Peace Corps Dominican Republic

1
Peace Corps Dominican Republic

• ICT Education

2
How was the Project Developed ?

• FACTORS (Why)
• The growing reliance on foreign support through
  tourism and globalization drives a need for
  individuals who have skills in high-tech fields.
  
• Youth who strive to become professionals in any
  field have to be familiar with at least basic
  software packages such as MS office.
• Nearly every company in the Dominican Republic is
  computerized and the need for computer literate
  employees is growing.
• The information revolution has already hit the
  Dominican Republic and those left behind have
  little chance to improve their economic situation
  without first learning basic computer skills.

• PARTNERS (With Whom?)
• Ministry of Education
• World-Links
• Local Community Based Organizations

3
Snapshot View of ICT Education in the DR

• During the past 40 years, the Dominican
  Republics demographic and economic profile has
  changed dramatically, cities and large towns have
  grown so rapidly that today over 64 of
  Dominicans reside in urban areas. While the DR is
  still strongly dependent on agriculture the
  nation today has a much more diversified economy
  that includes manufacturing, commerce, and the
  service sectors, light industry in industrial
  free zones, retail commerce, and tourism.
• The change in economy towards a more
  service-based economy requires much greater use
  of information and communication technology for
  the DR to become an attractive destination of
  foreign and national investment. To respond to
  this, the current and previous governments have
  made substantial investments in improving
  information communication technology including
  upgrading of the government and private sector
  technology base as well as the creation of 500
  IT labs in schools across the country.

4

• ICT Education
• PROJECT PLAN

5
Project Purpose

• To improve the availability and quality of
  education in rural and marginal urban schools
  through training teachers, students and other
  community members to use information and
  communications technologies (ICT) to teach and
  learn more effectively, as well as to generate
  greater income.

6
Project Goals

• GOAL 1 Training Teachers
• GOAL 2 Training Youth
• GOAL 3 Training Community Members

7
GOAL 1Teachers will enhance their ability to
effectively utilize information technology as
part of their teaching methodology.

• Objective 1 By the end of FY 2006, 66 PCVs, and
  project partners will deliver 396
  workshops/courses to assist 5,280 teachers to
  become familiar with various IT educational
  content packages, educational content web sites,
  Word, Excel, Internet, etc. and how to apply this
  knowledge to improving their teaching of 316,800
  students.
• Objective 2 By the end of FY 2006, 66 PCVs and
  project partners will provide individual support
  to 1,716 teachers and their students in how to
  utilize IT skills in teaching/learning of
  educational subject matter.

8
GOAL 2Youth will enhance their ability to use
information technology to learn and use their
marketable skills.

• Objective 1 By the end of FY 2006, 66 PCVs, and
  project partners will establish 66 youth computer
  clubs to provide out-of-school-time opportunities
  to 1,320 youth to develop computer learning
  skills, computer programming, research, data
  entry, and/or computer repair skills.
• Objective 2 By the end of FY 2006, 66 PCVs, and
  project partners, will deliver 100 workshops /
  courses to 1,320 youth in community to become
  familiar with various information technology
  hardware and software packages (Educational
  content web sites Word, Excel, Internet,
  web-design, MS Publisher, email, etc.) and how to
  apply this knowledge to improving their learning
  and income potential.

9
GOAL 3Community members will utilize and
coordinate technology resources in their
communities.

• Objective 1 By the end of FY 2006, 66 PCVs and
  Project Partners will train 66 communities in the
  development of community Technology Diagnostics,
  Community Technology Committees, and Community
  Technology Plans.
• Objective 2 By the end of FY 2006, 66 PCVs and
  Project Partners will facilitate access to
  technology resources through workshops, open-lab
  hours, and individual assistance to 1,320
  community members and/or organizations.

10
Typical Volunteer Cycle

• Pre-Service Training (12 weeks including CBT)
• Months 0-3 Community Diagnostic and Relation
  Building
• 3 Month IST Diagnostic Report and Start the 1st
  Year Project Planning Process
• Months 3-12 Complete Project Plan, Implement,
  and Monitor project
• 12 Month IST Evaluate 1st year progress and Plan
  2nd Year
• Months 12-24 Reformulate, Implement, Monitor,
  and Evaluate project
• Months 21-24 Begin transition process
• Pre, 3, 12 month Site Visits
• Close of Service Conference

11
Top Ten Activities in the Special Education
Project

• Basic computer training for teachers, youth and
  community members
• Forming community technology committees and
  implementing sustainable business model
• Teaching English through ICT
• Publishing students newsletters
• Incorporating educational software in curriculum
• Creating youth ICT clubs
• Fundraising to replace broken parts or buy
  supplies for the lab
• Open lab hours
• Teaching strategies on literacy and technology
• Training youth to become lab monitors and to
  repair computers

12
Success Story Jeremiah Marble

• Jeremiah Marble (2004-2006) works in a
  World-Links supported telecenter in Villa
  Fundación de Baní. The center offers computer
  courses and services to Villa Fundación and the
  surrounding communities. Jeremiah has also made
  sure that the telecenter remains an integral part
  of the high school as he has trained the teachers
  in basic ICT applications and worked with them to
  integrate ICT into the school curriculum.
• Jeremiah has initiated a number of other projects
  associated with the telecenter including a
  technology committee, a youth ICT club, a
  programming team, and a computer repair team
  composed of his most advanced students.

In addition to providing technical training to
youth, Jeremiah has also helped start Mente
Positiva, an initiative to promote leadership
development for youth through sports and other
extracurricular activities. Additionally, in
response to the major energy problems that plague
the country, Jeremiah started to promote
education, awareness and use of alternative
energy in the Dominican Republic. Along with
youth from Villa Fundación, he gave workshops and
presentations about relevant solar energy
applications to various community groups. Two
nearby communities have begun to use solar panels
for different applications. Currently, Jeremiah
is continuing to work with the leaders of the
various projects and groups he has been involved
in for the past year and a half. To ensure that
the projects continue and succeed after he leaves
Villa Fundación, Jeremiah is gradually reducing
his role in each project and is preparing the
current leadership to take full responsibility.
13
ICT Project Impact Snapshot

• 450 teachers trained in using software, hardware,
  and linking IT to teaching through developing
  IT-related lesson plans.
• Over 2,000 youth trained in using IT to enhance
  learning and marketable skills
• 15 youth ICT clubs were formed
• 66 youth use ICT resources to practice and
  improve their English-language skills
• 16 Community Technology Committees created to
  help sustain IT labs
• 5 special education schools are using ICT to
  support and/or conduct educational activities

14
Being a Volunteer is

• A Unique Experience
• A Challenging Experience
• A Growing Experience
• A Sharing Experience
• An Unforgettable Experience
• IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT YOU DECIDE IT WILL BE!

15
Peace Corps Dominican Republic

• Are you ready for the challenge?
• Welcome to the ICT Education Project