Advertisement
Published: August 25th 2006
Edit Blog Post
Using computers to plot a line
A common scene at the conference, me instructing. Here I'm teaching how one can use a computer to plot a simple line. In the middle of April, things in Atar were already winding down for the summer. The schools were still going, but many of the town’s citizens had left. Thus, my usual trainings were winding down and I was finding I had a lot of free time. When I thought about my Peace Corps service, I was proud that I had managed to get out of my house most days and be in the community, but I felt as though I had not yet accomplished anything at the level that I had come here to accomplish. I had been teaching small groups of people how to use a computer, but I hadn’t been really changing anything significant in Atar. In fact, I felt that while all my trainings allowed people to use a computer, all they were learning from me was how to type. I felt these trainings, while a good start to help grow my language skills, were not the purpose of my Peace Corps service.
One day, after another Mauritanian confused learning to use Microsoft Word and being instructed in “Computer Science”, I had an idea. I could correct the notion that Computers are basically typing machines
hanging out with sam when the power cut
One day when classes were cut short by a shorted fuse, some of the guys got to talking soccer with Sam. held by so many Mauritanians, and show them things they hadn’t seen before with a computer. I knew that I should work with kids, because any adult would only be interested in what I had to say in so far as it meant immediate material benefit. As the idea developed, I thought back on my own conference experiences in High School and College, how meeting people from other places interested in the same things as I was as interesting as the subject material its self. Thus, I arranged to invite students, with Peace Corps chaperones, from other cities to create a sort of conference feel to the seminar. Thus, I began work on designing a seminar on the diversity of Computer Science, with an emphasis on how computers are used in the various sciences.
In the end the seminar took place over the course of six days, and I and the other trainers accomplished exactly what I had envisioned: we showed particularly promising High School students different possibilities with a computer. The students were either selected by teachers as the most promising in their class, or performed the best on a logic test which I designed. The students
congratulations on finishing the course
Ahmed, a director of studies at the school, congradulates a student as he gets his certificate. were attentive and showed comprehension by completing exercises in class. We were able to bring in 7 students from other towns, and 18 showed up from Atar, so we had 25 students total. There were many problems and headaches, but in the end the goal was accomplished, and I think the visiting students were really glad to have taken the time to come.
Indeed, the whole event had plenty of setbacks, for one, my Mauritanian counterpart didn’t show up, so we were down by one motivated Mauritanian instructor right off the bat. Also, a volunteer who was coming to help had to leave the country for medial reasons before the seminar started. By the time we were done, some students were crying over homestays, Mauritanian leaders were upset because I had not worked a bribe into the budget for them, and volunteers were upset because there was too much chaos and too little rest for them during the conference.
The conference had a clear upward trend of organization and ease of execution. The first day had severe problems with homestays, a late lunch, and debates with Mauritanian instructors over money. At the end of that day,
I congratulate a student
All students recieved certificates at the end of the camp, it was a bit much, since they only sat there for 6 days, but what the heck, it makes good pictures. some of the visiting volunteers were talking about leaving so they could take their students home. Sam, my friend in my region who was also working on the conference, helped calm tempers and kept everybody on board. We sat down, re-divided work, and made the next day go much more smoothly. The second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth days had minimal problems and a lot more efficiency of instruction. Everyone pitched in and worked independently and together to make sure things went smoothly for the students.
On top of helping with logistics, each of the 5 volunteers who came, chaperoning students, brought with them their own expertise. Derrek, another computer volunteer, brought a background in electronics, and taught students how AND, OR, and NOR gates are used to build basic computers. Leah, a business volunteer, taught about the theory behind database designs, and why databases are important. Chris, another business volunteer, talked about how computers are used in business to keep track of finances and to compose legal documents. Sam is placed in a city close to Atar and helped me a lot with the logistics before and during the conference. He taught how computers are used to
introduction
Something about showing kids that Windows XP green hillside just says "America". study DNA, and how computers are used in music. I taught how students can use computers like a graphing calculator, and how they can use the internet. I also did a lecture on the idea of fractal mathematics, and showed them some fractal artwork.
During the concert, I got to hang out and talk with some of the students after hours, when I was checking up on them in their homestays, and they’re really great kids. We played checkers, sega soccer, and talked a little about the problems in the world. Most of the kids know 3 or 4 languages, and some speak English as well as I speak French. I count myself lucky for getting the opportunity to work with these kids.
When the conference was all over, everyone went home, and Sam and I went to Nouadihobou to get some much deserved Rest and Relaxation. Nouadihobou is on the coast, so it is significantly cooler than mother other places in Mauritania, and its got a correspondingly nicer commercial climate, complete with normal restaurants, and beer.
When we got back, my friend who helped me open the account predictably asked for his cut.
number crunching
I show kids how they can do a little number crunching on a computer. Usually when there’s a seminar, there’s a large envelope of money given to officials who were involved with it, or supervise resources used in the seminar, for getting to use the resources in their city for development. I refused to give it and tried to explain that he should not ask me for it. The ending was sort of a sad one for me, because I counted this man as a friend, but he became rather unkind when told he could not have a cut of the project budget to put in his pocket.
I don’t think I’ll do a funded project again, because of all the troubles I had with the money, but I think that in the future I’ll try to work with kids, and maybe with bigger groups. I definitely think we were able to accomplish a good thing in showing these kids some possibilities, and I think we were able to identify some future leaders of Mauritania, so with any luck, our contribution will grow with their influence.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.043s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 8; qc: 24; dbt: 0.0227s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
spud
non-member comment
Congratulations!
Congratulations on a job, well done, and on overcoming the odds. I am certain that you sowed some seeds in those young minds. The frustration you describe, working with officials, etc., is about par for the course. In the modern business world, they are not so honest, but it is still a bribe. You inspire me, as well.