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| Students discovering the wonder and power of technology in Taveuni Islands |
Some communities are being left behind and severely disadvantaged simply because they are digitally excluded.
The Rotary Club of Newmarket in Auckland, NZ has developed two projects to accelerate and widen education in disadvantaged communities, in partnership with AUT University.
The initial pilot project was at the Refugee Centre in Auckland.
Following a demonstration of tablet-based education, Geoffrey Amos who is a past president of the Rotary Club of Taveuni Island in Fiji, championed having tablet-based education on Taveuni to improve employment opportunities.
A tablet-based system was developed suitable for two high schools there, where internet speed and power supply is limited.
This was funded by a Rotary Matching Grant with contributors including the Rotary Clubs of Newmarket, Ellerslie Sunrise and Botany East Tamaki throughout Auckland, and Taveuni Island, plus Rotary Districts 9920 and 9970 District Designated Funds.
Project Leader Dave Birch, of the Rotary Club of Newmarket, developed a partnership with AUT University and Rotary that combined the latest digital teaching techniques (pedagogy) to be combined with Rotary’s community reach.
Well researched apps were selected before a Joint Rotary / AUT team travelled to Taveuni in March to set up the system, then train the teachers and students. This was ably led by Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar Kelsi Cox and supported by International Youth Exchange Student Jon Glendon.
The teachers were quick learners. The students seized on this new technology and were rapidly developing cultural videos.
A dedicated Digital Learning Room has been set aside at both schools for the tablets and their supporting equipment. Enthusiasm is high, so additional tablets have been supplied.
Training the teachers in digitally-based education is critical for sustainability.
This project was presented at the Sydney Convention. Already interest has been expressed from Armenia to Tanzania, and five sites in the Pacific are being considered for Digital Learning rooms.
Digital Learning Rooms tailored to the conditions, provide a break-through opportunity to lift educational outcomes.
What’s next?
The goal is Digital Learning Rooms used in 100 schools across the Pacific.
A “Digital Learning Room” with 35 tablets, related equipment, setup and training costs around US$20,000.
Rotary International Video is about doing good in Fiji. With community engagement and support from a Rotary grant, a Digital Learning Room tablet technology became a reality for one school on Taveuni Island.
Go to www.digitallearningroom.org to get involved in this Digital Learning Room project that is powered by Rotary by using your skills in Technology or Teaching, supporting financially via a donation or Rotary project, or nominating a potential Digital Learning Room site.
