A passionate African teacher teaches computers without a computer by hand-drawing Windows on a blackboard
Being able to use computers is now considered one of the knowledge and skills necessary for daily life, and 'computers' are a subject of compulsory education. While computer education is necessary all over the world, one African teacher is conducting a passionate lesson by replicating a computer screen on the blackboard to teach students what computers are.
A Ghana teacher shows Microsoft Windows on a blackboard is a viral sensation — Quartz
Richard Akoto, a teacher at Betenase M/A Secondary School in Sekyedomase, a two-and-a-half hour drive from Kumasi, Ghana's second largest city, teaches information and communications technology (ICT) to students aged 14 to 15. However, Betenase M/A Secondary School has been without computers since the ICT department opened in 2011.
It's natural to wonder how information and communication technology can be taught without computers, but Akoto explains that he draws a computer screen on the blackboard and explains how a computer works and its functions.
Akoto posted the photo of the class on her Facebook and Twitter accounts, which sparked a huge response.
The photo below shows Akoto drawing a Microsoft Word screen on a blackboard and explaining the operation of each button.
The UI of Word is perfectly reproduced, and the functions of each button are explained in annotations written outside the screen.
Akoto had intended to upload the photo as a 'casual everyday scene,' but when Teacher Kwadwo , a popular Ghanaian comedian and teacher, shared Akoto's post, it garnered 140,000 likes and the information spread. Akoto's lesson then went viral, and people from all over the world began to express their admiration and praise.
Furthermore, when Rebecca Enonchong tweeted to Microsoft Africa, 'Give him the resources!', Microsoft Africa responded, 'Supporting teachers in digital transformation in education is at the core of our mission,' and decided to provide Microsoft's MCE program free of charge.
Supporting teachers to enable digital transformation in education is at the core of what we do. We will equip Owura Kwadwo with a device from one of our partners, and access to our MCE program & free professional development resources on https://t.co/dJ6loRUOdg
— Microsoft Africa (@MicrosoftAfrica) February 27, 2018
Even with the support from Microsoft, Akoto's classrooms would need 50 PCs to use the MCE program, so it's unlikely that his classroom will see any immediate changes. According to Akoto, in Accra, Ghana's capital, all students pass a computer exam. 'You can't compare a student who knows what to do with a computer mouse with a student who's never even touched a mouse wheel,' he said.
In Ghana, many parents send their children to private schools, citing a lack of resources at public schools. Akoto claims that the allocation of educational resources to public schools in rural areas is unfair.
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