A team of 9 members
consisting of FEDUC members and volunteers headed to Kavre on April 4; the
first day of the E-learning training program at Shree Shrikhandapur Higher
Secondary School. All together of 20 teachers gathered outside the computer lab.
Giggles of excitement, wide smiles of anticipation and curiosity with a slight
hint of shyness and hesitation; the teachers looked like a bunch of four years
olds ready to enter class nursery on the first day! Continuous
chattering filled the computer lab as once inside, some teachers started
discussing and trying out things they knew before, some expressing doubt to
their colleagues on whether they would be able to learn well, while
some stared blank at the computer screen waiting for the program to
start. After registration and necessary arrangements on the projector, the
program started off with a presentation about the organization, its
focus, the aimed activities and its new approach towards education. As per the
fact that Nepal is indeed a country where the power cut doesn't always occur as
scheduled, the electricity went off one hour prior to the routine. All credit
to the determined FEDUC members, smart at handling unforeseen blunders as
such, the presentation continued without the
projector. Regardless of the occasional minor conflict of opinions,
the teachers were attentive and proved active listeners, taking notes and
asking questions.
Then continued another presentation about the importance of
E-learning and how its application could prove advantageous, both to teachers
and students. In order to find out their individual familiarity on computers
and determine their ability, the teachers were asked to answer some objective
questions regarding their practical knowledge on computers. Then followed
a dot exercise, aimed at decreasing their hesitation on learning new things
and increasing their self confidence about taking up critisism on the process
of something new. A discussion followed where the teachers recalled the
computer terms they were familiar with. Internet, face book, game, virus,
antivirus, hardware, software, pen drive, memory card, mouse, desktop were some
of the terms. A FEDUC member explained these terms in detail and also brought
up some new topics like hacking and USB. The motivational program ended on a short
reflection about what was learnt during the day. The teachers were very happy to have learnt so many things
and were eager for its continuity. A bit of tiredness overshadowed by the
satisfaction of the day, the FEDUC members and volunteers headed back, waiting
for a yet another new day.
