MILLENIUM SCIENCE INITIATIVE PROJECT AT KYAMBOGO UNIVERSITY

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1 MILLENIUM SCIENCE INITIATIVE PROJECT AT KYAMBOGO UNIVERSITY (i) Project Title: Upgrading the training and teaching of Mathematics and Science by incorporating ICT through Open Distance and elearning in Uganda (ii) Description of the Project. Officially the project started off on 01/02/2009 and it will end on 31/01/2013. GRANT NUMBER: MSI/WB2/2/24/08 IMPLEMENTING INSTITUTION: KYAMBOGO UNIVERSITY, (KYU) PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Dr. Obwoya Kinyera Sam Research Team: Dr. Obwoya Kinyera Sam; Dr. Jude Lubega; Dr. Juma Kasozi; Dr. Twesigye Charles; Dr. Kadodooba Michael; and Mr. Okumu Charles Raymond Incorporated Team : Ms. Sarah Kisa (Mathematics); Mr. Bernard Mugeni (Computer Science); Mr. Richard Oriada (Physics); Dr. Pascal Soita (Sports Science) Mr. Apollo Namansa(ICT technician); Lak Angella (ICT technician); Ms. Catherine Lwabaami (Account assistant); Mr. David Isooke (Account Assistant) History of the Millenium Science Initiative (MSI) The Millennium Science Initiative came into being over the course of several years, building on the rich history of previous attempts to build S&T capacity in the developing world. These attempts have included programs of the The Academy of Science for the Developing World, UNESCO, ICSU, the European Union, private foundations, Scandinavian aid organizations, and The World Bank. These approaches came together in a major convocation in Santiago, Chile, in 1998, supported by the Government of Chile and the Carnegie Corporation of New York, where the basis for the Millennium Science Initiative was formulated by an international panel of leading scientists, government officials, representatives of the private sector, and World Bank officials. The first concrete result was the formal implementation of an MSI in Chile. The Science Initiative Group (SIG) was established in 1999 to ensure adequate representation of the international scientific community in the MSI, to provide scientific guidance, and to coordinate the efforts of the many groups whose participation is essential for successful program implementation 1

2 The MSI in Uganda, which began in 2006, is a central component of the Government's strategy to strengthen the country's scientific and technological capacity. The five-year, program, cofinanced by the Government of Uganda and the World Bank, is the result of several years' planning by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST), Uganda's Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development (MFPED), and the World Bank. The initiative had its origins in a series of meetings convened by Science Initiative Group(SIG) beginning in 2001, and SIG continues to be involved through representation on the Uganda MSI Technical Committee. The key project development objective is to improve the quality and relevance of the teaching and research environment in higher education institutions through encouraging both innovation and accountability within universities and by enhancing the technical and institutional capacity of the higher education sector. Countries that have implemented MSI projects include: Chile, Agentina, Mexico, Brazil & Uganda Project background Through competitive proposals presented to UNCST, by a team of six researchers, Kyambogo University, was awarded to undertake a research project titled, Upgrading the Training of Mathematics and Science Teachers by Incorporation of ICTs Through Open Distance and elearning in Uganda. The project whose reference number is MSI/WB2/2/24/08, has been on for two and half years since its inception in February Key among other activities, the Millenium Science Initiative (MSI) supports S&T outreach, institutional strengthening, monitoring, evaluation and policy studies as follows: (a) S&T Outreach: The outreach program consists of activities designed to enhance public understanding and appreciation of science and technology and its contribution to national development: (b) Institutional strengthening: The project will strengthen the capacity of UNCST and UIRI, as institutions involved in S&T policy management, research and development respectively. (c) Monitoring, evaluation and policy studies: Monitoring and evaluation of both the project s progress towards its development objective and overall performance of the S&T sector will be regularly undertaken and reported in the State of Science and Technology Report. 2

