Montfort TTC

“with the talking computers we will make wonders”

Austin Chiwembu - Montfort College Lecturer

Montfort TTC“making wonders” is a cascading “train the trainers” project working closely with Montfort Teacher Training College near Blantyre

Strathclyde University Staff train teacher trainers at Montfort TTC

Teacher trainers at Montfort TTC train teachers to use assistive technologies to:

Produce Braille and large print resources for Visually Impaired (VI) learners

Teachers train VI earners to use the equipment

Montfort TTC Who we work withMinistry of Education Science and Technology (MoEST)

Special Needs Education directorate (SNE)

David Njaidi – Deputy Director

Montfort TTC – Centre for the Education of the Blind

Lecturer Staff – Train teachers

Technical Staff – Maintain equipment

MACOHA, MUB, TAAM, MANEB, Paladin, Sight Savers

Montfort TTCEach site (TTC, University, Secondary School, Primary School) is provided with Equipment:

Nsyaludzu primary schoolrobbed!

Montfort TTC SoftwareWindows XP

Microsoft Office

JAWS for windows

Kurzweil scanning and OCS software

ZoomText Magnification

VICTAR touch typing tutor (University of Birmingham)

Classic Literature, 14,000 out of copyright books

Montfort TTC

Phase one sites

St. Mary’s Boys - KarongaEkwendeni PrimaryEkwendeni Girls SecondaryMzimba SecondaryChilanga School for the blindChayamba SecondaryNamitete SecondaryLilongwe GirlsSalima SecondaryMlanda GirlsLisumbwi SecondaryDomasi TTCChancellor CollegeBlantyre SecondaryPolytechnicSt. Patrick’s BoysStella Maris GirlsMontfort TTCMonfrort DemonstrationNgabu Secondary

Montfort TTC

Phase two sites

Karonga TTCNyungwe PrimarySt. Maria Goretti PrimaryKasungu TTCLilongwe TTCSalima PrimaryNkope PrimaryMachinga TTCNsialudzuBlantyre TTCNazombe PrimaryMakande Primary

Montfort TTC

All sites

Montfort TTC Planning“It’s easy to give people computers but it’s not so easy to keep them working”

We planned every aspect of the implementation to ensure reliability:

20% sparing

Surge protection

Uninterruptable Power Supplies

Rebuild media

Cloth to cover the computers when not in use

Cleaning materials (paintbrush, cloths etc.) to keep the kit clean

Montfort TTC PlanningTeachers are trained to:

Keep the equipment clean

Protect the equipment from dust

Rebuild the software when required

Remove and replace components from the computers (DVD, PSU, HDD)

Montfort TTC TrainingEach teacher attends three one week training events over a period of approximately nine months.

Accommodation provided by Montfort College

Teachers travel by bus

Catering, accommodation and all other requirement supplied

All expenses covered

Approximately 16 teachers per week

Training is part funded (50%) by MoEST

Montfort TTC MonitoringBy Strathclyde University Staff

By technicians from Montfort College who visit

As problems occur

Periodically

Montfort TTC

Vitumbiko Kumwenda and Wilton Nyrenda – Mzimba Secondary You can see this video at:http://www.facebook.com/v/121534367908041

Montfort TTC Why is this project needed?Supporting the education of any disability group is expensive

The production of Braille is expensive

Braille is fragile and therefore ephemeral!

Braille is likely to disappear in the long term

Braille does not enable the interchange of information between sighted and visually impaired people

Computers enable visually impaired people to use Information Technology in the same way as sighted people i.e.

Internet, Email, Word processing, Spreadsheets

Montfort TTC Why is this project needed?Nobody was assisting in this area

This project “kick starts” the use of these technologies

MoEST have supplied schools with computers and laser printers to support VI learners

MACOHA have provided computers to support VI learners

The President has provided computers, scanners and an embosser to Lilongwe Girls to support VI learners

Montfort TTC Millennium Development GoalsThis project enables the education of a significant group of vulnerable learners with special needs giving them access to education not just in primary school but from primary school to University

The project has significantly raised awareness about the value of educating visually impaired people:

Hendrina Mposoola

The first blind girl to go to University in Malawi

Supported by “making wonders” project

Radio coverage of her success

Montfort TTC Paris DeclarationThe project is endorsed and supported by the Government of Malawi through the Special Needs Directorate

Schools that benefit from the project are selected by MoEST SNE

The addition of Teacher Training Colleges to the project was at the direct request of MoEST

MoEST SNE provide funding to support the training of teachers

Montfort TTC LegacyThe project is significantly changing the education of VI learners

The use of assistive technology is now part of the curriculum at Montfort College for all teachers of the blind

MANEB, under pressure from teachers in Malawi, are considering the mechanisms that must be put in place to enable VI learners to use computers during their examinations.

Montfort TTC ChallengesElectricity – some of the primary schools needed a connection to the ESCOM supply. This is affordable (MK28,800 Urban MK14,400 Rural) but can take a considerable time.

Purchase and distribution of consumables. Funding for the purchase of consumables is distributed; some IS centrally purchased but is often not delivered the schools.

Theft of most of the equipment from one school – a dangerous and disturbing development.

Education! Many of the teachers we work with are being given the opportunity for further study:

Chancellor College - BEd Primary Degree

Catholic University – Degree in Special Needs Education

Overseas

Montfort TTC Challenges

DoubtThe computers will break

The teachers will not cope with the technology

Blind people cannot use computers

Montfort TTC BeliefHendrina Mposoola said:

Using computers made her believe that she could achieve.

Montfort TTC Next StepsEach of the sites will be connected to the internet through the mobile phone network:

This will enable:

The exchange of ideas

Sharing of resources

Peer support

Communication between MoEST SNE, Montfort TTC, Strathclyde University

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