Capacity Building Training Program, such as Capacity building training in online information search skills/researching your topics online, online database and online teaching blog/classroom blogging for 21st century real Teachers, Researchers, Librarian, lecturers, Students, NYSC and un-employed youths, using Google Digital Skills in Nigeria.

TRAINING AREA

Capacity Building Training Program, such as Capacity building training in online information search skills/researching your topics online, online database and online teaching blog/classroom blogging for 21^st century real Teachers, Researchers, Librarian, lecturers, Students, NYSC and un-employed youths, using Google Digital Skills in Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION

The focus is on Capacity Building Program, such as Capacity building training in online information search skills/researching your topics online, online database and online teaching blog/classroom blogging for 21^st century real Teachers, Researchers, Librarian, lecturers, Students, NYSC and un-employed youths, using Google Digital Skills in Nigeria. It is designed to give you the much needed skill to search the web without stress, variety of online research tools. Tech world is the best skills for real teachers, Librarian and researchers in the 21^st century era. The training program has been promoted among teachers in rural and urban areas, which has yielded a successful result. Learning to effectively search is one of the most important skills most teachers, lecturers and researchers are not teaching in this 21^st century because they assume that students know how to conduct a search and conduct a search, and set them free on the Internet to find information. They assume that students have the skills to critically think their way through the searching on the web. Sadly, this is not the case.

AIMS OF THE TRAINING

The essence of Capacity Building Program, such as Capacity building training in online information search skills/researching your topics online, online database and online teaching blog/classroom blogging for 21^st century real Teachers, Researchers, Librarian, lecturers, Students, NYSC and un-employed youths, using Google Digital Skills in Nigeria is designed to train them in an online Information Search Skills, thereby making them Internet research wizard. Long gone are the days when you needed an encyclopaedia to help carry out a research project.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE TRAINING

In this training, you will explore the rich and diverse range of information available to you online, how to use search tolls effectively, the tips, the tools and the tricks for higher impact results and the way you can begin to assess information that you might want to use in your research as a Teachers, Researchers, Librarian, lecturers, Students, NYSC and un-employed youths. Using a wide range of learning activities, you will be challenged to a dig deeper and think critically about the information that you find online.

WHAT THE TRAINING INTEND TO COVER

●Searching effectively online using a variety of search engines and tools

●Combining information from multiple sources, blending online and offline materials to aids research

●Sharing research to collaboratively develop a broader understanding of topics

●Assessing and evaluating information: considering the authority, timeliness and relevance of sources to ensure validity with access to Database

●Critically thinking: Utilising information and providing context to research to aid the drawing of conclusions.

●Assessing and creating an online teaching Blogspot for lecturers so that students can view and access it anywhere in the world e.g. Sabbatical leave.

 

WHAT TO ACHIEVE FROM THE TRAINING

By the end of this seminar, you will be able to ……….

●Assess and record your current level of knowledge regarding searching and researching online.

●Identify and discus your search engine of choice

●Explore methods of using search tolls more effectively to locate appropriate sources

●Perform web searches using different "operations" and advanced search options.

●Discuss the benefit of using a wide range of online sources for researching subjects and topics

●Demonstrate effective use of multiple sources to contribute information in a collaborative environment

●Identify sources which need to be up-to-date and relevant in order to be use when researching.

●Demonstrate an understanding of some of the core principles of how to critically asses a source.

●Will be able to design a personal academic or commercial blogspot online and post teaching materials for students to access it anywhere in the world.

●Provision of Samsung Galaxy tab 9.6 or 10.1 Inch if possible to each participant. 

PURPOSE OF THIS TRAINING

It seems obvious that, if you are going to teach a subject, then you should really know a lots about the subject, right? Certainly in high schools and Universities where teachers and lecturers often specialise into one or two subject areas, there is a real emphasis on the subject matter. Knowledge of the teachers and the lecturer is very important and that is why the claim goes "if you want to teach history, you should first learn a lots about history, and if you want to Lecture Mathematics, then you should get a degree in Mathematics. It would be easy to conclude that, mastering your topic is very important so that teachers and lecturers can teach with abandon resources available online outside their subject area. On the basis, I strongly believe that teaching in the 21^st century requires teacher’s and lecture’s actions towards research for the purpose of satisfying the Educational demands of our students.

