http://Fabyoramos.tigblog.org/ What's on the minds of young leaders from around the globe? en-us http://Fabyoramos.tigblog.org/post/23880
For me, the schools would be better if the community was responsible for improving educational quality. I often see parents who don´t know even what grade their children are in. They never care about homework or school activities. I never saw a parent going to school to see how it works. Teachers are asked to educate children when their parents just want a place where their kids can spend a day. Most of Brazilian people think that only the government is responsible for education and don´t try to visit and share the problems schools are facing with teachers and directors. In many cases just a word would solve some problems like violence, vandalism, lack of motivation and lack of materials.

In a few cases I know where the community is responsible for the local school, the quality of education is on a higher level. In our school specificaly, the community is invited to participate constantly in our activities. Often we organize meetings with members of the association that direct the school to talk about our problems and progress made. Students are asked to help repairing the building, gardening, painting and cleaning the school. We try to meke them feel like they are in an extension of their houses.

By encouraging volunteer work, we also make it possible to have the computer lab working with minimum financial help. We have teachers and office workers who are volunteers and also some of our students help in office activities like coordinating the computer lab. Here we try to give an example that we don´t need to wait for the government and we can get faster results if schools and community work together. Technology, innovative teaching ideas, friendly school environment and community participation is all we need to have good shools for our children. That´s my dream and that´s my job.]]> Fri, 15 Apr 2005 19:34:00 EDT http://Fabyoramos.tigblog.org/post/23880 37.8044444 -122.269722237.8044444-122.2697222 http://Fabyoramos.tigblog.org/post/23558 I live and work in rural Brazil in a city called Capim Grosso in Brazil´s poorest region. I´m the Director of AEC-TEA Volunteer Centre, an organization that invites international volunteer to help local students help themselves.

I believe that the ideal classroom should be like a home, a place where we feel comfortable and free to talk. Most schools in our region look like a hospital. Classrooms are painted in a standard pattern sometimes in bad taste. The only things you will see are desktops and blackboards.

AEC-TEA association has a project to involve students redecorating their classrooms. We worked in three schools and the results were good. First we talk to the students about the project and ask them to draw their ideal classroom. As a second step they choose the best project and decide how to develop it. Volunteers from AEC-TEA and I help them to draw and paint the walls and furniture always making sure they are doing most of the work.
Teachers are invited to include the activity in their subjects. For example, in Math they can calculate the material they will use, in Art they can discuss about styles and art history and in Portuguese they choose quotes or write texts about the project development. Any subject can benefit from this project.
When students participate in the construction of their classroom they will care more and will help to preserve the building.
For me the ideal classroom is that which feels like a part of ourselves.

I´m glad to share this with you and would be happy to get in contact with people working in the same field. Our organization is also open for those who wish to come see and help us in our projects.
Thanks for this opportunity.]]> Wed, 06 Apr 2005 09:15:00 EDT http://Fabyoramos.tigblog.org/post/23558 37.8044444 -122.269722237.8044444-122.2697222 http://Fabyoramos.tigblog.org/post/23557
I like to participate in group projects. For me the routine makes people lose interest in learning. When teachers involve students in projects they can learn not only the main subject but other abilities necesary to develop the project.

I worked for three years as a teacher and always tried to involve my students in group or school projects. At the beginning I faced resistance but as they got used to it the process was easier to coordinate and the results were better.

In my personal case I learn faster and get more motivated when my teachers ask me take part in group activities. Also the evaluation activities should vary to be more effective. I don´t like to be evaluated only by writing answers on a sheet of papaer. For me it´s better when we are evaluated by discussions, presentations or project results.

I´m glad to share this with you and would be happy to get in contact with people interested in the same field.

Our organization is also open for those who wish to come see and help us in our projects.
Thanks for this opportunity.]]> Mon, 28 Mar 2005 08:53:00 EST http://Fabyoramos.tigblog.org/post/23557 37.8044444 -122.269722237.8044444-122.2697222 http://Fabyoramos.tigblog.org/post/23555 I live and work in rural Brazil in a city called Capim Grosso in Brazil´s poorest region. I´m the Director of AEC-TEA Volunteer Centre, an organization that invites international volunteer to help local students help themselves.
As I wrote in my last post, we face many difficulties to learn when we live in a small town far from the state capital. Technology has been the only way we can use to shorten the distance. In my personal case I was able to study English and more recently to get an MBA degree using the Internet for my studies. Our organization is also helping on a project to offer college degrees for local teachers using Internet and video conferences. Five years ago nobody here would think about getting a college degree. It´s only possible now because we got Internet access and other resources.
Technology has been an incredible means to reduce the distance between poverty and a better future. Sometimes it´s dificult to get people motivated to learn using computers but day after day it´s getting easier. When we opened our computer lab few people were coming to use the computers but now we can´t have more people coming as we have few machines.
I´m glad to share this with you and would be happy to get in contact with people working in the same field. Our organization is also open for those who wish to come see and help us in our projects.
Thanks for this opportunity.]]> Mon, 21 Mar 2005 08:34:00 EST http://Fabyoramos.tigblog.org/post/23555 37.8044444 -122.269722237.8044444-122.2697222 http://Fabyoramos.tigblog.org/post/23554 I live and work in rural Brazil in a city called Capim Grosso in Brazil´s poorest region. I´m the Director of AEC-TEA Volunteer Centre, an organization that invites international volunteers to help local students help themselves. Our work consists of visiting schools, having discussions with students and offering language courses and internet access at our building. Changes are slow but we can perceive them. After four years of work we could achieve some initial targets. The most important is that our sudents now know about the world. They know about opportunities available for them through education and access to comunication.
In recent years the life situation has been improved. almost 100% of our children are attending to school. Poor families get a financial help to keep their children going to school and avoid child labor.
Even we face some challenges we see hope in the near future. If we get to improve the quality of public education the changes will be faster.
I´m glad to share this with you and would be happy to get in contact with people working in the same field. Our organization is also open for those who wish to come see and help us in our projects.
Thanks for this opportunity.]]> Tue, 08 Mar 2005 08:14:00 EST http://Fabyoramos.tigblog.org/post/23554 37.8044444 -122.269722237.8044444-122.2697222