Description
Project Ocean is a Computing-Mathematics program for young children in Mozambique. The program's primary goals are to:
- Introduce and reaffirm existing mathematical concepts and language, principally in geometry, through the utilization of basic (but powerful!) programming language: LOGO
- Provide students with a logical problem-solving framework with which they can tackle problems beyond the classroom
- Foster students' creativity in a setting outside the typical classroom environment
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"For me it was an unrivaled moment in my life, considering that in our reality, information technology is still a utopia, a myth; this myth that is the base behind the workings and development of today's world"
-Miguel
Marcelino, Instructor
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Operations
Modules
The program gets taught in monthly modules which are broken out as follows:
- First week is an introduction to LOGO and certain mathematical concepts
- Second and third week, children learn to recreate in the computer diverse geometric designs available on the island
- Fourth week, children finalize by utilizing their knowledge to build original designs
Every month, six children in two different sessions have access to the course. The children are pro-actively selected in the week leading up to the course by the instructors, whom go from school to school searching for potential candidates.
Instructors
An important aspect of the program is to have all the teaching performed by Mozambican instructors. These instructors were trained prior to the children's course by members of AZLera. Currently, there are two instructors, one part-time and a full-time professor. They have undergone a rigorous process of selection and have been in the program since inception.
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"I want to transmit to the people of the island what I have learned so that together we can share this knowledge, even more so to the children because they are the ones that dream the most…"
- Maria de Conceição, Instructor
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Software
The LOGO version we use in the program, MSWLogo Version 6.4, is property of Softronics and it is free. To download it free of charge please click here: http://www.softronix.com/
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Click here to read what the instructors thought on the program |
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Background
In Ilha de Moçambique, an island located in the Channel of Mozambique in East Africa, there are few organized activities available. This shortage means that youth and younger children are in constant search of something to do. Powerful mental and physical talent is looking for a challenge, structure and opportunity; potential is waiting to be unlocked.
Having become aware of this, in the spring of 2002, AZLera undertook the task of building a computing program from scratch with collaboration from diverse entities and individuals in the US and Mozambique. In particular:
- Oikos, an NGO working in Africa, contributed the teaching space;
- Members of the 'Ndahoo'aah program in the US, provided the inspiration and material for an important part of this curriculum. To find out more about their work, please click here: www.math.utah.edu/~clemens;
- Marta Valente, provided the computing equipment; and,
numerous individuals on the island provided a lot of support to make the program a reality.
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Current - Update
- As of June 2003, the program is in its 11th month of operations. To date there have been more than 30 children involved in the program
- AZLera is looking to expand the program by adding 1-2 computing stations to the current three available. Further, the program needs a second full-time instructor that will be in charge of providing continuity to the children's computer education once they have finished the module
- Due to their great performance, AZLera renovated the current instructors' contract in June 2003. Performance and the contract will be re-evaluated in 6 months time once again
- A new member of AZLera, Rachana, based in the US, is now in charge of remotely overseeing operations. She can be contacted at: rachana@azlera.com
Needs
AZLera is looking for the following to enhance and expand the project:
- Project Manager in Mozambique
- Financing
- New LOGO material/ideas
Please contact us if you would be interested in participating in this project!
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Children
These are some of the first children in our program.
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| Chani.
9 years old and in 4th grade | Nilza.
10 years old and in 5th grade | Lulu. 8 years old and in 4th grade |
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