Brainstorming a new curriculum

Today, we all got together and brainstormed what we could use as part of the new appropriate technology (AT) curriculum, and I’ve got to admit that a lot of great ideas popped up. I thought we might be able to come up with a universal AT curriculum, but I soon realized that the AT curriculum for Global Alliance for Africa Vijana Centre is truly unique.

Here we get piles of bikes and a welding class. Here we have a genius of a teacher who has come up with a number of inventions to inspire his students. Here we have students who travel far and wide from their villages so they can get an education. Here we have a special opportunity to empower students to help their villages by utilizing the skills that they gain from the centre.

To cope with this new challenge, we devoted a working session to our curriculum, and it was great in that we thought out the obvious.

• How do you teach power and torque? Use the pedals and wheels of a bike.
• How do you teach strength and free body diagrams? Design a system of pulleys and use sisal that is grown in the area to figure out when it breaks.
• How do you teach geometry? Utilize proof of concept with the frame of the bike.
• How do you strengthen interview skills, publicity skills, writing, and design skills? Identify the need by interviewing people and pitching ideas to locals.

I’m truly excited about what’s to come. Yes, there are many kinks to work out, but this is a truly exciting opportunity in that youth are exposed to appropriate technology and can perhaps create their own careers from it.