Learning STEM for Civic Action

Civic education and Action are as complex as the movie MATRIX.

For example, for the majority to participate effectively in a democracy, they "should be able to paint a picture 'of' pressing problem(s), the impact it is having, the consequences of not solving the problem(s), and the emotions the problem(s) are creating for those involved" https://www.entrepreneur.com/l...

As an illustration, each of the 17 United nations' sustainable goals (https://sdgs.un.org/goals) has multitudes of integrated factors and solutions. So much related that each factor or solution scaled affects either proportionally or inversely other factors and solutions.

Kenya has 1882 elective posts for one election, all done in a day. https://www.iebc.or.ke/uploads.... this involves unlimited political parties, all dangling limitless promises.

This is the matrix, a math problem. We are living in a math problem.

The electorate should have intuitive skills to discern the truth and possibilities, with subsequent implications, in the political promises by applying prevailing constraints such as national debt levels and GDP. 

The people should also be able to assess the various aspirants against the 17 global UN-SDGs

The masses need to learn and develop intuitive and logical skills and critical thinking with a wide breadth of their actual problems and solutions possible.

Middle school science defines and nests most problems into environment, resources and access. It also demonstrates the benefits and consequences of our different approaches and actions in utilizing (accessing and sharing) the resources in our environment.

The power of math as a foundation for critical thinking in civic education is seen in simple math keywords such as profit, loss, savings, interest, factor, factorization, nested, illustrate, demonstrate, subject, variable, independent, dependent, limits, constraints, exclusive etc.

These are the same words with the exact concepts and arguments widely used in production, commerce, governance and the NGO world.

Algebra and science capture and expose the political scene, complete with the machinations of the players. 

For example, this crisis that has developed over the years as below

1. Kenya has developed a devolved government structure, the 2010 constitution, intended to have equitable sharing of resources https://www.klrc.go.ke/index.p... 
2. Unfortunately, the channels of funds for these developments have been captured by the rogue and corrupt political class. This includes the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) operated by parliamentarians https://internationalbudget.or...
3. The effect of the corruptly misappropriated and lost development funds over the years is now painfully experienced by kids and parents as no sufficient schools have been built over the years despite a rapidly growing population making the existing infrastructure grossly insufficient, high schools are congested, forced to admit several times their infrastructural capacity https://allafrica.com/stories/... 
4. The government has further compounded with restructuring education by introducing a Competency Based Curriculum without addressing the infrastructure required   https://www.standardmedia.co.k... https://nation.africa/kenya/co... 
5.  Resulting in last minute, easiest but still messy, hosting of junior high schools in respective primary schools, which still are without infrastructure and staffing https://www.businessdailyafric...

The masses need the ability in critical thinking for Civic Action to avert such. Learning math is a necessity. STEM education is integral to Civic education /Action.

The Gallant Institute mitigates the limited human resources required to promote Science, Technology, and Innovation by exposing people to physically applied math, science and technology, making the people see the opportunity within reach.

This is achieved by: 

1. Creating awareness of learning resources readily available online
2. Enabling/giving underserved learners affordable and convenient access to online platforms:
   1. Providing reasonable pooled internet access for learning
   2. Pooling computers/tablets to access the online learning resources
   3. Providing other assorted hardware to aid in online STEM learning like:
      1. Arduino Kits
      2. 3d printers

This will allow disenfranchised rural African learners to:

1. Gain the privilege of learning with the best tutors/professors on online platforms.
2. Help willing minds to develop an interest in the sciences.
3. Develop an intuitive understanding of STEAM courses.

4. 

Gallant is a workshop for learners to:

1.  Self-bridge their learning gaps  from challenges in formal classroom learning due to:
   1. missed classes for any possible reason (fees, health, e.t.c)
   2. skipped content in class either by the syllabus or the teacher
2. Resolving the bottlenecks encountered in their learning pursuits.

We are creating awareness of the superb and readily available online  learning resources 

This is achieved by  a multi-pronged application of multitudes of excellent education resources  that are now readily available on the internet to:

• Create technical capacity by exposing the young and willing in a rural village to interactive, step-by-step, Multiliteracy instruction platforms. Such as listed below but not limited to:
  • KhanAcademy Kids
  • https://www.khanacademy.org/
  • https://academy.autodesk.com/
  • https://www.duolingo.com/
  • Microsoft Imagine Academy
  • https://www.edx.org/
  • https://www.gemsociety.org/cou...
• Enable online certification by providing facilities of a proctored certification centre. Pearson_Vue_Test_Centres
• Enable formal and informal learners to prepare and sit for national exams administered by KNEC (Kenya National Examination Council).

