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AfricaLink Reports
>> AfricaLink Home >> AfricaLink Reports >> Botswana May 1997 Workshop Report Network Partnerships... SACCAR
The report below was written by one of AfricaLink's key programmatic partners for the Southern Africa region. The workshop was intended as a prototype nationally oriented workshop, the first of an expected series to be held throughout the region.
For background on this report, see the Trip Report for Botswana of February 1997. In that earlier report, there is discussion of a strategic partnership with local service providers. This workshop in Botswana actively involves a local Internet service provider representative, Mr. Steve Jump of Info Botswana. From AfricaLink's perspective, the objective of this strategic partnership is the assurance of effective local technical support for USAID partners.
Of equal importance is the strategic partnership represented by the participation of SANGONeT, a Johannesburg-based non-profit organization that supports the networking needs of many non-governmental and public-sector organizations in the region. SANGONeT developed the basic format of this workshop, and will be principally responsible for organizing many of the other workshops to be held under the aegis of AfricaLink in the region.
SACCAR/AfricaLink Southern Africa Program
Gaborone, June 5-6, 1997Report of the National Training Workshop:
Electronic Communication for Research and Development in Botswana
Botswana College of Agricultureby Christopher Lungu Background
SACCAR recognizes that gains in agricultural production by and large depend on availability of timely and relevant information. Data which is eventually processed into information is needed to effectively manage and monitor national agricultural and natural resources research and training activities and also to facilitate participation of the individual countries in research at the regional and global levels. Information sharing is critical for the successful implementation of the national and regional networks.
Since 1996, SACCAR in collaboration with USAID AFRICALINK has invested some its resources in improving communication among its stakeholders. This is being done through the strengthening of project steering committees which are an important management arm for the SACCAR coordinated projects and the establishment of a communication fora among them. Most of the resources were used to procure basic equipment: software, provision of training and payment for initial subscription to internet service providers.
It is generally recognized that some form of training is required to ensure that network members and stakeholders are capable of fully utilizing information technologies being made available to them
National Training Workshop in Botswana
From the 5 th to the 6 th of June, 1997 SACCAR in collaboration with USAID/AFRICALINK organized a national training workshop for 18 scientists drawn the Agricultural and Natural Resources Sector, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and the private sector in Botswana.The objectives of the training workshop were to:
- introduce participants to electronic mail and internet tools available from internet service providers in Botswana;
- train scientists in accessing information from World Wide Web using email and internet tools;
- show participants how to find information on Sorghum and Millet production as it relates to moisture stress; and
- discuss the various options available for scientists to use email and other electronic communication tools available in Botswana
Procedure
Mr. C. T. Nkwanyana, Acting Director of SACCAR welcomed the participants to the course. In his speech he informed the participants that SACCAR has intensified its efforts to train scientists in electronic communication tools such as email and internet.
Thereafter, I presented briefed the participants about the SACCAR/USAID AFRICALINK programme. I informed the group that AFRICALINK programme focuses on improving communication strategies in Africa and its core partners are regional institutions. It therefore functions within the ambit of these organisations and in southern Africa, AFRICALINK works closely with the Regional Center for Southern Africa (RCSA) and SACCAR in the areas of information and communication. Of late AFRICALINK in consultation with SACCAR have established a help desk at SANGONeT in south Africa to assist SACCAR and other institutions in southern Africa in addressing constraints to access of electronic communication. These could be training needs or requests for advice and/or solutions on technical problems.
Mr. Na'eem Jeenah from SANGONeT discussed with participants their experiences of email and internet in order to assess which areas needed greater attention during the training sessions. More than half of the participants indicated that they use only one email account which located at the Department of Research Library. Therefore, much as they would like to use the facility, they are have some limitation in terms of accessibility. In general, most of the participants had used email but had some problems with attaching documents and reading documents that had receive which are coded. At least 5 participants indicated that they had used the World Wide Web(WWW) to search for information either when they were studying towards attaining a degree or looking for specific research information.
After these introductory sessions, Mr. Steve Jump introduced the session on electronic mail mechanisms and practicums including mailing lists. Participants practised by sending mail to each other using Pegasus mail software including the use of mailing lists to send mail to other users using the lists.
