E-learning. The way forward for Africa?
“Online master’s degree from UK. Min 2 yrs work experience required.” Such adverts are very common on the internet. Advancement in technology seems to have shifted the classroom from a congested room to the comfort of one’s home or smaller classes. Today, a single lecture can be transmitted to more students than those that can … Read more
Intel Chairman Touts Tech/Education for Developing Countries
Tiernan Ray recently covered Intel Craig Barret’s ideas on using tech to benefit developing countries. “There are more Internet users in China than there are people in the U.S.,” Barrett notes, “And more cell phone users in South Africa than in the U.S.” But it won’t matter, he says, if the world doesn’t address inequities, … Read more
World Universities' Ranking on the Web
What’s your universities’ web presence like compared to others from around the world? Here’s the results on African universities. Some interesting findings, Makerere University in Uganda ranks around 59 while the University of Cape Town is number 1 for the continent. The “Webometrics Ranking of World Universities” is an initiative of the Cybermetrics Lab, a … Read more
Rehab Adopts Social Media
The next time you check in to rehab they might ask you if you have a Facebook account… Mr Marlon Parker, an IT lecturer at South Africa’s Cape Peninsula University of Technology, has started a drug counselling service using the cell phone chat service known as Mxit and the Facebook social networking application. “The main … Read more
Interview With Luganda/Firefox Translator Olweny San James
In August, students at Makerere University made international news headlines when they undertook the ambitious project of translating Mozilla’s Firefox web browser from English into the local Ugandan language of Luganda. At Campala2008 I had the pleasure of meeting Olweny San James, one of the student developers who participated in the Luganda-Firefox translation. I decided … Read more
What Happened to the Nigerian Intellectual Class?
Sabella Abidde writes.. Intellectual work, as Thandika Mkandawire puts it, is “quintessentially the labor of the mind and soul.” Intellectuals have played a major role in shaping passions, ideologies and societal visions.This is principally true in Nigeria, where for several decades — in spite of military autocracy and repression — intellectuals helped shaped public debates … Read more
University Programs for ICT In Emerging Markets?
Since I began my research and subsequent move to Uganda, I’ve found a vast disparity in the amount of higher education available in the area of information technology as it relates to developing countries, NGOs, non-profits or developmental institutions. It think the implicit need for focus in this area is high as the discipline is … Read more
…But Are they Learning?
A recent report by HakiElimu suggests that the methods some have taken towards educating children in developing countries may not be the best approach. HakiElimu was founded in 2001 by 13 Tanzanians with a clear, longstanding commitment to transforming public education for all children. Their action was influenced by a simple fact: education in Tanzania … Read more
University Lecturer Teaches Computing on You Tube
Mr Buckman uses board games as well as you tube to tech computing. In a recent article, Jon Gosier gave reasons why he believes micro-payments can no longer work for journalism. He argues that people can easily access news online without having to pay for it. The power of online social media has gone so … Read more