We are also open to commercial online courses. The options are unlimited!

Gallant Institute  addresses a broad scope of the population as below:

1. Target population: Kids pursuing national curriculum (KNEC) in formal schooling

DESCRIPTION: Pre-Primary, Primary and Secondary School Students 

currently underserved by:

• • inadequate education programs
  • poorly delivered education
  • no books 
  • no school fees (insufficient funds)
  • distance to schools
  • unfairly competing against privilege (privileged kids have access to much more resources  at home and school)

Solution: "It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." Frederick Douglass

• Gallant Institute Library will work with  free online resources such as Khan Academy to deliver Personalized learning
• Khan Academy has Tools to Empower Teachers (Gallant Institute  Assistants). With Khan Academy, teachers can:
  • identify gaps in their students' understanding,
  • tailor instruction,
  • and meet the needs of every student.
• Gallant Institute  will work with  DuoLingo
  • Self-paced 'international' language learning for free

• To assist kids in developing interest and learning electronics, computers, programming, and robotics. Gallant Institute  will work with TinkerCad with Adruino kits;
  •  at Gallant Institute, we understand that big problems require daring thinking, even when the solution is as simple as exposing young African minds to technology, allowing young minds to tinker, think, and explore.

• Tinkercad is a free, easy-to-use app for:
  •  3D design,
  •  electronics,
  •  and coding.
• The gallant institute will have the following:
  • Students practice at their own pace
  • first filling in gaps in their understanding
  • and then accelerating their learning.

2. Target: PERSONS SEEKING FURTHER STUDIES (POST-PRIMARY, POST HIGHSCHOOL)

DESCRIPTION: Young adults and other willing learners

Currently underserved by:

• inadequate education programs
• poorly delivered education
• no books and school fees
• distance to colleges
•  cost  of college fees, upkeep and logistics

Many in the villages are educated, even to university degree level, the majority unemployed and in despair. All seek to tweak their skills and improve their life chances in business (self-employment) or employment opportunities.

SURPRISING DEVELOPMENTS

In April, some young men approached Gallant Institute to help tailor a solution for them because there are gemstones in our village. 

We are working on a several-fold solution for them

1. learning and understanding different gemstones.

We have found relevant courses by the International Gem Society. https://www.gemsociety.org/cou...

2. Value Addition/Faceting

They learn Gem Cutting Styles /shapes at https://www.gemsociety.org/cou...

They will train and learn technical 3D digital drawing (detailing) and part modelling using Fusion 360 at Autodesk  https://www.autodesk.com/learn... and https://www.autodesk.com/learn...

They will learn computer-aided manufacture,  CNC milling/ faceting https://www.autodesk.com/certi...

3. how to design and fabricate their machines (manual and automated)

• Fusion 360 is digital aid for innovative minds. It allows the design of machine parts to precision, including digital action simulation when assembled.
• At https://www.edx.org/ There are many courses to achieve the design and assembly of CNC machines:
  • Robotics Foundations I - Robot Modeling
  • Coding and Programming
• a lot of skills are also available at https://www.arduino.cc/  and on youtube

4. Gem Business & Marketing, study physical and financial security plus the government regulations and requirements for handling and trading gemstones and minerals.

The picture above is a sample of the gemstones brought to us.

The name Gallant Institute is coined from the word Gallant, meaning brave.

We are pragmatic about the humongous and herculean task we are undertaking against the constraints imposed by the resources at hand and the prevailing government policies. 

Our endeavour at forcing change can be, with good reasons, described as "biting more than we can chew" or even worse as "chewing more than we can bite."

I am a resident and a peasant farmer in the community. 

I first encountered the challenge of accessing education while attempting to further my education.

 I also encountered similar distance and cost difficulties as I sought to give my kids a  competitive education in the village. 

Thus I have been making efforts to provide the education solutions direly needed in my village with my meagre savings and the assistance of my extended family and friends.

