Journal # 10

Technology in Ethiopian Schools: Connecting Children from Various Cultures By: Judit Szente

This article talks about two schools in Ethiopia, which with the help of U.S. Agency for International Development was able to get computers and other technology, as well as the training needed to use them. They picked two schools in Ethiopia that are very poor and have never had the ability to use technology before. They were taught how to use this technology with the hopes that it would help them break away from horrible poverty rates that many of them face. They were taught how to use the technology for school as well as to make many things such as wedding invitations, business cards and brochures. They also made PowerPoint presentations about their lives that they were able to share with children in Buffalo, New York. The children in Buffalo also made presentations that they sent to the Ethiopian schools. They did this with hopes that the students could learn from one another and learn to appreciate each others differences.

Should students have correspondences with other counties?
Yes! I think that letting students understand how children live in other parts of the world is important. They need to see that people all over still have many of the same wants and goals in life as they do. I think that showing students how different a person is as well as how they are similar helps reinforce the ideas that we may all be different but that differences are okay.

How can students have an experience like this?
There are many sites on line as well as programs that allow students to gain pen pals in other countries. Although students may not always be able to talk to kids in poorer areas such as Ethiopia it is still important for them to have correspondence with people from different areas. I think that ever student should have the opportunity to learn about another culture. I think the best way to do this is directly from a person of that culture.