The first lady of United States and political figure, Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt once said “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
Some researchers have found that young children in our primary and secondary schools classrooms today, are the future decision makers, engineers, doctors dancers, artists, nurses and pilots. Because of the fact that our human capability of dreaming about something that matters to us and harnessing creativity to come up with brilliant new ideas, is part of our DNA but squashed as we grow up, there is a need of education sector to keep and support the desire of our children who are in schools. In the 21st Century, ICT in education has the power to impact the students in different ways such their critical thinking and problem solving capacity , collaboration across networks and leading by influence and imagination, etc
Today, the growing reliance on the use of computers is inevitable. Computers have been utilized in a vast areas of modern people’s life such as business, entertainment, education, and others. In daily context, the use of computers is known as ICT which stands for information and computer technology but how do our students understand the word “ ICT” in their own understanding? Speaking to S6 MEG student, Ndatimana Judith from GS NDBC says “ I think ICT is tool for programming and writing.” It looks like this student is ahead of the idea of taking ICT as just machine to type and store information; for her the ICT is the way of conceptualizing the ideas in order to have the concrete results.
For the believes of Umurerwa Aime Ange Nounou, at GS Saint Vincent Muhoza, use of ICT tools for making research data and information available are plenty in numbers today and she believes that ICT has the power to let students access to specific information’s, which means that the influence of ICT, especially internet (open source tool) cannot be ignored in our student‘s lives. So, the learning activities should be reoriented and reformulated, from the manual source centered to the open source ones. In this case the widely use of internet access has been an unavoidable policy that should be anticipated by schools authorities. “ I do understand that ICT is channel to access the information needed and is the general knowledge source of all of us.” She said
One can say that before computers students were learning, during computer age, students are still learning, if it is that case, what changed in their learning spirit ? if you talk to different students they would say the love they have over computer has been relating to their school activities. A S5 student at ESS Musanze, Uwikunda Adeline said : I do love ICT lesson so much, you know why….? At this school I am a leader of the debate club, I do research about the questions to be used in the debates and of course I also use ICT in working on the assignments given from my teachers.”
S6 students Mrs. Niyonsenga Daniella at GS Saint Vincent said that ICT lesson has become the most enjoyable lesson due to the way it impacted her, “ I love ICT lesson , without ICT lesson I would not have known how to design certificates, to manipulate computers applications, in fact my life changed just because of computer, I do believe that I am comfortable with technological world since I am still gaining more knowledge from my teachers here.”
Even though REB through CADIE project has been distributing computers and establishing computer smart classrooms in many schools across the country, but one can ask him/herself , are these computers being used regularly, and how are they benefiting students ? remember that computer laboratory is important in every private and government school to enhance the scientific and technological research and invention capacity of students. I don’t mean computer lab to pass on the formalities and just to showcase that in papers. I mean the good and practical computer lab that makes students interesting and enthusiastic about technology and science.
As it is believed that If there is a computer lab then students can invest their free time in learning programming, automation and to improve their basic skills about computer. That will help them later to define their career goals, entrepreneurship, and job opportunities. For skills development, students need to practice. And to do that effectively they need a computer lab. Therefore, to practice what teachers have taught in the class, they need a computer lab. Speaking to Umurerwa Aime Ange, at student at Saint Vincent Muhoza said that computer lab is being used as the source of information’s and the helper when it comes to assessments from teachers, “ I go to computer lab regularly, I would say every day except in weekends! computer lab is my helper in doing research for handling teachers ‘assignments especially when it comes to end- assessments referring to REB books downloaded from its website since we have few hard books here.” She mentioned
Yes, it is true that a computer lab is a place for students to learn, think, create, explore and enhance their learning and scientific abilities, and that’s why the computer lab is very important. A students at GS NDBC, Ndatimana Liliane cannot glimpse the computer and leave it anyhow, she goes to computer lab to explore and make practices : “I go to computer lab regularly at least 4times a week, I do enjoy using computer lab when I am doing programming and researching, I cannot forget practices based on what teacher has taught us!”