The online learning opportunities that came to the fore during the Covid pandemic exploded the scope of my humble school project.

While interacting with my fellow villagers, we have established the pressing need for fair access to educational opportunities for everyone despite demographic differences.

With many of our young adult villagers expressing interest in pursuing vocational and professional courses, the idea of the school iterated and transformed into a 'fab lab' kind of institution,  a library of sorts. 

Thus we have been acquiring workshop power tools, albeit slowly, for vocational courses to be possible under online learning guidance.

These transformations of the school idea do not exclude the primary objective: 

To provide a solid educational foundation for our kids.

1. We now have about 20 kids accessing khan academy on a laptop or tablet ( although in shifts due to limited devices) 
   1. six of these young learners are remote (in urban areas, far away from our setting). 
   2. They enjoy our guidance and assignments on the khan academy platform and over the phone.
   3. NB: over the holidays and weekends because the kids are engaged in established formal schooling. 
      1. We are not taking chances with their futures, as our program is still raw and might hit a snag.

1. We also introduce the kids to learning a foreign language on duo lingo.
2. We have an Arduino science lab kit and an Arduino student starter kit. Thus learners can have practical experience with online technical courses from
   1. Arduino, remort learning https://www.arduino.cc/educati... 
   2. Tinker Cad classrooms https://www.tinkercad.com/ 
   3. Autodesk Design Academy https://academy.autodesk.com/

N.B: We have adult learners awaiting set-up and guidance to commence their further studies at EDX on the same few gadgets currently held up by kids.

I must admit that it is overwhelming, as I have to study the same material I am exposing kids to and anticipate their questions lest I mislead them. I was in high school almost 30 years ago. I wasn't the brightest bulb back then.

This question forces me to indulge in retrospection. I have realized that I derive some inexplicable joy when a learner grasps and internalizes an advanced concept. Maybe this whole idea is about my selfish need. 

Gallant Institute applies to Solve for the chance to win the award(s). The finances (or in-kind) gained will  acquire the direly needed equipment listed below:

• computers and software,
• break-proof tablets
• Arduino Kits
• CNC machines
• Assorted teaching aids,
• Internet, routers, and switches
• hire & train professional teachers (library assistants) 
• access to professional certification resources and academic online material

• The National Assembly suspended business to discuss teething problems hindering the smooth implementation of the curriculum, six years after its roll-out, which were exposed by the transition last month of the first CBC cohort to Junior Secondary School (JSS).
• The MPs also want all public primary schools allowed to host JSS to address overcrowding. https://nation.africa/kenya/ne...
• According to the Teachers Service Commission, the country requires 103,000 teachers to address the current shortage and fully implement the Competence-Based Curriculum (CBC) system.https://teachersupdates.co.ke/...

seen above are headlines, as found in our local dailies, depicting the dire and gloomy mess facing an entire generation of kids in Kenya.

This mess, illustrated above, is seriously threatening the futures of a whole generation in the nation currently in the CBC system.

Galant Institute seeks to apply technology to alleviate the challenges before us as a county by leading others in using readily available technology and solutions.

Our solution at Gallant Institute is for fewer teachers/assistants to guide learners studying on existing powerful online platforms. 

Online platforms, such as Khanacademy.org, have very proficient instructors with superb learning content only requiring a tablet and minimal support staff to help learners not to slack off.

We are extending the reach of excellent online learning resources to underserved communities.

We are creating awareness in rural folk of powerful online learning resources for them to pursue without much strain on the costs of upkeep, accommodation, and transport.

We aim at exposing the underserved African child in the villages to different insights.

We allow them to explore science in real time with interactive physical activities, digital applications and programs. we are providing young underserved but deserving learners with enough catalysts to see them work hard through their formal education with enthusiasm.

The young learners get intuitive interaction with science concepts and gain broader perspectives on many more aspects of the world and the importance of education.

"Khan Academy is an essential 'learning' resource. It is easy to use, relatively comprehensive, and free. It also allows for a level of customization that many traditional programs lack. " https://mashable.com/article/k...

"Arduino is about imagining possibilities, empowering creativity, and making ideas come to life." https://edu-content-preview.ar...