Thanks

Yours Sincerely

Project Coordinator

Chinekwu Anthony Ugbor (MLIS BUK, BA BUK, CFC, CLN)

chinekwuanthony@gmail.com

chinekscau@yahooo.com

08033463859

THE ROLE OF GOOGLE IN EDUCATION BY CHINEKWU ANTHONY UGBOR

 

Google has come a long way since its inception in 1998to become the world’s largest and most-used search engine site. Google has transformed the way we used to study and played a major role in imparting education and knowledge accessible and comfortable for all. The mission of the company is to systematically arrange all the information in the world and make it available and useful all over the globe. Google strongly thinks that open technology is important to boost the education system and the open technology can revolutionize education. The company has more than 40 million teachers, tutors, staff members, faculty members, and students who utilize Google Apps. Of all the educational devices purchased by American students in 2014, about 20% was a Chrome book, a device designed by Google to access its educational platform. Out of the best 100 American universities, more than 70 are using Google Apps and search engine. Out of eight Ivy League universities, seven are using Google Apps and search engine. Google has contributed immensely in helping educational institutions to achieve their dreams of being paperless organization, simplification of staff development, and novel ways of student collaboration. Google envisages providing easy accessibility to more and more students irrespective of their socioeconomic background, making students’ experience simpler, and increasing focus on innovating new tools for students.

The Role of Google in Education:

1. It empowers students and levels the playing field for them: Google empowers students irrespective of their age, socioeconomic status, nationality, gender, religion, ethnicity, and other such factors. It levels the playing field for all students around the globe and gives them an equal advantage with all the information, learning materials, and tools for their education. Google provides students the opportunity to explore a world of limitless possibilities and make available a wide range of information to them. It has also transformed the role of the teachers from just information providers to and flag bearers for students.

2. It offers a wide range of choice to both educators & students: Google offers a great range of choice to both educators and students in terms of compatibility with reading and educational devices. Google ensures compatibility with a wide array of devices be it a smart phone, tablet, desktop, laptop, irrespective of manufacturer and operating software. Google apps and search engines can be used at home, in school, or on the move.

3. Its free search-engine site and low cost apps and devices allow everyone to afford the service: Google has been able to have a wide penetration in all educational institutions and workplaces irrespective of boundaries because of its free search-engine site and low cost (some free) apps. Its educational devices are quite affordable and are widely used by students from all age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds. The apps and devices are also very easy to maintain and give no hassle to the users.

4. Its apps and services foster high degree of collaboration and teamwork: The Google apps and sites such as the collaborative productivity suite have transformed the teaching methods as well as the learning techniques. The Google apps foster collaboration and teamwork among teachers and students. This results in the development of organizational skills and problem solving approach of young students.

5. Its apps enhance efficiency, productivity, and effectiveness of the educators and students: The Google apps and products are super fast and supported by the best talent pool in the world. Using the Google products enhance efficiency, productivity, and effectiveness of the educators and students. The products of Google can be easily customized, easily managed, easily operated, and easily scaled.

Summary

Google plays an important role in education by enhancing efficiency, productivity of teachers and students. Its apps and services foster higher degree of collaboration, empower students and level the playing field for all. The low priced and free apps and services can be afforded by all and used widely.

 

 

The beauty of Chineks blog

A little over four years ago I asked a local social media consultant, who I quite accidentally met through LinkedIn, “Just exactly what do I need to do to get on board this train before it gets away?” She told me …

1. Sign up for Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn and get active on all three
2. Engage with others via comments on posts and articles
3. Start a blog 

A what? While I may have heard this term mentioned in conversation, I honestly had no idea of what a blog was. I mean … no idea. Well, we talked about it and off I went. Having been married for over 30 years, I do know how to take direction. Looking back at this now, this might have been her best advice of all!
Like most writers, my blog is an integral part of my website and since I am no SEO guru, I count on the fresh content that it provides to enhance my placement in search. But, from the standpoint of social media marketing, your blog is so much more! You do not have to rely on search engines in order to be successful. In fact, your blog should be the central piece of your social media marketing ecosystem …

WAY FORWARD FOR NIGERIA ECONOMY

2015 spells doom for the Nigerian economy which is beginning to have a toll on businesses, investment and the people of Nigeria. Buhari needs to reduce the cost of governance by 50 per cent. Though he and some state governors have announced a cut in their salaries and allowances, this is a step in the right direction.  However, he has to take it a step further and explore every legal means to get the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission to effect the reduction of the emolument, salaries and allowances of all members of the National Assembly as well as those of past public office holders. It is important to state that Nigerians have to assist the President by mounting pressure on members of the National Assembly and every public office holders.

