AfroPhysics/Project Planning/Uganda

= Center for innovative physics teaching in Uganda =

"an excellent example of how WE can foster North-South collaborations"


 * Wayne, 2008-11

Contributors

 * Vincent Kizza, also known as (aka) Vkizza
 * Günther Osswald aka White Eagle
 * Florence Namukasa aka WikiFlora
 * Peter Kato aka aka pkato
 * Joseph Lubega aka jlubega
 * Richard Kyakoonye aka kyaks
 * Bigirwa Muhammad aka bigirwa2008
 * Stanley Mayanja aka MSS
 * Christine Nakimbugwe aka Xtine
 * Grace Mulema aka mentor
 * Ronald Omutujju User:Romutujju

Insufficiencies in Ugandan schools

 * Lack of suitable physics text book materials suited to the African context.
 * Lack of student activity packs for given topics.
 * Limited physics teacher collaboration.
 * Failure by physics teachers to relate class work to reality.
 * Limited effort by teachers to involve students in a way that fosters creativity and innovative scientific thinking other than mere recall.
 * Lack of laboratory resources.
 * Lack of physics teachers
 * Low motivation among the teachers so they show little commitment
 * Lack of practice skills in some areas so the teachers shy from them
 * Lack of creativity among science teachers
 * Many teachers at times teach concepts they themselves did not understand, but were merely crammed and reproduced in examinations.
 * There is a general desire to finish the syllabus other than mastery of the content.

What we want
We want to contribute to an innovation of school physics teaching in Uganda:
 * Building an on-line community for physics teachers at secondary level
 * Creating content in school physics that is suited for the African context
 * Stimulate scientific thinking
 * Stimulate practical (hands-on) activities.
 * Promote learner-centered approach in physics teaching
 * Involve students in physics projects that are problem solving oriented.
 * To promote creativity and innovation among the learners.

How we work

 * We try to include, not to exclude
 * We work with our students, not without them
 * We enjoy humor and lightness in order to become creative
 * We write in English and Luganda, one of the main languages in Uganda

Guidelines for our work
We want to create content that is based on the everyday experience of African students, be it technology or nature.

We begin where our students already are and lead them to a discovery and development of their own capacities.

We try to minimize theoretical teachings and foster practical activities.

We use lab materials that are locally available
 * from nature
 * from local shops

We use the computer and the internet as medium of distribution, print copies can be drawn if needed.

Our platform is WikiEducator.

We are rooted in the community values of WikiEducator, such as free content: We use a CC-BY-SA license

We are working in an open process, everyone who likes to join us is welcome.

We try to get financial support from donor agencies.

We pursue purely educational purposes.

Examples of content:
 * physics of mobile phones
 * the rainbow
 * the diesel motor
 * gears
 * water wheels
 * motions of African animals
 * energy conservation in cooking
 * energy conservation the household
 * solar heaters
 * materials for free activities

Good ideas
Here are some first 11 good ideas, page 1 of what to begin with. Here are the next good ideas, page 2( idea nr. 12-19) and page 3 (20 -.

In the news
Archive

Secondary physics curriculum

 * Ordinary Level
 * Advanced Level