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Thanks to Haco industry in Kenya . I have been using their Bic pens and Kasuku note books since my 5th birthday.

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Self quizes of course ensure that we master the content of the lectures.

The notes are online though i write them down on note books with pen. There is nothing you can understand better that what you write down.

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Rating or marking your classmates work ensures that you read their work and you foster understanding of the topic as you get to see what other students are thinking about the subject matter

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It is the policy of our school that we should rate and reply to at least three of our students' work in the discussion forums.

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After reaching its long-term goal of gaining accreditation in 2014, the University of the People (UoPeople), the world's first tuition-free, non-profit, accredited online university, is setting its sights on Africa. By Annika Burgess
Six years ago, entrepreneur Shai Reshef came out of semi-retirement with the aim to reinvent the model for higher education. He had been in education for over 20 years, and witnessed how "powerful online learning can be" when he helped launch the first online university outside the United States in the early 2000s. But, he admits, "I felt uncomfortable because what I realised for most people is that it was still just too expensive."

Realising that "everything that is needed to make university accessible for all is available and for free," he began offering university degrees in Business Administration and Computer Science on a tuition-free basis through UoPeople. To date he has enabled 2,000 students from over 150 countries to receive university level education.

"UNESCO has stated that by 2025, 100 million students will be deprived of higher education simply because there will not be enough seats to accommodate them. Online learning has classes and seats for everyone," says Reshef, who will be a keynote speaker at the eLearning Africa Conference in May.

"I managed to get open source technology, educational sources and materials already to the instructors. All I had to do was put it all together so that's what I did, I created University of the People."

Finding partners and volunteers (such as New York University and Yale) Reshef says was the easy part. "When I announced the university, the next day there was an article about it. Following this article, over a couple of days, I had thousands of professors writing saying 'we love the idea.' So with that tremendous positive reception to the idea, there were a remarkable number of people who wanted to volunteer and help."

It was gaining accreditation that proved to be the most "long, challenging and expensive process," but now that he has the Distance Education Accrediting Commission's (DEAC) stamp of approval, Reshef, who acts as the university's president, says in 2015 they will be developing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Health Science Degree - sticking to its focus on offering degrees that are likely to help students get a job - and will also be working on raising awareness.

"After our accreditation we are now planning to not only continue our growth but to accelerate it. The second thing that we plan on doing in 2015 is to put Africa at the top of our goals. We believe that this continent needs us more than any continent."

What sets the university apart from other online education, such as MOOCs (massive open online courses), is its retention rates. The UoPeople has a 95% retention rate, without using video or complicated technology; its focus is on small classes, peer interaction and personal attention. Students are required to take part in weekly discussions, complete assignments and provide peer assessments. This has been a successful method not only for engagement but to give students a global experience - as classes are made up of students from all over the world, UoPeople aims to teach students about how other cultures think and work and thus prepare them for the job market.

"Peer-to-peer learning is very important but I also think that it's very important to realise that with MOOCs you may sit in one class with potentially thousands of students, in our classes there are only 20 to 30 students. This is a big difference because it enables us to give personal education to those who need it," Reshef says.

"Also, for many of the students, there is no other alternative. The fact that we offer tuition-free education enables a lot of students to study with us who may not have been able to otherwise. Those students realise it's their once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and they grab and they want to succeed. They go to the extra effort to succeed."

Although the university is tuition-free students are required to pay exam processing fees of $100, but for those who cannot afford it there is financial aid available.

Reshef hopes his methods will catch on and others will be able to help him change the status of education from being a privilege for a few into a basic right, affordable and accessible to all.

His advice to others: "You need the knowledge and to find the right pedagogy and people. More than anything else we built the model, the model that others can replicate and we can help others to do so. As long as you make sure that you don't ever sacrifice the quality, and as long as you are willing to go a long way to ensure you do the right thing, you can do it."
You can hear more from Founder and President of the University of the People Shai Reshef at the eLearning Africa Conference on May 20 - 22, 2015, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

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Re-inventing higher education: online, tuition-free and accredited

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After reaching its long-term goal of gaining accreditation in 2014, the University of the People (UoPeople), the world's first tuition-free, non-profit, accredited online university, is setting its sights on Africa. By Annika Burgess Six years ago, entrepreneur Shai Reshef came out of semi-retirement with the aim to reinvent the model for higher education.

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Participating in the discussion forums enables   us students to teach each other. It is a teach me i teach you thing. My idea is that ''we learn so much by teaching than by being  taught.''
We are also expected to rate fellow students' work.