3 GENERAL EXPECTED PROJECT OUTCOMES The Project is expected to have an impact on the S&T sector and its performance. The expected outcomes of the project will be measured against the following Project Development Indicators: (i) Number or size and productivity of leading research groups; (ii) Percentage of pipeline science, technology, and engineering undergraduates and postgraduates; (iii) Employment of science, engineering and technology talent by firms active in technology development or evaluation; (iv) Public impressions of science and technology careers. Specific Objectives of the Project. The specific objectives remain focused and these are to; (1) Improve the quality of training and competence of mathematics and science secondary School teachers; (2) Increase the number of Mathematics and Science teachers by expanding access to training through ODeL initiative; (3) Equip teachers with ICT skills for use in teaching/learning mathematics and science subjects; (4) Demonstrate competences in the use of ICT as a teaching resource, in technology-supported learning environments; (5) Integrate ICT in teaching/learning within the secondary schools; (6) Establish six (6) regional coordinating centres. The Project is funded by the Government of Uganda and the World Bank through the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology (UNCST). Research Progress Improving the quality of training and competences of mathematics and science secondary school teachers and Increasing the number of Mathematics and Science teachers by expanding access to training through Open Distance and elearning (ODeL) initiative is on course and are being achieved. Three admissions of students onto the Bachelor of Education (BEd) Degree has been done. This is in addition to students admitted on full time programme. For retention purposes elaborate guidance and counseling services have been offered to students offering mathematics and science courses. Every face to face we have invited DVC (AA) to talk with the students as a way of encouraging them to stay on course. 3

4 Renovation of the labs. Through the Project, the following labs have been renovated 2 labs of Biology, 1 Chemistry lab. Workshops The physics lab is still being renovated. Two members of the Team, Dr. Obwoya Kinyera Sam, and Ms. Sarah Kisa attended a one- week training workshop on Business & Entrepreneurship Skills at Silver Spring from 6 th -10 th June The training workshop was sponsored by UNCST and was facilitated by Enterprise Uganda. The theme of the workshop was Creating a Business-like mindset in Researchers and Innovators Outreach In attempting to demystify the notion that mathematics and science subjects are hard to learn. The Project has organized an a one-day Outreach at Mbale SS in Mabale, which was attended by 140 school teachers. The teachers were drawn from the Secondary schools as shown in the Table 1: The workshop was facilitated by Senior Researchers of the Project, and the consultant was Dr. Jessica Aguti of Makerere University. Another Outreach for 150 participants will take place at Nyakasura School in Fort Portal on 20 th August It will be facilitated by the Senior Researchers and the Consultant will be Prof. E.J.K Banda of Physics Department, Makerere University. In addition to these Outreach, the Project Team has participated in two Science week organized by UNCST. One at Munyonyo (2009) and another one in Gulu (2010). 4

