“Digital Learning Centers” Launched

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2012-04-18
USAID Strategic Development Office: (503) 2501-3471
U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section: (503) 2501-2471
www.usaid.gov/sv

Subdirector of USAID, William Elderbaum, cuts the inaugural ribbon at the Digital Learning Center in the Caserío Colonia El Milagro, San Juan Opico, La Libertad, together with representatives of MINED, FEPADE, FundaGeo, the San Andrés Foundation, Holcim, and Microsoft. Photo by Karen Azucena, USAID.

SAN SALVADOR– Within the framework of the Partnership for Growth between the Governments of El Salvador and the United States, the “Digital Learning Centers” project was launched this morning to support the education of more than seven thousand students from five public schools and their neighboring schools. This initiative is the product of a public-private alliance between the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Business Foundation for Educational Development (FEPADE), FundaGeo, the San Andrés Foundation, Holcim, and Microsoft, in coordination with the Ministry of Education (MINED).

The goal of this $730,000 alliance is to improve educational quality by providing modern computer labs and training in the use of information technology to five public schools: Caserío Colonia El Milagro, San Juan Opico, La Libertad; Santa Rosa Acacalco, Ahuachapán; San Miguelito, Metapán, Santa Ana; and Meardi and Cantón Concepción, both of which are in Berlín, Usulután. Other schools that are close to the five selected schools will also be able to use these resources. Each Digital Learning Center has 30 computers and the Microsoft Multipoint system, the most modern technology for the use of computers in the classroom. Additionally, printers, internet connections, webcams, digital cameras, video cameras, furniture, and robotics corners have been donated.

Teachers and parents have been trained in the use of this technology to select, create, adapt, and design a variety of learning resources that help students obtain critical knowledge and skills, all in support of the MINED’s “Closing the Knowledge Gap” effort. To date, 225 teachers have received over 120 hours of training about how to use technology to improve teaching and learning processes in the classroom. This training has included the use of blogs, educational software for the classroom, and other online educational resources. Additionally, the teachers have been trained in the ethical and responsible use of the internet and technology. The goal of the training is that the teacher promotes a feeling in their students not only of being technology users, but as being creators by developing their own websites, conducting online research, creating connections with students in other countries, developing logical thought through robotics, and learning from videos, electronic documents, and books.

Additionally, the alliance has allowed for the training of over 200 mothers and fathers, who participated in 40-hour workshops on how to support their children in their studies and the value of technology for improving educational quality. Additionally, three modules have been developed on the use of technology to improve learning. The modules will be donated to MINED so that they can replicate the training of teachers and parents in other communities in El Salvador.

The launching ceremony was held at the Caserío Colonia El Milagro school in San Juan Opico. The Subdirector of USAID, William Elderbaum, participated in the ceremony, along with the Head of Educational Technology for the Ministry of Education, William Mejía; Departmental Director of Education for La Libertad, Saúl Sánchez; the Director of the Caserío Colonia El Milagro school, Luz Bernarda Cabrera; the President of the San Andrés Foundation, Anabel de Meza; the Coordinator of the area of Education, Health, and Environment from FundaGeo, Blanca Luz de González; the Executive Director of Holcim, El Salvador, Ricardo Chávez; and the Commercial Director of Microsoft El Salvador, Juan José Girón.