Computer Lessons

Living in a first-world culture you may find it hard to believe that teenagers do not know how to use a computer, but here in Northern Uganda, most teens arrive in secondary school without ever having touched a computer keyboard!  Yet, understanding that most schools and homes do not have electricity, you begin to see the problem.  True, more secondary schools are beginning to get “plugged in,” but students are not well-prepared to use computers for learning.

FIRST computer room

Thus, the newly named University of the Sacred Heart (USH) ushered in a program called “Computer Basics.”  (The buildings are the former Catechists Training Center on the compound where we live.  The University is not yet functioning, so this is a way to use the campus.)  This type of course was offered twice before by local teachers.  Two of our Associates took the course the second time it was offered.  Sister Pat arrived in time to teach this third course.  The first two weeks were for instruction, while the third week was optional, providing time to practice the skills presented.  A young man named Ojok Patrick was assigned to help as needed.  He was a good resource and could repeat Pat’s instructions in Acoli when needed so the students would understand.  He later commented that he learned many new skills just from being present for instruction!

Sr. Pat & Patrick

Patrick helping to monitor progress

The students ranged in age from a 24-year-old nurse to a 13-year-old who was not even allowed his own email address by Google!  Most of the students had just completed their last year of primary school and are headed for secondary school when the year begins in February.  These beginners were exposed to many skills in those two weeks of instruction.

Youngest member of class

Although instruction lasted 4 hours each day, what was to be covered was a bit overwhelming.  There was a general introduction to computers, introduction to Microsoft Office Word, and then to Microsoft Office Excel.  In between these intense lessons they practiced their keyboarding skills using a program called Mavis Beacon.  Before the two weeks were up the students were exposed to use of the Internet and how to do an intelligent search.  Ahhhh!  This was the most interesting part for many of these young people.  But wait!  They also learned how to send emails once they managed to get themselves an email account!  Such fun!

Attempting to demo a skill

The frustrating part was the  inconsistency of having enough computers, having the required software on each of the computers, and poor internet access in the original computer space.  (The last two instruction days put the students in the next room where access was improved.)

Note: Missing a computer today!

Intense workers!

 


















 
By the end of classes most of these young people were able to integrate many of their skills. Evaluation on the last day required them to locate a particular picture on the Internet, put it into a Word document, format the document in specific ways, format a spreadsheet creating a graph of certain information on that sheet, and then attaching both documents to an email.  The email was then sent to three persons: Sister Pat, Fr. Jino, and Patrick.  On the whole there was much accomplished.  How much of the content remains with them will depend on how often they use their skills.  Not all of them came during the third week to practice!

Students were overheard to say how great the classes were.  They felt they learned a lot and that the teacher taught differently from what they were used to.  She actually walked around the room and helped them individually when they were stuck.  They weren’t used to that sort of teacher.  Besides, she was WHITE!  It is a real point of pride to have a white teacher…. (That was news to all of us!)

Oldest and most motivated student!

After a week away from the school, students and their families were invited to return for a closing ceremony.  The staff had a morning of recollection followed by Mass around 1:00 PM.  The students and families were invited to join in at that time.  The group then moved over to the Board Room for the awarding of certificates.

Of course there were speeches!  Seven of the nine students were present.  After two of the adults spoke, each of the students stood in turn and spoke a few words about the value of the classes.  Then one of the parents present also spoke.  The comments were all quite positive!  

Finally, the certificates were handed out in a ceremonious way… A student name was called.  The certificate was handed to Sister Pat by Paska, coordinator of the outreach program. Pat handed it to the next person, who also handed it off until it reached Fr. Jino, the fourth person in line.  The student shook the hand of each in the line before the certificate was given to the student at the end.  The girls all sort of curtsied; the boys gave a polite bow. A final speech by Fr. Jino, reminding the students that this course was only a beginner’s course, concluded this part of the program.  All went outside for a photo, and then the crowd seemingly dispersed.

But the day was not yet finished.  While the students and their families left the campus, the staff moved over to the dining hall where a wonderful meal was available.  There were lots of smiles all around.  After all, there would now be a two-week holiday for everyone!

The next "Computer Basics" classes should begin in early January.  Sister Pat expects to be part of that once more.

This blog entry closes with our prayerful wishes that each of you who reads this, will be greatly blessed during this Christmas season and into the New Year, 2016.

Our simple Advent wreath

Wu legi gum Noeli!

We pray you blessings on Christmas!