5 Table 1: PARTICIPANTS IN MSI WORKSHOP HELD IN MBALE SNO NAME SCHOOL DISTRICT TEACHERS 1 SITATI LAWRENCE BUDUDA SS BUDUDA 2 KUTOSI MOSES BUDUDA SS BUDUDA 2 MAKULO STEPHEN BUDUDA SS BUDUDA 4 NANONGO MOSES BUDUDA SS BUDUDA 5 WABUTAYA BEN BUDUDA SS BUDUDA 6 MABAKU JOSEPH BULUCHEKE SS BUDUDA 7 MUKHOKEZI EMMA BULUCHEKE SS BUDUDA 8 NALUME ANDREW BULUCHEKE SS BUDUDA 9 NAMUKOWA GODFREY BULUCHEKE SS BUDUDA 10 OPOLOT CHARLES BULUCHEKE SS BUDUDA 11 TSEMANYI VICENT BULUCHEKE SS BUDUDA 12 WAMANYANYA R BULUCHEKE SS BUDUDA 13 MAJIMBO CHESOLI STEPHEN BUSHIKA SS BUDUDA 14 NAMALE JOHN GATE OF HOPE BUDUDA 15 AYEKO IRENE BUKEDEA SS BUKEDEA 16 EMURON FRANCIS BUKEDEA SS BUKEDEA 17 OKELLO DAVID BUKEDEA SS BUKEDEA 18 ORINYO BERNARD BUKEDEA SS BUKEDEA 19 OTM MOSES BUKEDEA SS BUKEDEA 20 BWIRE D TANGA BUSIA SS BUSIA 21 WAFULA OBADIAH WERE BUSIA SS BUSIA 22 BWIRE AZALIA DABANI GIRLS BUSIA 23 BWIRE JERALD DABANI GIRLS BUSIA 24 CHEROP DOROTHY BUKEDI COLLEGE BUTALEJA 25 MWALYE FRANCIS BUKEDI COLLEGE BUTALEJA 26 WAFULA DANIEL BUKEDI COLLEGE BUTALEJA 27 WAKUBA ERIAH BUKEDI COLLEGE BUTALEJA 28 WANDEKA DANIEL BUKEDI COLLEGE BUTALEJA 29 AMURIAT E J P GAMATUI GIRLS KAPCHORWA 30 EULET JOSEPH GAMATUI GIRLS KAPCHORWA 31 KIBET LUKU GAMATUI GIRLS KAPCHORWA 32 TORITO MICHAEL GAMATUI GIRLS KAPCHORWA 33 YONA BEN GAMATUI GIRLS KAPCHORWA 34 CHEPKURUI ISAAC KAPCHORWA SS KAPCHORWA 35 HYEBA AYEBA ALFRED KAPCHORWA SS KAPCHORWA 36 MUSAMUSA HENRY KAPCHORWA SS KAPCHORWA 5

6 37 SATYA ABUDULUAZIZ KAPCHORWA SS KAPCHORWA 38 SOKUTON CHEBIRWA WILFRED KAPCHORWA SS KAPCHORWA 39 MASHETA TEMUSAWO KASEREM KAPCHORWA 40 CHEBET FRED MBALE SS KAPCHORWA 41 CHEMONGES NELSON SEBEI COLLEGE KAPCHORWA 42 GIMADU AARON SEBEI COLLEGE KAPCHORWA 43 KAMWASIR C OLIVIA SEBEI COLLEGE KAPCHORWA 44 MALINGA MARTIN SEBEI COLLEGE KAPCHORWA 45 MUTAI JOB SEBEI COLLEGE KAPCHORWA 46 ETIGU PAULO SIPI SS KAPCHORWA 47 KITIKIY ANDREW SIPI SS KAPCHORWA 48 MUSAU A TUNDE SIPI SS KAPCHORWA 49 NAMBOZO JUSTINE SIPI SS KAPCHORWA 50 OKIROR JAMES SOROTI SS SOROTI 51 MUGALU PETER SOROTI SS SOROTI 52 ONGODIA MICHAEL SOROTI SS SOROTI 53 TINO GRACE SOROTI SS SOROTI 54 CHEPTOYEK ANDREW SOROTI SS SOROTI 55 OMODING JAMES NGORA HIGH SOROTI 56 AGUTI NORAH NGORA HIGH SOROTI 57 OKELLO DENIS NGORA HIGH SOROTI 58 ANGURIA JONATHAN NGORA HIGH SOROTI 59 OKIROR PETER NGORA HIGH SOROTI 60 KUTOSI W DISON BUBULO GIRLS MANAFWA 61 MAINA JAMES BUBULO GIRLS MANAFWA 62 MASETTE PATRICK BUBULO GIRLS MANAFWA 63 MAZUWE WILLIAM BUBULO GIRLS MANAFWA 64 WATSUTE MICHAEL BUBULO GIRLS MANAFWA 65 KIBALATSI LAWRENCE BUTIRU MODEL MANAFWA 66 MASAI FRANCIS WABWALA SS MANAFWA 67 NAMONYO PATRICK WABWALA SS MANAFWA 68 LLOBOJOK MARK PETER BUSIU SS MBALE 69 NAMBUYA ROSE BUSIU SS MBALE 70 WATSALA MESUSERA BUSIU SS MBALE 71 LUNYOLO ANNET MBALE HIGH MBALE 72 MUDDE JAMES MBALE HIGH MBALE 73 ORUTE ANDREW MBALE HIGH MBALE 74 WANAMBWA MUSA MBALE HIGH MBALE 6

