I am Nannozi Joyce a former student of Makerere College School. I offered Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics at my A-level in 2007.

I would first of all want to extend my thanks to SchoolNet Uganda for the opportunities they provide to us….

I got to know about SchoolNet Uganda in 2006 when SchoolNet Uganda donated a computer to me as the best A’ Level girl science exhibitor in our school open day exhibition.

Before I got to know about the use of ICT in science, I never thought a computer can be used for study purpose and therefore I used to use the computer for playing games, surfing football, emailing etc but nothing to do with education!

I first attended a Science with ICT holiday camp at Gayaza High School held from 7th -11th May 2007 at Gayaza High School. The camp was organized and conducted by SchoolNet Uganda. I was awarded a certificate of completion!

In this workshop we were told of various things. We were taken through the use of ICT in sciences .We covered some topics in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

After going through some of topics like evolution which had always seemed to be a nightmare to me, I was left wondering as to what had been so hard with these topics.

We were introduced to the use of the virtual science labs and these were the most interesting, doing science experiments on the computer! By the time we left the camp some of the things that seemed to be abstract to me became a bit lighter.

When we left the Science with ICT camp, I actually first told my little brother and sister about the workshop with evidence of what we had done because as we were concluding the camp each one us was equipped with a CD containing the work we had done at the camp. They were all interested in that kind of work especially the virtual lab, and they even still practice this kind of work in addition to some of the educative websites that we keep discovering.

I also told my fellow students at school about the workshop and a good number of them were interested in the kind of work we had done at the workshop. This caused a good number of my fellow students to develop a positive attitude towards the use of computers as science students. Most of them had never thought that they could ever use the computer for study purpose since most of us never had time for the computers as science students.

I went ahead to tell my Head teacher about the camp and how good it would be for the school to use ICT for science. The Head teacher told me talk to my teachers about it which I did and some of them for example my Biology teacher started using computers for teaching. Sometimes he would give us web links to go to and make notes which we had to explain to the whole class and every one liked this kind of work!

I got a chance of attending the second Science with ICT holiday camp held at Gayaza High School from 16th -20th December 2007 and this time I was a co-facilitator and I even got a facilitation fee. I still learnt more about the use of ICT in science

Having analyzed the importance of the use ICT in science, I found it important to also tell the Minister of Education and Sports, about the use of ICT for science. I went to the Minister’s office several times and when I finally talked to Minister’s secretary, I was told to write this in a form of a proposal which I am still working on so I can produce the best that I can.

In my proposal, I am suggesting that Ministry of Education and Sports works hand in hand with the SchoolNet Uganda so as to pass on this wonderful information to the many schools in Uganda because from my personal experience it’s a wonderful program and very useful.

From 7th -11th January 2008, I attended a Technical Capacity Building working held at Nalinya Lwantale Girls SS. The workshop was organized and conducted by SchoolNet Uganda. During the workshop we were taught how to assemble and disassemble computers, software installation, setting up Local Area Network (LAN) and troubleshooting. I usually use the knowledge and skills I acquired at home and I sometimes help at Nkokonjeru Institute of Management and Technology in their computer lab for ‘first aid”

I was called upon by SchoolNet Uganda for a short term contract as a research assistant for World Starts with Me (WSWM) to help in the issuing questionnaires to some schools in Mpigi and Wakiso. This way I got a chance of traveling to that side of the country and interacting with the students was great. I was also paid a very good incentive per each school that I went to!

I got another chance of attending a World Starts With Me (WSWM) national students camp 2008 held at Nabisunsa Girls School from 28th April to 1st May 2008. The workshop was organized and conducted by SchoolNet Uganda. SchoolNet Uganda was training sexual and reproductive health and rights national peer educators. From this camp, I learnt how to talk to different peer groups without misleading them. And I now actually know what to do with my life and health

From 5th – 9th May 2008, I facilitated in a workshop which was based on training teachers in the introduction to the use of educational technology to improve teaching and learning which was held at Bukomero SS. Here I had a very good experience interacting with teachers. I was very happy because by the time we left, most of the teachers had promised to change their teaching skills and most of them of them admitted that what was taught would make their work simpler as teachers and they had even gained more love for their profession.

I was invited at Gayaza High School by the Deputy Head Teacher, Mr. Ronald Ddungu to help the students as they were typing their notes to find good educative links for their particular topics. I also saved some of these links and I give them to the people who need them.

Currently, I am working with St Balikuddembe SS Kisoga telling them about the use of ICT in science (this is volunteer work). It’s just that from personal experience using ICT is the way to go. I am also moving to many other village schools letting them know about the use of ICT in science though most of them do not seem interested!

Once again I want to extend my thanks to SchoolNet Uganda especially Mr. Kakinda Daniel (SchoolNet Uganda, Executive Director and Training Director) and Engineer Allen Nansubuga (SchoolNet Uganda, Technical Director) for the opportunities that they provide for us and thus making us important citizens.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!