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The university give us notes, discussion forum assignments, written assignments, self quizes to digest our learning.
Giving us full control of the learning is good in that it makes us erudite of the subject matter. It ignites prowess in online learning

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National school candidates among 5,101 KSCE exam cheats

Friday March 4 2016

In Summary

The highest cheating rate, 70 per cent, was in the 2015 exam.

A number of schools had their entire results cancelled.

Despite the cheating, Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i maintained that the results are credible, and ruled out a pre-university entry exam in September.

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By OUMA WANZALA
More by this Author

A total of 64 candidates from 14 national schools were among 5,101 whose 2015 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exam results were cancelled over malpractices.

A total of 2,538 candidates who cheated were from 150 sub-county schools, 1,817 from 56 county schools, 512 from 56 private schools, and 170 from 29 private exam centres.

The highest cheating rate, 70 per cent, was in the 2015 exam.

A number of schools had their entire results cancelled.

They include Nkumari Secondary School in Meru County - 25 candidates, Propoi Secondary School - 67 candidates, and Parua Mixed Secondary School 32 candidates. Propoi and Parua are in West Pokot County.

Others are Eisero Secondary School in Nandi County - 50 candidates, Kitengela Boys School in Kajiado County - 76 candidates, St Paul Omonayo Secondary School in Nyamira County - 66 candidates, Seka Mixed Secondary School - 25 candidates, and Waondo Secondary School - 77 candidates.

Seka and Waondo are in Homa Bay County.

Despite the cheating, Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i maintained that the results are credible, and ruled out a pre-university entry exam in September.

The CS said the sharing of information on cheating by his ministry was a clear indication that it had nothing to hide, and was determined to end the practice.

In 2014, 2,975 candidates had their results cancelled for cheating, while 3,812 were affected in 2013.

Dr Matiang'i said exam irregularities were reported by chief examiners, supervisors, invigilators, county and sub-county education officials, Kenya National Examinations Council monitoring officers, candidates, head teachers and the public.

"All reported cases have been exhaustively investigated using procedures that have been put in place to ensure that standards are maintained from year to year," said Dr Matiang'i.

The cancelled results represent 0.98 per cent of the total 522,870 candidates.

"All counties, with the exception of Isiolo, had candidates involved in exam cheating," said the minister.

The CS said the three counties with the highest number of exam centres involved are Makueni (22), Nairobi (20) and Meru (18).

Makueni, Bomet and Kisii counties had the highest number of candidates involved in cheating.

"Results for all the candidates who were involved have been cancelled," said Dr Matiang'i.

He said 171 individuals were arrested and charged in courts for committing various offences during the 2015 KCSE exam.

Related Stories

Fri Mar 04 01:59:00 EAT 2016

Matiang'i insists State will not pay examination fees for children in the private institutions.

Investigators say they might also question former principal secretaries.

House team directs EACC, DCI to ascertain if due diligence was followed.

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National school candidates among 5,101 KSCE exam cheats

Friday March 4 2016

In Summary

The highest cheating rate, 70 per cent, was in the 2015 exam.

A number of schools had their entire results cancelled.

Despite the cheating, Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i maintained that the results are credible, and ruled out a pre-university entry exam in September.

Advertisement

By OUMA WANZALA
More by this Author

A total of 64 candidates from 14 national schools were among 5,101 whose 2015 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exam results were cancelled over malpractices.

A total of 2,538 candidates who cheated were from 150 sub-county schools, 1,817 from 56 county schools, 512 from 56 private schools, and 170 from 29 private exam centres.

The highest cheating rate, 70 per cent, was in the 2015 exam.

A number of schools had their entire results cancelled.

They include Nkumari Secondary School in Meru County - 25 candidates, Propoi Secondary School - 67 candidates, and Parua Mixed Secondary School 32 candidates. Propoi and Parua are in West Pokot County.

Others are Eisero Secondary School in Nandi County - 50 candidates, Kitengela Boys School in Kajiado County - 76 candidates, St Paul Omonayo Secondary School in Nyamira County - 66 candidates, Seka Mixed Secondary School - 25 candidates, and Waondo Secondary School - 77 candidates.

Seka and Waondo are in Homa Bay County.

Despite the cheating, Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i maintained that the results are credible, and ruled out a pre-university entry exam in September.

The CS said the sharing of information on cheating by his ministry was a clear indication that it had nothing to hide, and was determined to end the practice.

In 2014, 2,975 candidates had their results cancelled for cheating, while 3,812 were affected in 2013.

