Enabling, Accelerating & Sustaining Quality Education

Experiences with: Computer System Sustainability

Toolkit; Student Support Technician Clubs;

and School-based VideosEric Rusten & Josh Woodard, AED

Some Underlying PrinciplesSustainability is not a static state – It is a growth

state!Sustainability is desirable and attainableComputers are a Trojan Horse enabling

greater levels of educational changeSchools as social & educational enterprisesEducational development as investments

requiring ROI / SROIStructured, step-by-step process, learning

to think and act differentlyNetworking and competition supports & enables

changeAutonomy, Mastery and Purpose Identify barriers to success and design around them

Arman, Principal of SMAN 1 Buay Bahuga Public School, Southern Sumatra, Indonesia

It is a simple formula and it works! The sustainability program really works in my computer lab. … All computers are working and are well maintained by the SSTC…. The SSTC is phenomenal; it is just amazing how this simple idea is so effective. The members of the SSTC are enthusiastic because they gain more skills. This idea of the SSTC is like a tipping point which is responsible for making our school’s computer lab run well without extra expenses. … We’d like to now expand to build a training center and cyber cafe to achieve stronger sustainability through a business model.

Computer System Sustainability ToolkitTable of Contents (2nd Edition): Overview Establishing a Team Establishing Your School’s First

Computer System Obtaining, Optimizing and

Sustaining Internet Access

Evaluating Your Current Computer System

Creating Your Sustainability Plan Generating Income Maintaining Your Budget Monitoring Your Plan

Available at: http://www.aed.org/Publications/computer-system-sustainability-toolkit.cfm

Toolkit OverviewEngages with schools as social & educational

enterprisesLeverages role schools play in their communitiesDesigned for use by school staff w/o outside helpQuestions guide a learning process to create,

implement, monitor and improve a sustainability business plan

Includes video learning guides for toolsImpact increases with outside facilitatorResults improve when clusters 0f schools

collaborateDesigned for use over one school yearUnits as individual documentsDoes not provide answers; schools create their

answersDesigned for low-cost localization

Some LessonsStudents are assets -- not just learnersBroad-based team required to achieve

sustainabilitySchools working in a network enhances successData driven decision-making improves resultsQuality school leadership is essential Planning for sustainability is a continuous processMultiple strategies for revenue are criticalSSTCs: win-win strategy for schools & studentsAccurate cost & revenue tracking is essentialSchool-wide effort positively impacts educationThe process towards sustainability takes timeEach school will have different plans & levels of

success

Why does it work?Autonomy:

Mastery:

Purpose:

Student Support Technician Clubs (SSTCs)“First line of defense” for computer

maintenance Club is special, best students, greater access to

computers, learn special skills, employability, self-confidence, etc.

Students run the club & organize computer system maintenance program

Two teacher sponsorsSelf-sustaining strategyEntrepreneurship in actionIdentity item(s) Half girlsYouth gain job skills

10th Grade

11th Grade

12th Grade

Year 1 of SSTC

SSTC Self-Sustaining Process

Year 2 of SSTC

10th Grade

11th Grade

12th Grade

start here

Senior Technicians

Junior Technicians

recruit & train

Different SSTC ApplicationsGeneral preventative maintenance & repairSupporting teachers use of the labSupport teacher laptop ownership programsPrimary schools; secondary schools; colleges; and

technical schoolsEnables stronger school-community partnershipsCatalyzes greater community investment in

schoolsEnables school-based public access systemsSupports school-based IT learning programsSchool-to-career transition programsEntrepreneurship preparation programsStarting point for partnerships with private

companies

SSTC OutcomesCritical non-ICT competencies for success:

Associating QuestioningObservingExperimentingNetworking

Why are these competencies so important?

SSTCs Outcomes:

SSTCs: Do they work?Macedonia:

Started in 2007, 12 public schools, $10,000 from Microsoft as part of USAID Primary Education Project

Now, active in at least 34o schools Self-managed & virally marketed, program

blog, FAQ, & help deskFormally recognized by Ministry

Indonesia:Self-sustaining in 6 public schools (5 of which

are poor rural schools)

Critical Educational ChallengesGlobal Challenge 1: a) schools have difficulty

retaining staff with IT skills; b) replacements lack skills to manage computer system; c) training programs lacking; and d) school labs degrade.

Global Challenge 2: a) Low ROI for

conventional professional development (PD); b) peer & external observation rare; c) reflective self-assessment uncommon; d) good practices not shared; e) school-based PD infrequent; and f) teaching quality degrades.How can we address these challenges at scale,

at low cost and with high impact?

A Solution: Low-Cost VideoIndonesia – a) schools identify most important

components of managing labs; b) schools create video stories introducing management approaches; and c) videos distributed via CDs and will be online.

Macedonia – a) teachers film themselves teaching; b) teachers use guide to assess practice; c) teachers discuss videos with peers; d) continuous filming and practice improvement; e) teacher-based scaling; f) video integrated into teaching; g) online sharing with SchoolTube; and h) creating Association of School-based Professional Development.

Proof is in the pudding ...

1st Prize Video from Buay Bahuga School, Southern Sumatra Indonesia

Elements for SuccessDetermine if video is a useful means for

addressing the challengeProvide a complete video camera kitProvide learning materials & model

videoEnable self discovery & demystify

technologyProvide limited technical support

(localize) Create an enabling environment –

desire to share and competeCatalyze scaling

To Learn More:Contact: Eric Rusten:

erusten@aed.org / ericrusten@gmail.com202-884-8714

Josh Woodard: jwoodard@aed.org /

josh.woodard@gmail.com