Even if educationists and policy makers keep talking about ICT in education, one would ask if students do think ICT skills is necessary regardless their options (combinations) of studies, because some people might think that ICT is for those who wish to become engineers or any other field related to technology, however speaking to different students from different schools in northern province, it looks like the students have come to understand that ICT is the common dominator of their life of today, and life of tomorrow. S6 MEG student, Ndatimana Judith says : “the world we are living in is not giving us any other choice, whether you like it or not you have to adopt, at least get some basic skills about ICT.”
“ Yes, we are living in the world of technology, we need to be active seriously, we need to be open-minded people and know what is going on the other side of the world through ICT. I will give you an example a student who is familiar with ICT is always sharp compare with those who are not.” Student, Umurerwa Ange underlined
As long as REB through CADIE project is still training teachers, proving the best ICT tools as it can, the dreams of students from on Information’s, Communication and Technology (ICT) will never fade. Speaking to students at ESS Musanze, Uwikunda Adeline is dreaming to become a medical doctor who will be skilled much on ICT tools, and confirm to her that the digital skills is no longer optional, it is a must for everyone; “ I want to become a medical doctor who shall be able to do research using ICT skills, who will be able to communicate with other doctors across the globe using ICT tools.” She said
Even though some students might end up taking a career they have not dreamt of but they still grab the opportunity of taking ICT as added value to their career, the good example is Ndatimana Judith, a student from GS NDBC says: “Initially I wanted to become ICT engineer but I ended up taking MEG option for no other choice! However, I still believe I will become business woman who will need to do some calculations using computer applications such as excel, a business woman who will own website of her business, and of course the business woman who will be much knowledgeable about ICT.” She underlined
Student at GS Saint Vincent Muhoza, Umurerwa Ange believes to use ICT skills not only for her own benefit but for the entire community in the future, “I realized that there are few software engineers , I want to be one of the few engineers who can own at least one software to the solve the issues of the community”.
We know intuitively that highly effective teachers can have an enriching effect on the daily lives of students and their lifelong educational and career aspirations. We now know empirically that effective teachers also have a direct influence in enhancing student learning. That’s why it is always good to know if students are experiencing their expectations from teachers especially on ICT lesson.
Niyonsenga Daniela from GS Saint Vicent Muhazo believes in the power of teachers to shape her future career; “ I think my teachers are so supportive especially in ICT lesson, yes we are on different levels when it comes to knowledge but teachers also assist slow learners.” She said
The perceptions of Niyonsenga on ICT lesson is not different from Ndangiwenimana Liliane from GSNDBC, who thinks teachers are doing their best comparing her level in ICT literacy before joining high school.
Different students do appreciate REB for distributing ICT tools but they also need more tools and not forgetting other their friends from others schools which they assume they no enough ICT tools. “ I do appreciate REB for putting enough energy in the use of ICT in our schools, I ask REB to distribute more computers in other schools which do no have enough resources like us. We do believe that we are ahead of many but we want our friends from other schools to be on the same level like us.” Niyonsenga Daniela said
“ REB is doing a great job in distributing ICT tools especially computers, we do enjoy using computers in computer lab, I would wish all students can have access to computers which is the responsibility of REB to make it happen.” Umurerwa Aime Ange said
Umurerwa Aime Ange Nounou, a student at GS Saint Vincent Muhoza believes in the future of ICT
Ndatimana Judith, a student at GS NDBC is passionate about ICT
Ndagiwenimana Liliane, a student at GS NDBC has understood the power of ICT in education
Niyonsenga Daniella, a student at GS Saint Vincent Muhoza has no time to loose when it comes to utilize ICT in her studies.
Uwikunda Adeline, a student at Ecole des sciences de Musanze has embraced ICT
