Church of Christ mission facility that works to get street kids into a program that educates them and has a final goal of moving them back into society, able to sustain themselves and a family with a job.
To be honest, I have always been leery of mission facilities/organizations that I am not familiar with. Mission, to me, is serving peoples needs where they are at - unconditionally. It entails a whole heck-of-a-lot of personal learning and a willingness to change ones personal and world views. I do not participate in mission in an effort to 'convert' people, but rather to serve God's humanity.
Our original and primary goal is to help the MITS facility with a variety of their technology related needs. In fact, that is why South MacArthur Church of Christ started looking beyond their own walls to find people that could assist with such a specific goal. A member of South Mac, Darren started asking around and the question fell in Emily's and my laps - the response being a no-brainer 'YES'. In addition to 'fixing tech problems', we expect to teach teachers and kids, work on a video for the facility, visit a 'displacement camp' and experience a 3 night safari in the Mara Reserve.
That all being said, batteries are being charged, equipment is being packed, and episodes of 'Man vs. Wild' (Here's a YouTube clip) are being watched - JUST IN CASE. ;)
My wife, Emily, and I will be accompanying Darren Wilson on what I am dubbing a 'contract mission work' trip to Made in the Streets - a Church of Christ mission facility that works to get street kids into a program that educates them and has a final goal of moving them back into society, able to sustain themselves and a family with a job.
To be honest, I have always been leery of mission facilities/organizations that I am not familiar with. Mission, to me, is serving peoples needs where they are at - unconditionally. It entails a whole heck-of-a-lot of personal learning and a willingness to change ones personal and world views. I do not participate in mission in an effort to 'convert' people, but rather to serve God's humanity.
Our original and primary goal is to help the MITS facility with a variety of their technology related needs. In fact, that is why South MacArthur Church of Christ started looking beyond their own walls to find people that could assist with such a specific goal. A member of South Mac, Darren started asking around and the question fell in Emily's and my laps - the response being a no-brainer 'YES'. In addition to 'fixing tech problems', we expect to teach teachers and kids, work on a video for the facility, visit a 'displacement camp' and experience a 3 night safari in the Mara Reserve.
That all being said, batteries are being charged, equipment is being packed, and episodes of 'Man vs. Wild' (Here's a YouTube clip) are being watched - JUST IN CASE. ;)
Saturday, June 21, 2008
God is Good
We are now just two weeks away from leaving DFW for Nairobi, Kenya. Due to several large contributions, we have been able to purchase many items to take with us. Five new digital cameras, eight MP3 players, three Wacom pen tablets, and lots of other tech goodness. Not shown is the 500GIG hard drive that is loaded down with an amazing assortment of free, open-source software and teaching and learning resources that have been donated by Academy students and teachers. (Please don't overlook the five frisbees in the top-right corner of the photo below...the coolest human networking tools and entertainment devices known to mankind.) God has provided more abundantly that I could have imagined.
Monday, June 9, 2008
One Month To Go
We will be leaving for Nairobi in one month from tomorrow. I have left the majority of planning and preparing for June and I am excited to begin the work. During the last weeks of school, several classes at The Academy created some amazing teaching resources for me to take with me. Students in health, English, history, government and of course my web mastering classes put together a collection of powerpoints, videos, tutorials, audio recordings, and games that the students and teachers at MITS will be able to use. Its a great feeling to be able to be able to pack up one small hard drive (500GIG) worth of materials that contains many times more information than they have available to them right now.
We are also preparing lessons that we can teach the teachers and students that will help them be able to use the new resources (technology toys/gadgets) that we will be bringing. Right now, the plan is to focus on basic English language development and developing Math skills. We will be purchasing and bringing: computer headset microphones, Mp3 players, digital cameras, video cameras, USB drawing tablets and suitcases filled with other fun stuff. The goal is to teach them and encourage them to create products that demonstrate their learning. This is a shift from the traditional ways of rote learning that most African schools are known for. We will package this as "story telling" or communicating using digital tools. We'll see how that goes.
We are also preparing lessons that we can teach the teachers and students that will help them be able to use the new resources (technology toys/gadgets) that we will be bringing. Right now, the plan is to focus on basic English language development and developing Math skills. We will be purchasing and bringing: computer headset microphones, Mp3 players, digital cameras, video cameras, USB drawing tablets and suitcases filled with other fun stuff. The goal is to teach them and encourage them to create products that demonstrate their learning. This is a shift from the traditional ways of rote learning that most African schools are known for. We will package this as "story telling" or communicating using digital tools. We'll see how that goes.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Kenya Update
Plans are well underway for the trip and I have received my passport and purchased my plane tickets. I will be leaving DFW for Nairobi on July 10th and will be returning on August 1st. I will be traveling with good friends Jerram Froese and Emily McRoberts and our focus will be sharing and teaching both online and offline technology resources that can be used to communicate, teach and learn. We are hoping that the internet connection gets installed there in May or June, but costs look incredibly high right now. There is a donor to who is willing to pay upwards of $5000US for the installation and hardware, but the monthly service costs look out of reach at the moment. The quotes we see are in the neighborhood of $1000US a month for internet access. We are investigating a number of other ways to get the data transmitted, and we aren't ready to let go of the internet idea yet.
I am working a little each evening investigating possible operating systems, software packages, etc. that will be free for use to use, and easy for us to install and easy for them to use on their own long term. They have approximately 12 existing workstations (some desktops and some laptops) varying in age and model. I am currently considering using Ubuntu as the OS for all of them and going with a suite of opensource/free applications like: OpenOffice, Picasa, Audacity, and more to help them remain self-sufficient without any cost at all. I am also working though some networking and storage issues and trying to find the best solution for them. Its all a very interesting lesson in problem solving. I just hope to have THE solution by the time I leave.
I am working a little each evening investigating possible operating systems, software packages, etc. that will be free for use to use, and easy for us to install and easy for them to use on their own long term. They have approximately 12 existing workstations (some desktops and some laptops) varying in age and model. I am currently considering using Ubuntu as the OS for all of them and going with a suite of opensource/free applications like: OpenOffice, Picasa, Audacity, and more to help them remain self-sufficient without any cost at all. I am also working though some networking and storage issues and trying to find the best solution for them. Its all a very interesting lesson in problem solving. I just hope to have THE solution by the time I leave.
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