Dr Matiang'i said exam irregularities were reported by chief examiners, supervisors, invigilators, county and sub-county education officials, Kenya National Examinations Council monitoring officers, candidates, head teachers and the public.

"All reported cases have been exhaustively investigated using procedures that have been put in place to ensure that standards are maintained from year to year," said Dr Matiang'i.

The cancelled results represent 0.98 per cent of the total 522,870 candidates.

"All counties, with the exception of Isiolo, had candidates involved in exam cheating," said the minister.

The CS said the three counties with the highest number of exam centres involved are Makueni (22), Nairobi (20) and Meru (18).

Makueni, Bomet and Kisii counties had the highest number of candidates involved in cheating.

"Results for all the candidates who were involved have been cancelled," said Dr Matiang'i.

He said 171 individuals were arrested and charged in courts for committing various offences during the 2015 KCSE exam.

Related Stories

Fri Mar 04 01:59:00 EAT 2016

Matiang'i insists State will not pay examination fees for children in the private institutions.

Investigators say they might also question former principal secretaries.

House team directs EACC, DCI to ascertain if due diligence was followed.

In Summary

The highest cheating rate, 70 per cent, was in the 2015 exam.

A number of schools had their entire results cancelled.

Despite the cheating, Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i maintained that the results are credible, and ruled out a pre-university entry exam in September.

Advertisement

By OUMA WANZALA
More by this Author

A total of 64 candidates from 14 national schools were among 5,101 whose 2015 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education exam results were cancelled over malpractices.

A total of 2,538 candidates who cheated were from 150 sub-county schools, 1,817 from 56 county schools, 512 from 56 private schools, and 170 from 29 private exam centres.

The highest cheating rate, 70 per cent, was in the 2015 exam.

A number of schools had their entire results cancelled.

They include Nkumari Secondary School in Meru County - 25 candidates, Propoi Secondary School - 67 candidates, and Parua Mixed Secondary School 32 candidates. Propoi and Parua are in West Pokot County.

Others are Eisero Secondary School in Nandi County - 50 candidates, Kitengela Boys School in Kajiado County - 76 candidates, St Paul Omonayo Secondary School in Nyamira County - 66 candidates, Seka Mixed Secondary School - 25 candidates, and Waondo Secondary School - 77 candidates.

Seka and Waondo are in Homa Bay County.

Despite the cheating, Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i maintained that the results are credible, and ruled out a pre-university entry exam in September.

The CS said the sharing of information on cheating by his ministry was a clear indication that it had nothing to hide, and was determined to end the practice.

In 2014, 2,975 candidates had their results cancelled for cheating, while 3,812 were affected in 2013.

Dr Matiang'i said exam irregularities were reported by chief examiners, supervisors, invigilators, county and sub-county education officials, Kenya National Examinations Council monitoring officers, candidates, head teachers and the public.

"All reported cases have been exhaustively investigated using procedures that have been put in place to ensure that standards are maintained from year to year," said Dr Matiang'i.

The cancelled results represent 0.98 per cent of the total 522,870 candidates.

"All counties, with the exception of Isiolo, had candidates involved in exam cheating," said the minister.

The CS said the three counties with the highest number of exam centres involved are Makueni (22), Nairobi (20) and Meru (18).

Makueni, Bomet and Kisii counties had the highest number of candidates involved in cheating.

"Results for all the candidates who were involved have been cancelled," said Dr Matiang'i.

He said 171 individuals were arrested and charged in courts for committing various offences during the 2015 KCSE exam.

Related Stories

Fri Mar 04 01:59:00 EAT 2016

Matiang'i insists State will not pay examination fees for children in the private institutions.

Investigators say they might also question former principal secretaries.

House team directs EACC, DCI to ascertain if due diligence was followed.

Investigators say they might also question former principal secretaries.

House team directs EACC, DCI to ascertain if due diligence was followed.

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Friday March 4 2016 In Summary The highest cheating rate, 70 per cent, was in the 2015 exam. A number of schools had their entire results cancelled. Despite the cheating, Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i maintained that the results are credible, and ruled out a pre-university entry exam in September.

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University of the People Learning environment.

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University of the People Learning environment.

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The university's method is simple; give, us, the students learning materials and let us read on our own. I like quoting Benjamin Franklin's words, ''Tell me i forget, teach me and i may remember, involve me and i learn.''

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Examination cheating is highly condemned and is usually accompanied with severe punishment including but not limited to exam cancellation.

