India Habitat Centre - Habitat Learning Centre (HLC)

Review of Pilot Program

The Habitat Learning Centre started operations in March 2002. The center began by partnering with NGO’s working in education. We started by bringing children and teachers who do not have access to computers to the Habitat Learning Center where they could get some exposure and training on computers.

As a first step the center conducted a pilot computer training session for facilitators/teachers who work with children and are involved in teaching children. The aim of this program was to build the capacity of this group, to empower them and to train them in computer skills that they can use in their work with the children.

Two parallel pilot programs were conducted from March 5 to March 18, 2002. The first week concentrated on Computer Literacy, which was designed to expose the group to basic computers skills and its usage so that they got comfortable with computers. This included: Introduction to computers, its parts, working and ability to use MS office and especially MS Word. It was a three-day intense training followed by a break during which the group was expected to continue to use computers and practice their skills. The second week, Curriculum Training was conducted for the group. During this time the group was trained on academic curriculum prepared by FouthR, a global company with a presence in India. The materials were based on the curriculum of Indian schools. The course was conducted by Nalini Raina, a qualified instructor from FourthR.

The following NGO’s were covered as part of this program: Action India, Pratham, community workers under the Peep program supervised by the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), and Vidya. A total of 31 teachers/facilitators were trained during this time. From no knowledge of computers these persons at the end of the training were painting on computers, writing their own letters as well as sending emails. Copies of a few emails are enclosed as annexure. Details of the group are also enclosed.

The program started at 10:30 am each day. The theoretical plus practical aspect of the course was worked between 10:30 and 2:00 pm, after which the trainees used the computers to practice at the Habitat Learning centre till 5pm. The programs continued during weekends and holidays to accommodate the preferences of the groups.

The objectives of this program are the following:

1.	To work with this group and help them set up similar learning centers in their communities where these teachers/facilitators work and reside.
2.	Push computers into schools no computers classes at this time. This will help the children get access to computer-aided learning.
3.	Set up computers in existing community centres and help community groups’ access information through the Internet on a variety of topics, like health, environment education needs of women.