Date: 5.12.2003
Ms. Leila Palmer,
Director,
External Cooperation Management Division,
Planning Institute of Jamaica,
10-16, Grenada way,
Kingston 5.

                       Title: Activity Report
                       Institution: Moneague College
                       Name: Shuhei Yamano
                       Job title: System Engineer
                       Assignment Period: From 5.Apr.2002 to 4.Apr.2004

CC: Mrs. Gloria Johnson: Principal
  Mr. Wesley Barrett: Ministry of Education and Culture Chief Education Officer
  Mr. Nobuhiro Kumagai: Resident Representative, JICA/JOCV Jamaica office.



1. About Moneague college
  Moneague College is located 20km south from Ocho Rios in At.Ann. It is surrounded by mountains, it is a rural community. I like this situation.
  The school population (students) is over 900. In the campus, we have dormitories for students, some of students stay in the dormitory, while other students board at the nearby housing scheme.
  This college used to be a teacher's college, then when I talked about Moneague College, some Jamaican say 'Oh, Yu a work at Moneague teachers college'. But now, we have Community and Education courses.
  For this college, I am third Japanese Volunteer.
  Even though we are all System engineers, each activity is a bit different. My predecessors helped to build some computer system, then my main purpose is teaching.


2. Teaching
Activity
  Now, I had 2 semesters since I started to teach at the college.
  In the first semester, I had 12 hours in a week, and 9 hours in a week in the second semester. My classes were Computer M.I.S., Computer Major, Literacy, Pre-university and Primary (2 groups). All of them were year 1. Subjects were Productivity tools (Microsoft Word and Excel) and computer.
  Though I taught almost same things about how to use Microsoft word and some knowledge about computer, motivations of students were quite different depend on the class.
  Computer M.I.S. and Computer Major course student's motivations were high. I was able to feel that they intended to try to understand what they were learning at that time.
  But the Primary course students, most of them just wanted to finish the class early and leave the classroom.
  When I started to teach, I was surprised of the differences between student's skill for using the computer. Many of them can use it very well, but a few students did not even know how to grip the MOUSE.
  Out of the class, I teach not only productivity tools but also C programming because I am asked to teach it by students at library. My teaching seems to be so-so appreciated.
Problem
  This is not only students but also adults in Jamaica, most of people are not punctual. I guess that my predecessors pointed up this.
  Normally, students are late for class about 15 minutes. On Thursday or near the holidays, it is more ridiculous.

My solution
  Some of students have dreams to work in foreign countries as computer programmer. But in USA, Japan or other countries that have advanced computer  techniques, to be punctual is very important.
  Students sometimes submit coursework in retard, and excuse to me very well. But they should know to be late will make their own business worse because such persons can't be trusted.
  I told that story to the students. But it seems to be difficult to understand it for students now.


3. Computer maintenance
Activity
  In the computer lab, there are lab-technicians who manage computer and fix them.
  Then I stay in the library, and when a trouble happened I fix it as soon as possible.

Problem
  Major trouble is happened at floppy drive.
  Floppy diskette system is legacy technology. The drive header must touch the disk directory to read data, so users need to keep diskette clean anytime. But some students don't pay attention to store diskettes. Then some diskettes have dust inside, header will be contaminated and be broken.

My solution
  I replace the broken parts to normal one. Where can I get normal parts is from old computer that is not working.


4.Other activities
  I fixed some electrical appliances.
  • Electric Pot Power cable was corroded and cut. I removed corroded part and reconnected the cable.
  • Iron Power cable was cut inside then I reconnected the cable.
  • CD Player Power switch was broken. I replaced the switch.
  • HUB (for PC) Power supply part was broken, and then replaced it.
  • Refrigerator We have a fridge in our flat that is the college property. 4 months ago it was not operating, and I tried to fix it. But the cooling medium had gone already. Now, my flat-mate and I don't have fridge.


  • 5.Proposal (Accessing to the Internet)
    Present situation
      At Moneague College, the only place students can get access to the Internet is library. But their demand for Internet use is very high, and then library is always busy.
      But now, to get access to the Internet is very slow because we connect the Internet with dial-up, and several computers have to share the only one line.

    Proposal
      Installing ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line), all the computers in the college can access to the Internet because that line is very fast.
      C&W provides this service. We don't need special cables and work to install this service.
     JICA/JOCV office installed ADSL because that is not so rare in Jamaica already.
      Cost of a month is US$93, but after installing this we do not have to call to provider by phone line. Then we can reduce telephone bill.

      In the college, we have a lot of computers. If we install ADSL then a lot of student can use the Internet, Moneague College will be recognized as 'advanced IT college'.


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