Connect-ED: Connectivity for Educator Development

Connect-ED: Connectivity for Educator Development (AED/LearnLink)

Postal Address	Connect-ED Development Lab, c/o Office of the Principal ITEK Kampala, Uganda
Street Address	ITEK Hill Campus - Kyambogo, Kampala
Tel	256-41-289139
Fax	256-41-220464
E-mail	scumming@aed.org (Project Manager)
Web Address	http://learnlink.aed.org/
Year Established	2000
Contacts	The Connect-ED staff include the following persons: Ms. Stacy Cummings, Project Manager, Washington, DC, USA Mr. Frederick Wamala, Local Coordinator, Kampala, Uganda Ms. Hawa Nyende, Assistant Coordinator, Kampala, Uganda Ms. Cissy Segujji, Assistant Coordinator, Kampala, Uganda Mr. Enos Ssemenda, Creative Materials Design Specialist, Kampala, Uganda Ms. Phoebe Kyomukama, Creative Materials Design Specialist, Kampala, Uganda Mr. David Kawumi, Creative Materials Design Specialist, Kampala, Uganda. Other key ITEK staff as Connect-ED counterparts include the lecturers with expertise in specific subjects - Mr. Emmanuel Kamuli, Ms. Julie Namulindwa, and Mr. Raymond Okumu.
Mission	Within Uganda's aim to improve telecommunication services and education, the U.S. Agency for International Development's (USAID) Connect-ED is supporting activities to improve the quality of education. In close cooperation with Uganda's Ministry of Education (UMOE) and within the framework of the U.S. Education for Development and Democracy Initiative (EDDI), this Academy for Educational Development/LearnLink (http://learnlink.aed.org/) implemented project is increasing computer literacy among teachers and equipping 9 educational centers. In addition, Connect-ED is working with the Institute for Teacher Education (ITEK) in preparing a multimedia, online teacher training curriculum based on a student-centered learning approach and the Ugandan core curriculum; it is enabling teachers and student teachers to integrate information and communication technologies (ICTs) into the classroom. All Connect-ED activities encourage the increased use of information technology for education as a means of promoting democracy and increasing access to economic opportunities. Moreover, the activities are delivering urban and rural equipment, training, and resources as a means of enhancing the Universal Primary Education (UPE) policy in Uganda. Specifically, the educational improvements are expected to increase rural students' literacy, reduce inequities among children, and advance school administration and the professional development of primary level educators.
Geographical area of operations	Uganda: Computer-assisted, multimedia resources will be used and teacher training will be conducted at Primary Teacher Colleges (PTCs) in Bushenyi, Ndegeya, Shimoni, Kibuli, Mukujju, Soroti, Gulu, and perhaps Lira. An online Professional Development Training has been developed to familiarize both pre- and in-service teachers with technology and enable them to apply it to equip them in classroom instruction and learning. In addition, educators now have access to two new labs- multimedia and computer-training laboratories-offering approximately 20 workstations at ITEK where educational research and testing of curriculum is ongoing.
Issues area of operations	Project Focus - Education specifically in Primary Teacher Training Colleges in all subject areas (science with health, mathematics, languages, culture, social studies, foundations of education, and promote ICT participation to enable men and women to become global participants and educators. Through Project Application - Train women on staff in multimedia development to become the leaders in the field in Uganda.
Activities	Professional Development Trainings, Provide Connectivity in rural areas; and provide Online Resources for educators, Provide Training Materials and Resources, Organize "chat" and "discussion" forums and provide key speakers for Girls in 30+ US Peace Corps countries to learn about ICTs professions for women. Serve as an NGO resource center in rural areas in Uganda; employ women and train in ICT Positions with Connect-ED; target female teachers, tutors and lecturers and get them involved in ITCs and the Connect-ED Project; enable educators to access global news online to promote informed decision making and democracy. Seek to support visually impaired end users in our centers.
Affiliation(s)	USAID - United States Agency for International Development; MOES - Ministry of Education and Sports, Uganda; ITEK - Institute for Teacher Education Kyambogo; PTCs - Primary Teacher Colleges; AED - Academy for Educational Development; LearnLink; Connect-ED: Connectivity for Educator Development.
Dissemination	Country Papers, Newsletters, One Sheets, ITEK's Multimedia (PTC) Curriculum, 6 Subject Based CD-ROMs or Digital Resource Library tools for PTCs, Professional Development Training for computer use (Online).
Target Audience	In-Service and Pre-Service Ugandan Primary Teachers
Additional Information	ITEK's Website (http://www.itek.ac.ug/) contains Connect-ED's Multimedia Curriculum Connect-ED Project Updates: http://www.itek.ac.ug/connect.htm

Last update: April-11, 2002