"Learning on edX transforms how you think and what you can do, and translates directly into the real world" https://www.edx.org/ 

Gallant Institute strives to:  

• "Provide access to improved civic action learning in a wide range of contexts with educator support for classroom-based approaches, and community-building opportunities for out-of-school..."
• "Help learners acquire key civic skills and knowledge, including how to assess the credibility of information, engage across differences, understand their own agency, and engage with issues of power, privilege, and injustice."
• "Build core social-emotional learning skills, including self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and responsible decision-making."
• "Enable learners to bridge civic knowledge with taking action by understanding real-world problems, building networks, organizing plans for collective action, and exploring prosocial" careers."

-- Quoting verbatim  https://solve.mit.edu/challeng... --

I hope to enable many more kids in my village to experience and participate in online learning platforms.

IMPACT EFFORT MATRIX

(LOW EFFORT - LOW RETURNS) Creating Awareness

• Motivating the community to create awareness and encourage participation in opportunities now available at Gallant Institute

• Invite local schools (primary and secondary) to visit, so their kids experience computers in the library as their class math teacher applies a Khanacademy course challenge on his/her class to understand their limitations in particular skills/topics. (the khan academy platform has a robust assessment and report)

(LOW EFFORT-HIGH RETURNS) Working the Self-Driven Persons at the computer library with a minimum participation of library assistants (trained teachers).

• Enrolling people to pursue online degrees

• Enrolling those pursuing computer skills stacks such as codding and other such skills certifications

• Allowing participation in online peer hubs

• Helping kids (grade 1 to grade 12) to self-study using Khan academy tools and Duolingo

• Enabling Staggered purchasing of computers by members of the community

(HIGH EFFORT- HIGH RETURNS) Employing the Support of Skilled Labor/ Instructors

1. Preschools (K1 to grade 2) teach kids with aid of the best online resources. This preschool may scale up to grade 12. Includes hands-on learning with Adruino and TinkerCad

2. Vocational courses: graphic design, carpentry, tailoring, and welding skills training will be carried out by qualified, trained personnel in workshops, 

3.  computer-aided designing (CAD), computer-aided manufacturing (CAD), and computer numerical control(CNC) courses

4. robotics, electronics, and coding

(HIGH EFFORT-LOW RETURNS)

1. Marketing

We measure our progress towards our impact of goals guided by the Monitoring & Evaluation of Seven Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations https://sdgs.un.org/goals

A. Partnerships for The Goals

1. The number of partners engaged. Amount of money donated or pledged.

2. Value of in-kind assistance earned in monetary value.

3. Conditions and restrictions placed by partners.

4. Implication/ import of restrictions placed (by partners).

• Classification of partnerships into:

1. Capacity, Development, Finance & Financial Inclusion

2. Academic

3. Science

4. Technology

5. Trade

6. Multi-stakeholder partnerships and voluntary commitments

7. Local governments

8. National government

B. GOALS OF SIMILAR DATA

1. Gender Equality

2. Quality Education

3. Decent Work and Economic Growth:

4. Industry, Innovation, And Infrastructure

5. Reduce inequality within and among countries.

6. Sustainable Cities and Communities

Types of Measurements in data collection and analysis:

• DEMOGRAPHICS PARAMETERS

1. Age

2. Sex

3. Grade/ Qualification

4. Previous & current occupation

5. Previous & current residence

• CAPITALIZATION PARAMETERS

1. Online Certification courses registered for

2. Online degrees registered for

3. Number pursuing vocational studies.

4. The number that inquires about vocational courses.

5. Uptake of CNC Courses (computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacture (CAM))

6. The number of kids registered at Preschool.

7. The number of kids visiting Gallant Institute for self-paced learning bridging formal education gaps.

8. Number of kids participating in the Technology/Innovation space with Arduino/TinkerCad

9. tools used in visit, e.g., Khan Academy or Duolingo, etc

10. Certifications successfully attained.

11. Participation in professional online pear hubs

12. Interest and effort in online freelancing opportunities

13. Machines/ computers purchased in the staggered purchasing facility.

14. Number, type, and field of enterprises subsequently set up by beneficiaries

• TIME PARAMETERS

1. Frequency of visits

2. time of visits

3. duration of visits

4. time and frequency of workshop tools use

5. progress observed.

Gallant Institute applies existing web-based interactive solutions of superb quality that are widely accepted in many western nations, including the USA, to boost the engagement of underserved but deserving learners in rural Kenya.

