Teacher goes viral using chalkboard for IT lessons

Teacher goes viral using chalkboard for IT lessons

A teacher in Ghana who conducts computer classes using a blackboard has become a viral hit online.

In the photo, Richard Appiah Akoto, an information and communication technology (ICT) teacher, is seen drawing a detailed interface of the Microsoft Word program. The students in his class are seen drawing it into their notebooks.

Social media has lauded his dedication to explaining how computers work without computers.

Microsoft Africa was notified of the post and has pledged to send the school new computer equipment.

Even though the school has not had any computers since 2011, students are required to pass an ICT exam to progress to high school.

“This is not my first time [drawing] it. I have been doing it anytime I am in the classroom,” Akoto told Quartz Africa. “I like posting pictures on Facebook so I just felt like [sharing it]. I didn’t know it would get the attention of people like that.”

One netizen who took notice of the viral post, tech entrepreneur Rebecca Enenchong, tweeted about him and reached out to Microsoft on Twitter.

This led to Microsoft’s promise to “equip Owura Kwadwo with a device from one of our partners, and access to MCE program and free professional development resources”. Owura Kwadwo is Akoto’s nickname on Facebook.

Akoto has a personal laptop but does not use it in his lessons as the official ICT syllabus differs from the laptop’s features.


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