In the afternoon, Mr. Jump changed the focus from email to an introduction on accessing information from the World Wide Web(WWW). Participants were introduced to the what a WEB page is and how information is linked together using hyper links. He stressed that copyright laws apply to information acquired from internet just like it applies for published articles cited from books or other publications.
On Friday 6 th June, 1997, I introduced the first session by giving an introduction on how to use search engines to access information from the World Wide Web. Together with the participants went through a case study on how to access information the effect of moisture stress on the production of sorghum and millet primarily in southern Africa, Africa and the world at large.
The last session dealt with a discussion on internet services in available in Botswana. Mr. C. Mwale, the College Computer Specialist indicated that the college provides a full internet service to academic staff but has the potential to allow other users who may be interested in utilising their services. The College facilities, he indicated, were specifically designed for academic staff and as such there are currently no plans to commercialise the service. Clients can approach the College administration to discuss possible areas of paternership.
Mr. Steve Jump from Info Botswana followed with a presentation of the services available at Info Botswana. Starting with a zero client base 6 months ago, he now more than 500 customers who comprise business establishments, government institutions and personal account holders. His service has expanded into Francistown, the second largest town in Botswana.
After these presentations, an evaluation was done an the results are given in the table below.
Evaluation
A total of 18 participants attended the workshop. Only 16 participants filled the questionnaire. This was due to the fact that two participants were not around when the evaluation was being done.
A: After attending this course do you think the objective was achieved?
- Satisfied 16
- Unsatisfied
- Not Sure
B: Did you have sufficient access to the computer?
- Yes 16
- No 0
C: Presentation
Please give us your view on the presentation of the following topics:
1) SACCAR/AFRICALINK Southern African Help Desk
- Excellent 6
- Good 10
- Fair 0
- Unclear 0
2) Participants experience with E-mail and Internet
- Excellent 3
- Good 9
- Fair 4
- Unclear 0
3) E-mail mechanisms and practicums, Mailing lists
- Excellent 7
- Good 6
- Fair 3
- Unclear 0
4) Internet Tools and Resources (Cut & Paste, saving files, acquiring info via E- mail, printing)
- Excellent 2
- Good 8
- Fair 6
- Unclear 0
5) Search Engines, Case study
- Excellent 4
- Good 12
- Fair 0
- Unclear 0
6) Internet services in Botswana
- Excellent 4
- Good 7
- Fair 5
- Unclear 0
D: What did you gain by attending the workshop?
- What E-mail and Internet is: 16
- Hands-on skills of E-mail, Internet: 16
- Contacts on who to contact for E-mail and Internet in Botswana: 16
Other(please specify below):
- that a computer can be used for communication
- searching for information from global sources
- knowledge of the WWW
- how to use e-mail and internet to exchange information
E: Please write down specific benefits (skills) you acquired during the workshop.
- how to search for information on the internet
- how the whole thing is connected to the outside world (USA)
- many basics introduced since for me it was a big opportunity to have attended the workshop
- reduced my ignorance about information technology revolution
- I have overcome my fear of new age information technology revolution
- basic fundamental knowledge on use of internet
- professional 'hands on' use of internet search techniques
- using internet for scientific information search
- sending information to another person by email
- that email can actually be used for beneficial things such as research and information seeking rather than as a medium for sending letters to friends only
- usefulness of email and internet in accessing information
- conducting searches from the internet
- attaching a document when sending e-mail and how to access attachments, creating and maintaining mailing lists
- using URL's to search for information
- cut and paste between applications
- doing more than sending email
- email addresses and folders
F: If there was another workshop, what issues do you think should be addressed?