Gallant Institute encourages informal and self-driven learning efforts.

Gallant Institute is an opportunity for underserved learners to learn how to develop solutions that use apps, SMS technology, software, AI, robots, drones, blockchain, virtual reality, digital electronics, and much of this modern-era technology.

Gallant Institute allows rural learners guided access to computers, the internet, and Arduino kits.

We believe success lies in opportunity and grit. 

Gallant Institute seeks to enable inclusion and equitable reach of learning resources for all our willing learners.

This year, we have managed to mobilise and raise form one school fees and uniforms for one of our participants, an orphaned girl. 

We work with respect and the understanding of our diversity in upbringing and opportunity.

FINANCING THE INVESTMENT CAPITAL

1. Personal savings

2. Financial support of immediate and extended family

3. Financial support of Friends and people of goodwill

4. Multinationals support in cash or kind

LONG-TERM REVENUE STREAMS EXPECTED at Gallant Institute.

A. Low-income client

1. School fees

2. Online examination centre Charges

3. Internet access charges

4. Sale of stationery and other items

5. Printing and photocopying charges

B. Free-for-service

1. Subscription of Membership

2. Donations in the form of cash

C. Entrepreneur Support, Organizational Support & Service Subsidization

1. Workshop access charges

1. CNC machine use charges

2. Sale of CNC-produced parts and or furniture

D. Cooperative & Market linkage

the revenue accrued from linking (retailing) the masses with:

1. OnlineCommercial Learning Institutions & Online Certification bodies

2. Community Bulk Purchasing of services with pooled resources

3. Users to Online Employers and Online Work Opportunities

4. an outlet for staggard purchase of computers and related learning devices

Gallant Institute has thus far been active in changing lives:

Gemstones and value addition: We have recently established a new line/ department that may become a significant revenue resource for the community and the Gallant Institute.

Meanwhile:

1. All of our students (3) that sat their primary school certificates have performed exceptionally well in their national exams. (KCPE)
2. This year, we have engaged kids at Stem Olympiad for the experience of math at an international platform https://stemolympiad.org/

 3. The gallant institute has successfully mobilized resources from well-wishers in our social circles in support of the schooling for one of our participating girls (an orphan)

• From personal savings, Gallant Institute has purchased equipment and devices from savings

1. break-proof tablets

2. laptops

3. Arduino Student Kit

4. Arduino Science Kit

5. Assorted carpentry power tools

6. Assorted Welding tools

7. constructed some class structures

8. WiFi router

9. Internet:

   We have internet Wifi at about US$ 34 per month

Gallant Institute has also engaged successfully with the following:

My parents

My parents have given me land towards the development of the Gallant Institute.

Government of Kenya

Kenya's government supports the Gallant Institute and has issued the following supporting documents.

1. Letter of no objection issued by Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA}.

2. Business Name Registration

3. Approval letter from Subcounty Ministry of Education

• Autodesk: https://www.autodesk.com/

I am happy to report that in August of 2019, AutoDesk gave us education licenses for thirty-two (32) assorted software(s) for hundreds of computers (devices) worth thousands of dollars,

• Autodesk Design Academy. https://academy.autodesk.com/

we have access to many invaluable online lessons in Computer-Aided Design (CAD), and computer-aided Manufacture (CAM)/ at Autodesk Design Academy for free

we will provide a platform for the community to take advantage of the self-paced online training materials and professional certification offered by the AutoDesk Education Community.

• Autodesk TinkerCad https://www.tinkercad.com/

we are learning with invaluable online lesson plans designed for young learners at Tinker Cad for free

• Arduino: https://www.arduino.cc/educati...

Gallant Institute has acquired the following:

• Access to Arduino Lesson plans

• Khan Academy https://www.khanacademy.org/

I am a teacher of several kids for free,

• Duolingo: https://www.duolingo.com/

  kids learn languages for free

EDX

I have received highly subsidized certifiable course enrollments in computer science courses from MITx and HarvardX and another in Circuits and Electronics 1 from MITx.

Courses I am pursuing with a lot of gratitude as they will help me guide learners at Gallant Institute in their endeavours

I anticipate students to seek EDX courses starting soon.

Marketing and Awareness

We have started creating awareness of opportunities for youth in the villages.

We are limited only by the number of devices available.