Club Orientation: Discuss goals and objectives, schedule, and activities for the year.

The ICT clubs is an initiative of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) under the UCUSAF program. UCC has embarked on providing schools with basic lab equipment inform of computers. Over 1000 schools have so far benefited from the scheme.

The UCC philosophy behind the program is that schools become the conduits of reaching out and supporting communities with ICT education and developmental programs. However, the findings of UCC indicate that most of the newly furnished labs are underutilized or neglected by concerned teachers all together.

The forming of ICT clubs and lending them support emanated from the above-stated issues. The idea is that students, with the support of their teachers, can actively participate in maintaining the computer labs.

Kisubi Associated Writers’ Agency (KAWA) was therefore mandated by UCC to launch ICT Clubs in selected secondary schools, countrywide. Each club receives physical and online training as well as an assortment of digital resources and devices donated by UCC.

KAWA however added a commitment to continue to support the new ICT clubs and introduce them to 21^st century practices in learning.

What is an ICT Club?

ICT (Information and Communication Technology) club for secondary school students is an organized group of students who have a shared interest in technology and its applications. The main aim of the ICT club is to provide students with opportunities to explore, experiment, and learn about the latest technology trends and tools, while also encouraging collaboration and innovation.

In the UCC ICT club, students participate in a variety of activities, including coding, programming, game design, digital media production, and computer network administration. Members of the club also have the opportunity to participate in technology-related competitions at School, District, regional, national and international levels, attend workshops and guest speaker events, and receive training and mentorship from technology professionals.

The benefits of participating in an ICT club for secondary school students are numerous.

Students can develop valuable technical skills, such as coding and programming, which are in high demand in many industries. They also have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology, build their portfolios, and network with like-minded individuals. Additionally, participating in an ICT club can help students to develop teamwork and communication skills, as well as creativity and problem-solving abilities.

The ICT club for secondary school students is a great way for students to explore their interests in technology, develop their skills, and prepare for careers in the tech industry. By providing students with opportunities to work on real-world projects and participate in a supportive and collaborative environment, ICT clubs are helping to inspire the next generation of technology innovators.

Goals

Within two years, the ICT Clubs should have students who are:

Participating in the maintenance of equipment of their respective ICT department.
Skilled in using ICT effectively and responsibly.
Skilled and confident in communication.
Creative and Innovative
Skilled in critical thinking and solving problems
Able to integrate ICT in mainstream disciplines, other clubs and schools’ activities for learning purposes
Participating in learning programs and activities that develop a sense of global citizenship
Able to purposefully network, collaborate and work as a team
Peer learners that guide and support fellow students in learning and effective use of ICT in education.
Involved in addressing real issues affecting their communities and finding solutions to them through innovative learning projects.

General Outcomes

Enhanced Technology Skills: ICT clubs are to help students develop and improve their technology skills. By participating in activities such as coding, programming, web design, and digital content creation, students can gain hands-on experience with various technology tools and software.

Improved Problem-Solving Skills: Through the use of technology, ICT clubs will help students develop problem-solving skills. As students learn to troubleshoot issues with hardware and software, they develop critical thinking and analytical skills that are valuable both in and out of the classroom.

Increased Digital Literacy: As technology becomes more integrated into our daily lives, it is becoming increasingly important for individuals to have strong digital literacy skills. ICT clubs can help students develop these skills by teaching them how to use various digital tools and how to navigate online platforms safely and responsibly.

Collaborative Learning: ICT clubs often involve group projects and activities that require collaboration and teamwork. By working together, students can develop communication and interpersonal skills, as well as gain exposure to diverse perspectives and ideas.

Career Readiness: Many ICT clubs aim to prepare students for future careers in technology-related fields. By providing students with real-world experiences and industry-specific skills, ICT clubs can help students prepare for post-secondary education and the workforce.

Overall, ICT clubs are going to provide a wide range of benefits to students, from developing technology skills to building teamwork and collaboration. By offering a fun and engaging way to learn about technology, ICT clubs will help students develop skills that are valuable in all areas of life.

Even those going to sit for DIT skills under the new curriculum will benefit much more from the ICT Club.

Specific Outcomes emphasized by UCC

UCC/UCUSAF came up with five expected outcomes for the ICT club to act as a means to achieve the ICT club objectives. These will be the benchmarks for measuring the success of the ICT clubs in the respective schools.

A school ICT Lab which is clean, well maintained with students equipped to maintain the ICT equipment in their lab.
Empowered students with increased ownership and responsibility for their ICT lab
Equipped club members with practical ICT skills above and beyond the expectations of their ICT curriculum.
A platform for students to directly engage with UCC/UCUSAF on ICT matters in their schools.
Nurtured ICT innovations and ICT skills that will be annually recognized by UCC

How ICT Clubs can achieve the Outcomes above

There are several ways in which clubs can choose to attain the above outcomes. However, there are two major thrusts to this. Whatever activities clubs may have, by the design of this program, there are two major thrusts to it. Each of the ICT Club are expected to participate in the following two:

Actively and regularly participating in basic maintaining and repairing of computer lab machines and accessories.
Each of the learners is expected to participate in at least one problem solving learner driven project activity in a year.

Key Skills to be attained by participating in Computer Lab and Equipment Maintenance and Repair.

Uganda Communications Commission produced a document outlining some key competencies that students of ICT Clubs can use a check list.

They are desirable skills outcomes by participating in ICT Lab and Computer maintenance and repair.

Trouble shooting software problems
Fixing basic hardware issues
Student and teacher technical support
Installation of application software and operating systems. For example Windows, Linux and so forth.
Introduction and installation of Open Office Software
Different storage media
Burning of data/music/videos on CDs or DVDs.
Basic concepts of computer networks
Identifying the use of various network equipment. I.e.: RJ45 Cables, switches, routers, etc.
Connecting a computer to the internet
Connecting to a computer network
Fixing internet connectivity issues
Identifying the IP address of a computer
Basic use of command prompt. For example, pinging of different IP addresses
Troubleshooting a computer to identify LAN/internet faults and how to solve them.
Information search on the internet
Analysis of information sources
Internet services, including emails etc.
Streaming technology on the internet
E-Learning and introduction to MOOCS
Online entertainment
Impact of ICT on the society
Use of social media.