Internet_of_Things

TNMTNM, one of Malawi’s biggest mobile-phone networks, gave us some great news this week. They are going to give Matandani free access to the internet!

I sent a letter to TNM a few weeks ago and followed up with a visit to their local office in Zomba. The regional manager,  Allan asked me to meet with him to talk more about what I’m doing at Matandani. I shared with him my vision for the school and explained how using the internet as a teaching tool is part of that vision. I also told him that we now have a laptop and projector,  which we’re using to train the teachers in the fundamentals of IT. Crucially, I explained that when I return to Ireland the school will be unable to afford their Internet connection. We needed a sustainable solution to this problem… and TNM agreed to provide one!

20150617_192805TNM is going to give Matandani 4GB of free airtime every month. This credit will go on a mobile-phone SIM card, but instead of living in a phone, this SIM card will be in a “dongle”. The dongle is plugged into a computer and connects it to TNM’s wireless internet network.

With this long-term, sustainable connection to the internet we can continue 20150617_191501to train the teachers in how best to use the internet for teaching and introduce more internet content into classes. For example, teachers might show videos,  look at pictures from all around the world, or even play some of the same maths games that I play with my students in Ireland (e.g., Multiplication Balloons). This really does open a door to the world for Matandani, and I don’t think they’ll ever look back!

TNM also promised to look into upgrading Matandani to the much-faster 4G network, which would be great. And, as our internet usage grows more and more in the future,  they will increase our months allowance above 4GB. Fantastic!