| 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 |
| 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