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Although teaching comes from teachers, Kenyan students are supposed to work hard and take responsibility of their learning. They are also expected to be motivated, manage their time well, set goals, develop independent learning skills and generally be able to tackle problems in life on their own

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The story is here. There is a law that prohibits mobile phones in schools and its the same law that upholds good values of our students. And should be maintained.

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- Wilson Sossion claims students using mobile phones in schools will help revolutionize ICT learning - Sossion has asked TSC to stop victimising head teachers over the rise of unrest in schools
The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary General Wilson Sossion, has asked Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matian'gi to issue a circular lifting the ban on the use of mobile phones in secondary schools.

Sossion said the use of mobile phones among students in secondary schools will only aid learning and help revolutionize ICT learning in the country.
READ ALSO: KCSE preparation for 8 students in Kisii interrupted as they face arson charges
He asked the government to allow students to use phones in schools saying IT innovations are done by youth urging the government to encourage that.

The secretary general was also quick to defend the students saying Kenyans are misled to believe that phones aid in exam cheating.

Instead, he pointed blame to the Kenya National Examination Council(KNEC) saying most of the cheating is aided by officials from the council.

Regarding the unrest witnesses in several secondary schools in the country, Sossion said the new term dates set by Matiang'i should be revised to restore calm among students.
READ ALSO: School closed as students protest extension of second term
He also condemned the move by Teachers Service Commission to get rid of headteachers in some of the affected schools saying the heads are not to blame for the unrest.

Source: Tuko.co.ke

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Sossion explains why students should have mobile phones in school

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Wilson Sossion claims students using mobile phones in schools will help revolutionize ICT learning - Sossion has asked TSC to stop victimising head teachers over the rise of unrest in schools The Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) Secretary General Wilson Sossion, has asked Education Cabinet Secretary Fred Matian'gi to issue a circular lifting the ban on the use of mobile phones in secondary schools.

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It is my views that recent proposal made by the KNUT leader,  Wilson Sossion, about possession of mobile phones in high schools be banned as it will only promote immorality.

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Role of students in learning at Kenyan schools.

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Role of students in learning at Kenyan schools.

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Students first and foremost are required to maintain good , ethical and good code of conduct. This is so much emphasized, and i like it, in our learning institutions. Education is supposed to be formal and indiscipline should not be tolerated.

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It is also the duty of teachers in Kenya to monitor students, academic performance, discipline, attitude and the attention a student pays in classroom as it's fundamental in good academic growth.

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It also the teacher's duty to interact with students, identify and solve issues with students who require personal attention.

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Most of the learning here take place in traditional brick and mortal schools. Most of the learning comes from teaching by teachers. The teacher is required to deliver knowledge in classroom by explaining facts with chalk on blackboard for Mathematics and Science subjects and dictate notes for humanity courses. He/she is also expected to give and mark homeworks and speed test students during mathematics lessons.

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The teacher therefore plays a vital role in the learning process.
Without the teacher, learning lacks some taste. Imagine reading a book and assessing yourself in the end of topic questions? You lack comments about your work, praises, feedback on how to improve your work that can only come from a teacher's profession.

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An example of how the teacher acts as a guide in online learning and the student do rest of the reading is the University of the People method; the teacher gives notes, initiate online discussion, assign discussion questions and give self quizes for mastery of the topic.

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The World's First Tuition-Free Online University - How does it work?

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University of the People is the world's first non-profit, tuition-free online university offering online academic degrees in Business Administration, Computer Science, Health Science and an MBA program. To visit our progams page click: http://www.uopeople.edu/programs/ UoPeople offers tuition-free online learning with students from over 180 countries!

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In most cases the teacher, in online learning, acts as instructor or a guide.  Students do most of the work. The teacher gives notes - students are expected to learn; do simulations if applicable, self quizes to digest the content, assignments, online discussions. Online teachers can also give and mark timed exams and proctor the process through live camera.

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In non science subjects like humanities, and mainly   in real world classrooms, the teacher usually dictate notes to students and further give them assignments plus initiate group  discussions and give them multiple revision questions for masterly.

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''The teacher is the fountain of knowledge.''

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''The teacher is the fountain of knowledge.''

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The statement is true in that they play a great role in delivering knowledge. In brick and mortal schools; the teacher impacts knowledge by writing on the chalkboard: he can ask the students to pre_read a topic in science and make notes after which he can cement the knowledge learnt by  explaining further on the chalkboard, asking questions, speed tests esp. in Maths, discussion assignments, exams, homework etc.