- advanced aspects of information searches
- arrange individualized exercises
- data search techniques during practical exercises/demonstrations, resource persons should remember to check whether all the participants are at the same level
- how to access journal abstracts
- more details on encoding and decoding
- enough time for practicums
- looking at issues that are specifically related to our fields of operation
- more emphasis on search engines
- attachments, down loading from the internet
List of Participants
- Dr. B. Mosimanyana
Principal Agricultural Research Officer
Department of Agricultural Research
Private Bag 0033
Gaborone
Tel: 328780
Fax: 328965
Email: arb@icon.co.za
- Dr. G. S. Maphanyane
Principal Agricultural Research Officer
Department of Agricultural Research
Private Bag 0033
Gaborone
Tel: 328780
Fax: 328965
Email: arb@icon.co.za
- Mr. E. K. Senyatso
Agricultural Research Officer
Department of Agricultural Research
Private Bag 0033
Gaborone
Tel: 328780
Fax: 328965
Email: arb@icon.co.za
- Mr. G. Tacheba
Agricultural Research Officer
Department of Agricultural Research
Private Bag 0033
Gaborone,br. 328780
Fax: 328965
Email: arb@icon.co.za
- Dr. C.S. Manthe
Senior Agricultural Research Officer II
Department of Agricultural Research
Private Bag 0033
Gaborone
Tel: 328780
Fax: 328965
Email: arb@icon.co.za
- Ms. J. P. Macala
Senior Agricultural Research Officer
Department of Agricultural Research
Private Bag 0033
Gaborone
Tel: 328780
Fax: 328965
Email: arb@icon.co.za
- Dr. K. K. Molapong
Senior Agricultural Research Officer
Department of Agricultural Research
Private Bag 0033
Gaborone Tel: 328780
Fax: 328965
Email: arb@icon.co.za
- Mr. J. Makore
Senior Agricultural Research Officer
Department of Agricultural Research
Private Bag 0033
Gaborone
Tel: 328780
Fax: 328965
Email: arb@icon.co.za
- Ms. T. Ketsilile
Information Science
Departmet of Agricultural Research
Private Bag 0033
Gaborone
Tel: 328780
Fax: 328965
Email: arb@icon.co.za
- Mr. E. K. Madisa
Senior Agricultural Research Officer
Department of Agricultural Research
Private Bag 0033
Gaborone
Tel: 328780
Fax: 328965
Email: arb@icon.co.za
- Boingotlo Sebolai
Lecturer
Botswana College of Agriculture
Private Bag 0027
Gaborone, Botswana
Tel: 328831
Fax: 328753
Email:bsebolai@bca.bw
- Mrs. T. Mpuisang
Lecturer
Botswana College of Agriculture
Private Bag 0027
Gaborone, Botswana
Tel: 328831
Fax: 328753
Email:bsebolai@bca.bw
- Mr. S. Machacha
Lecturer
Botswana College of Agriculture
Private Bag 0027
Gaborone, Botswana
Tel: 328831
Fax: 328753
Email:bmachacha@bca.bw
- Mrs. M. T. Lefenya
Senior Library Officer
Botswana College of Agriculture
Private Bag 0027
Gaborone, Botswana
Tel: 328831
Fax: 328753
Email:bsebolai@bca.bw
- Ms. L. Kefositse
Lecturer
Botswana College of Agriculture
Private Bag 0027
Gaborone, Botswana
Tel: 328831
Fax: 328753
Email:lkefosit@bca.bw
- Mr. K. Tshireletso
Assistant Tutor
Botswana College of Agriculture
Private Bag 0027
Gaborone, Botswana
Tel: 328831
Fax: 328753
Email:ktshirel@bca.bw
- Mr. Titus Makosha
Natural Resources Officer
Forestry Association of Botswana
P .O Box 88
Gaborone
Tel/Fax: 35166
- Mr. M. J. Moelenyane
Assistant Programmes Officer,
Information Sciences
SACCAR, P/Bag 00108
Gaborone
Tel: 328847/8
Fax: 328806
Email:jmoelenyane@saccar.info.bw
Agenda
Thursday 05 June, 199708:00-08:30 - Registration, BCA Computer Room
08:30-09:00 - Official Opening
Dr. L. P. Gakale, Director of Agricultural Research
Mr. C. T. Nkwanyana, Acting Director - SACCAR
09:00-09:20 - SACCAR/AFRICALINK Southern African Help Desk
Chris Lungu
09:20:10-30 - Participants experience with Email and Internet
Na'eem Jeenah, SANGONeT
10:30-10:45 - Refreshments
10:45-12:30 - Email mechanisms and practicums, Mailing lists
Mr. Steve Jump, Info Botswana
12:30-14:00 - Lunch Break
14:00-15:00 - