Telling a students’ story, raising writers in Sierra Leone

Students in 10 schools in Sierra Leone are taking writing to a new level. With support from Sentinel English Language Institute based in Freetown, students have organized clubs in which they write stories, receive peer review and teachers’ support to improve their work. Sentinel has published the first collection of students’ essays.

I met with the Director of Sentinel Institute, Jacqueline Leigh, to discuss her experiences with this initiative. Jackie told how students have been excited by the challenge of writing and peer reviewing their pieces. Through the editing process, students took turns reading their pieces aloud to the club members. “Students are very excited to see their essays published, this will also likely motivate them to continue on the path of reading and writing” observed Jackie.

Sentinel’s initiative has encountered a couple of challenges. Teachers’ skills in the teaching of reading in writing are generally weak in most Sierra Leone schools and students do not have access to books. For the most part, reading skills are very limited – a deficiency manifested by the limited vocabulary expressed in the essays the students write –copies of which I received during our discussion. “If students had access to a variety of reading materials it would have improved the project’s work” Jackie observed.

Sentinel is a member of the newly created steering committee for Le Wi Ol Lan (a Krio name for Opportunity Schools Project) and Books Sierra Leone. The goal of the two projects is to improve reading and writing skills among primary students in Kenema district – Eastern Sierra Leone. The projects will therefore train teachers in reading and writing instruction. Schools will also receive books that support classroom instructions and stimulate students’ interest to read. A number of books will be imported by November 2011 and at least eight titles will be written by local writers and illustrators. With Sentinel’s experience, students’ stories may also be published. This would really help the students’ effort to learn reading and writing.

Impact of English world on global innovation

As native languages continue to struggle for survival, the influence of French in Africa is fast fading. Models have emerge of possible impact of a mono-lingual civilization especially with regard to innovation and global competitiveness. We now know that emphasis on English language is indeed killing other languages and constraining us to tap into the creativity of non-English speakers?

You’ve probably heard about TOEFL. Yes, me too. Patricia Ryan asks if a computer programmer needs as much score as a doctor on the TOEFL. Good question. Fact is that the score will always be the same regardless. People are therefore screened on the basis of how they can communicate in English in total disregard of what they know or can contribute to global issues. How health is that?

In this piece, Patricia Ryan paints a simple, yet effective case for preservation of native languages (multi-lingualism). She claims that 1 language dies every 14 days. check out her remarks here: http://www.ted.com/talks/patricia_ryan_ideas_in_all_languages_not_just_english.html

Tools for planning collaborative events with impact

If you ever need to mobilise minds, pool ideas or engage an audience as you plan a presentation, Google moderator http://www.google.com/moderator/ might be what you need. Like most things Google, it is a free applet. It promotes the concept of learning together. We believe that this is a key component of most productive events. It all starts at the planning stage and the way organizers can engage the audience before, during and after the event. It helps organisers to stay away from talking to issues that do not interest the audiences.

Google moderator provides enormous opportunities for running collaborative events with impact. It allows you to set up a question, describe it, attach a video and invite people – openly on the internet or by invitation only (accessible by a directly provided link). Those who visit the page may share new ideas, contribute to existing thoughts or cast a vote. No one can vote more than once, clever eh?

Google moderator also helps in synthesising thoughts to create a pattern. The initiator of the discussion maintains control while providing space to audience (target group) to be heard. So, go on. Make your events truly collaborative. Engage your audience in deciding the talking points at your next event.

Learning from Kids

Next time anyone describes your approach to doing things as "childish", take pride. It means you are ambitious, creative and brave. Yes, I know. Being "childish" used to mean silly and devoid of imagination. Not anymore. We know a lot better now why.

I believe this has been a very unfair way to characterize the kids' way of doing things. You can say its egoistic on the part of adults. For I would not describe my kids as anything less than innovate and seeking to the push boundaries of knowledge - all the time. Impossible is nothing to them. It is perhaps true about your, his and her kids.

Adora Svitak - a prodigy kid with enormous profile for her boldness on reading and writing says as much. At seven she had written and created thousands of blogs. Adora invites adults to stop constraining kids thinking with limitless "not possible comments" but instead adopt the kids' fearless, creative approach to doing things. Adora is a huge ambassador for literacy. Read more about this paradigm shift at: http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/lang/eng/adora_svitak.html

When you thought there is nothing to learn from kids. Approach any encounter with kids as a learning opportunity.

Open telecentres - better view

This is even a better angle to understand the "open telecentres" in Monrovia. I am sure it responds well to the reader who asked me how popular this model is around Monrovia. The photo also shows the variety of technologies and possible services - helps us to appreciate the location and organization of these telecentres.

open telecentres in Liberia

A few weeks ago, I retold the story of an open, mobile telecentre in Monrovia. Yes, the one which moved when it rained heavily. I have since found several other locations with this brand. Makes me think: "telecentres Liberian style". Frankly, if you were to remove the cost of infrastructure (walls, roof, doors etc) telecentre services for all by year -- (fill in your choice) should be achievable a few years early. With internet access via GSM, clients should be able to surf too! Food for thought within the telecentre.org community.

Telecentres – pushing the boundaries

You have already seen ice cream corns under an umbrella. I now present to you telecentre services under an umbrella. Yes, we have wheels too for mobile.

I found this innovative model in the suburbs of Monrovia, Liberia. The owner, Robert explained to me how it works. He provides a wide range of secretarial services - typesetting, scanning, ID cards, lamination etc. I asked Robert what happens on rainy afternoon - which is often, by Monrovia weather. You see the little kiosk on the right on the photo? Well, he runs in with the telecentre. Good that it’s also fitted with wheels for maximum mobility. Check out the power generator in the background. It is turned on demand only.

When it rained the next day, I went back to see Robert - in the middle of the heavy pour. The second photo is what I found. The Umbrella is covering the power generator the rest is sheltered somewhere else.

Next time you think of a telecentre - you can think outside the box

Telecentres - pushing the boundary 2

I returned to the telecentre in Monrovia on a rainy day to checkout how my new-found innovator was coping. This is what I found. And he was spot-on. The equipment had been taken away save the power generator, which was sheltered under an umbrella. There you are!