Extensive volunteer training for greater impact

Year 2015 | Bajhang

Volunteer program is one of OLE Nepal’s key aspects of the laptop program. This program gives young graduates an opportunity to spend three months in school communities to provide assistance in project implementation and school support. As a facilitator they get unique opportunity to learn about the application of technology to enhance primary education while gaining invaluable insights to the challenges faced by schools in remote areas.

OLE Nepal recently concluded the training sessions for the volunteers who will soon be traveling to Bajhang. Located in far western region of the country, children there are far from the access to quality education. As such, OLE Nepal’s laptop program aims to provide students and teachers in Bajhang with access to national curriculum based quality educational resources. And, the volunteer program has emerged to fill the need for a hands-on assistance to teachers and schools in using technology effectively in classroom teaching-learning process and to facilitate students and teachers to utilize the resources made available through the project. So far, the office has trained and deployed more than eighteen energetic volunteers who came from different walks of life, bringing diversity to our program.

For the third phase of the project, we have recruited three female and five male volunteers who recently received initial training that included various aspects of the program such as, introduction to Nepali education system, pedagogy, community relations, digital resources and technology.

Pedagogical aspect of the training:

• Introduction of the organization, its objectives and information about the volunteer program.
• Description about the developments of ICT in education in Nepali education system.
• Knowledge about the School Management committee (SMC) and Parents Teachers Association of the schools.
• Introduction to E-Paath, its objectives and the interrelation between curriculum, textbooks and E-paath.
• Introduction to the related organization of Nepali Education System, such as Department of Education, Curriculum Development Center, Teacher Training Center, District Education Office and related resource centers.
• Introduction to the importance of lesson plans for E-paath integrated classes.
• Introduction to E-pustakalaya and activities on the digital library.
• Introduction to the stakeholders who are directly related to the program and the key roles played by them.

 

Technical aspect of the training:

Volunteers are given in-depth training about the laptops focusing on various features such as, basic troubleshooting, flashing laptops and taking laptops apart and reassembling and repairing chargers. Likewise, they are also given thorough knowledge about networking and hardware.

• Introduction to the basic computer networking, including school network layout, cable crimping and router setup.
• Trainings to set up laptops/ desktop computers focusing on IP addressing, software installation for Pustakalaya workstation.
• Training to monitor and properly handle solar panels and batteries.
• Training about the installation of school server and content.

 

Besides learning about the above aspects of the program, volunteers were trained on social and behavioral features that are required while traveling to different program schools. They were encouraged to document different experiences during their school visits along with writing blogs, conducting case studies and interview sessions with students, teachers and community members.

“We will initiate change in transforming education system to contribute for a better tomorrow.” – Priyanka and Ashis, Bajhang Volunteer ’15

 

 

 

This batch of volunteers also received first hand experience of E-Paath integrated classrooms in their first visit to the program school in Lalitpur. To help the volunteers understand how the practical classes are run, they were taken to Shree Chandi Devi Primary School in Dukkuchap, Lalitpur. A one day visit to the school provided them comprehensive knowledge about the laptop integrated classrooms, teachers’ orientation towards the program, impact among the students and overall teaching-learning process.

“Here to make a positive difference through E-Paati” – Bikram and Rojaman, Bajhang Volunteers ’15

 

 

The training package helps them better understand the objective of the program and execute their respective responsibilities. We would like to thank them for their enthusiasm and commitment in bringing difference to the community. Following photo series gives the glimpse of the program activities held at Lalitpur office.