7 75 WOGIBI FRED MBALE HIGH MBALE 76 WOMULUGWA E SONGO MBALE HIGH MBALE 77 OKIDI AGNES GRACE MBALE MUN COMM MBALE 78 ADER MASCOVIA MBALE SS MBALE 79 ARIIKO KIFUMBI JP MBALE SS MBALE 80 BITSI BETEIN FRANCIS MBALE SS MBALE 81 DOMBO SILVER MBALE SS MBALE 82 ESUKU DAVID MBALE SS MBALE 83 MAKHONJE WILLIAM MBALE SS MBALE 84 MASIFA ABUBAKARI MBALE SS MBALE 85 MAUMBE MILTON MBALE SS MBALE 86 MUKWANA EDWARD MBALE SS MBALE 87 MULWAWITA ERIC MBALE SS MBALE 88 MUSAMALI ROBEERT MBALE SS MBALE 89 MUTUNGA MICHAEL MBALE SS MBALE 90 MWAMBU LOYCE MBALE SS MBALE 91 NAWANGA MARIAM MBALE SS MBALE 92 NAZAMI FRED MBALE SS MBALE 93 OGWANG GEORGE MBALE SS MBALE 94 OMONGIN DENISH MBALE SS MBALE 95 WADERU JOHN BAPTIST MBALE SS MBALE 96 WAKHATA ROBERT MBALE SS MBALE 97 WAMBOGA DISONI MBALE SS MBALE 98 WAMIMBI AMOS MBALE SS MBALE 99 WANANDA JAMES MBALE SS MBALE 100 WANDOGA AMIS MBALE SS MBALE 101 WANDUKWA JOYSE NASA MBALE SS MBALE 102 WANKOKO STEPHEN MBALE SS MBALE 103 WEPUKHULU JAMES MBALE SS MBALE 104 WOSUKIR S MBALE SS MBALE 105 BUA LEO MBALE SS MBALE 106 ANGATU CHARLES NABUMALI HIGH MBALE 107 EKIMING YAHAYA NABUMALI HIGH MBALE 108 KHISA FAUSTIN NABUMALI HIGH MBALE 109 OUMA HUMPHREY NABUMALI HIGH MBALE 110 WALUSANSA DAMIEN NABUMALI HIGH MBALE 111 KITUTU NABOYA NKOMA SS MBALE 112 MAFABI EZEKIEL NKOMA SS MBALE 113 MUZAKI ROSE NKOMA SS MBALE 7

8 114 NANGAI JAMES NKOMA SS MBALE 115 OPIO WALTER NKOMA SS MBALE 116 APUSAN RICHARD NKOMA SS MBALE 117 EDOKU SAMUEL NGORA GIRLS NGORA 118 OYOKA MATHIAS NGORA GIRLS NGORA 119 KIDANDI AYUBU SIRONKO HIGH SIRONKO 120 APENDU JOSEPH TESO COLLEGE SOROTI 121 EUNA MOSES TESO COLLEGE SOROTI 122 ODENG BOSCO TESO COLLEGE SOROTI 123 OJANGOLE GEORGE TESO COLLEGE SOROTI 124 OMUZE O TESO COLLEGE SOROTI CORDINATION 125 OBOT SARAH MBALE SS MBALE 126 WOLAYO JULIET MBALE SS MBALE 127 KOMAKECH GEOFFFREY MBALE SS MBALE HEAD TEACHER 128 SAM KULOBA MBALE SS 129 OKUMU FRANCIS MBALE SS 130 WAMBEDE HUSSEIN MBALE HIGH 131 WAKHOLI CATHERINE BUSIU SS 132 CHELIMO DAVID SIPI SS 133 IKILENG JOHN BUKEDI COLLEGE 134 ACIDRI ASEA SEBEI COLLEGE 135 NAMONO JANE BUBULO GIRLS 136 MATANDA ISAAC BUDUNDA SS 137 CHELIBE DAVID GAMATUI GIRLS 138 OWOR ADRIAN BUKEDA SS 139 SEMUJOGI KATAMBA NKOMA SS 140 ONYAIT CHARLES TESO COLLEGE MALINGA WILLY KAPCHORWA SS Training of lecturers The training of lecturers in the use of Moodle Learning Management System is ongoing. So far the training is going on for the project Team, and later on we plan to roll it out to all the lecturers at Kyambogo University, before exposing the students in how to access reading materials on the platform. Seven modules have been written and are ready. Four of these have been uploaded for use by students and lecturers. The website is; These include among others: Solid state 8