The monies that accrue as a result of saving 50 per cent will assist the president in meeting up with his campaign promises ‎some of which include tackling insecurity and unemployment, improving governance, and ensuring transparency and accountability among others. And while that is going on, government agencies that are critical to revenue generation such as Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Nigeria Custom Service, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, Nigerian Ports Authority etcetera must be audited, regulated, revamped and have improved oversight. This will ensure that corruption which pervades these agencies is curbed and every Kobo that is generated is adequately accounted for.

President’s economic plan needs to be robust and aimed at effectively tackling the problems that have bedevilled the Nigerian economy for a long time.‎ He needs to go beyond his economic policy as stated in his party manifesto and as presented to members of the business community during the election campaign.

The National Economic Council was recently inaugurated by Buhari as prescribed by the constitution‎. Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole and three others were commissioned to probe the last administration with respect to revenue disbursements, allocation and appropriation. This has led to claims and counterclaims between Oshiomhole and the immediate past Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. This is not the right approach considering the precarious economic situation that Nigeria finds herself after the Jonathan administration. This approach is against the spirit of Buhari’s speech at the inauguration of the National Economic Council in which he said that his administration was fully committed to embarking on sustainable visionary initiatives and programmes that would restructure and transform the nation’s economy‎.

The NEC has a mandate to advise the President concerning the economic affairs of the Federation, and in particular on measures necessary for the co-ordination of the economic planning and programmes of the various governments in the Federation‎. Suffice it to say, Buhari cannot rely on the advice of members of the NEC most of whom are state governors who currently have to address the economic problems in their states where their financial expertise and economic initiatives are being awaited by vast majority of their citizens.

Over four years after the inauguration of NEC under the Jonathan administration, we have seen what the NEC is capable of doing to the national economy.‎ Buhari, however, needs to constitute a very strong economic team that will work towards improving all the economic measures and indices of the country. Inflation rate should be single digit; unemployment rate should be reduced to less than 10 per cent. The rate of poverty should also be brought down from 70 per cent to at least 30 per cent. Our budget deficit should have a turnaround to surplus. This is actually achievable provided the President has the right economic team who will come up with interventions and initiatives with the ultimate goal of improving our economic indices and by extension provide a new lease of life for the Nigerian people.

Past administrations have paid lip service to reducing the rate of unemployment.‎ President should leverage on the successes recorded in the agricultural sector under the watch of the immediate past Minister of Agriculture and now president of African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina by expanding this sector and creating jobs under an agricultural youth empowerment program for the teeming unemployed youths in the country who are willing to be engaged and earn an income. Expansion of the mining sector and investment in public works/infrastructural development is capable of generating the needed employment that will help change the current rate of unemployment. These are some of the initiatives expected in the President’s economic plan.

Buhari also needs to focus on the capital market with a view to lowering the exchange rate at N230 to $1.‎ Reducing our deficit and ensuring a balanced budget is also capable of promoting investment in education and healthcare of Nigerians. All of these investments in educational initiatives, science and technology research as well as the expansion of the National Health Insurance Scheme have to be made for the long term in order to achieve the expected outcome.

The President in his economic plan has to have a short term, medium term and long term initiatives to ‎fulfil his campaign promises. One of the reasons why Nigeria remains underdeveloped the country still at the level of an agrarian economy; President Buhari must encourage the export of Nigerian products and strengthen the manufacturing sector. Though the initiation of a power sector reform is critical to the expansion of the manufacturing sector and it is amazing what would happen to the Nigerian economy if power is improved to support the manufacturing sector.

The Buhari administration would by adopting these solutions and through the development of both private sector and small businesses initiatives create the condition for economic growth. The President need not be deceived on the right solutions to Nigeria’s economic recession. ‎Though the President’s economic plan is yet to be unveiled as earlier stated; I believe these solutions would be valuable in shaping his economic direction. We can recover from the current economic crisis if Buhari diversifies the economy and repairs the refineries so that the impact of the drop in crude oil prices which is having a toll on the economy will be cushioned. It is up to the President to act and respond appropriately.

Buhari’s economic plan should also improve housing and home ownership for Nigerians.‎ This is quite important because many poor Nigerians have to go for many years without a mortgage plan and this is hurting the economy.
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Finally, Buhari must cut income tax, raise the minimum wage and develop transportation initiatives across the country. Exploring a light rail system across the country with the help of industrialised nations will go a long way in addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges.

Chineks wrote from Abuja