Importance of computer lab in remote school

In the modern era of rapid technological growth, we see the world more connected “Global World”.  The technological growth has reached to the far flung areas in the small Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. The journey of education in ICT has seen a fair number of transformations over the years. The computer lab introduced under the initiative of Chigphen Rigphel Project across the schools in the country had perceived enormous changes to the students and teachers.

However, having computer lab in remote schools has been a tale to many innocent faces. The children develops ICT phobia, leads to handicapped teaching and learning, limits exposure, isolates from rest of world and many more in absence of computer laboratory in remote schools.  

The computer laboratories instituted in remote schools will have an immense importance and impact to many innocent lives.

i.                    Enhance opportunity on how to use computer and prepare for better future.

ii.                  Access to information and expose to new ways of thinking: creativity and critical thinking.

iii.                Expose to rest of the world (end self isolation).

iv.                Gain self esteem and confidence. (Eliminate ICT phobia).

v.                  Enhance teaching and learning in the classroom.

vi.                Improve students’ academic performance.

vii.              Instill sense of responsibility and build citizenship contributing towards green society.

Thus, the computer laboratory established in remote schools would prepare young minds to evolving 21^st century ICT world.   

Use of Laptop in Classroom

   Use of Laptop in Classroom

The use of laptop in the classroom has made the teaching learning more effective and easier. In the remote school like ours, if students see a teacher coming to the class with a laptop then the entire students jump out of excitement. It has been one of the best ways to gain attention.

Laptops have served the purpose of screening movies mostly. Teachers also make power point presentation in the classroom. In addition, a number of documents like assessment, anecdotal reports and others related to teaching and learning can be stored in it.

These days desktop have been replaced by laptops and smart phones have served the purpose of laptops. Still laptops are preferred over smart phone and desktop due to a number of reliability reasons.

The time when teachers were preparing their teaching learning material all with their hands and papers is now the easiest job of the teachers. It takes very short time to prepare lots of teaching learning materials of attractive styles.

However, there are some disadvantages of relaying too much on electronic gadgets. Our student’s daily life depends on the availability of the electricity power. If it is not available then teachers can’t use their laptops and other gadgets in the classes thus classes remain free.   

 

Coming of Computer Lab and Internet in Logchina LSS after 25 Years

According to Crede and Mansell(1998), ICTs are crucially important for sustainable development in developing countries. Until other bio technology, energy or major technological breakthrough in the area of new materials happens this ICT will continue to have great impact to the human lives.  We can feel the expand of human capacity, build up, nourishment and liberation by getting ourselves access to tools and technologies with the education and training to use effectively. 

On 24^th May 2017, Logchina Lower Secondary School, Chhukha, the school I work for is connected by radio internet facility with speed of 1Mbps with the help of Bhutan Telecom Ltd.  In fact it was so beautiful to see internet equipment after 25 years of school establishment. No wonder the community was cut off from all modern amenities like road, electricity, mobile and internet until recent years. Ministry of Education urges all schools throughout Bhutan should build by 2024, an information society in which every teacher, student and office has secured, affordable and reliable access to the use of computers and telecommunication media.   Therefore development and installation of such facility improves the quality of teaching and learning process. When they finished installing the facilities immediately every teacher were talking about ways to development materials and improve teaching strategies in their own classroom using internet. We were all thoroughly engaged with our own mobile phones when internet wireless was set for test. Some even thanks Bhutan telecom personnel for their service. That was the climax of our much awaited facility in remote schools. Teachers now feel the pinch of relaxation with the development of teaching materials which was indeed very challenging without internet

Use of computers are now commonly put to writing letters, and reports, printing teaching Learning materials(TLM) , news papers, and magazine, drawing pictures and diagrams, mathematics , music and video etc…  by our students and it’s an opening for remote schools into the world of technology. With internet connection students can easily find solution to problems, information exchange and do educational research without actually getting physical contact. Though our students here are not use to internet and computer. We see their faces with lots of energy and enthusiasm to get involved into ICT world immediately. These two days of internet installation was like a local festival for our students. They are all looking around observing each and every move of the teachers in the computer Lab. 

  Thanks to Royal government of Bhutan.