9 physics by Dr. Obwoya Kinyera Sam, Elecricity and magnetism I, by Dr Obwoya Kinyera Sam; Elements of Mathematics by Dr. Juma Kasozi. All the courses to be run on the ODeL mode have draft modules produced. These are all on CDs. The CDs have been given out to students and lecturers, and they are using them. Publication The Team has published a paper titled, A methodological Information and communication Technologies (ICTs) Approach for demystifying the norm that teaching of Mathematics and Sciences for Lower secondary education is hard. This paper will be presented at an International Conference on Computing and research (ICCIR 11), which will take place between 7 th and 9 th August 2011 in Kampala. Upcountry Centres The Project set up five upcountry Centres where some of its activities were expected to be run and managed. These Centres include: Muni NTC; Gulu PTC; Mukuzu PTC; Bushenyi PTC; and Canon Apollo PTC; However, these Centres were have not fully utilized yet because the students enrolled on the ODeL find them too far away from their workplaces. Financial Management All the equipment for the Project are expected to be procured by UNCST. KYU has been responsible for all the other procurements, including paying out salary supplement as per the approved budget. Payments of contractors who renovated the labs were done through KYu Activities Completed (a)-curriculum review: All the curriculum for Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics have been reviewed and adopted by the University. Sports Science and Computer courses are expected to be included in next academic year 2011/

10 Training Modules Writers: Forty members of the teaching staff were trained in how to write online modules. The training took place at Sky Hotel, Kampala. The facilitator was Dr. Joseph Oonyu from Makerere University. Drafts modules have been written for virtually all courses by lecturers. These are the one they have been giving to students to use both during face to face and at home. These are on CDs which we have given out to students. Moodle Learning Management System A Consultant was contracted by Procurement Department of Kyambogo University to configure the Moodle Learning Management System onto the website. The Moodle is already operational, but with few modules. Introducing teacher training by online education or Open, Distance and e-learning (ODeL) at Degree level has been the major on-going. A number of short course have been organised for the lecturers. These trainings typically it involve the use of internet to access learning materials, to interact with the content, instructor, and other learners; and to obtain support during the learning process. It has not been very easy yet for us to introduce the students effectively. This is partly because the duration of face to face have been short. Equipment received by 16/08/2011 Through the MSI, we have received so far the following equipment: Computer Tables 10, Computer Chairs, HP Proliant ML 370 Server; 2 projectors; 25 HP pro 3120 MT Desktop; 25 HP 19 LCD Monitor; 26 Tripplite 750VA UPS; 1 Laserjet P3015d Printer;1HP ProBook 6540b Laptop (without carry case); 1 HP Scanjet G2710 Photo scanner; 1 HP Laserjet M5035X MFP printer; 1 Canon Camera, Digital SD940 IS; 1 CamCoder, DCR-SX63; 2 Video Camera DCR-SR67; 1 Bench Turbidity meter with RS232 computer interface; 1 Dissoved oxygen/biological, Oxygen kit; 1 Dissolved oxygen meter analysis; 1 Hydro Lab; 1 Rotary Evaporator; 1 Waterproof conductivity/tds/salinity meter; 1 Waterproof Hand held multiparameter meter with accessories; and 8. Waterproof handheld multiparameter with accessories Fak F 340 Shaking Platform. Sealed radioactive source Cobalt. The majority of the equipment is NOT yet delivered. 10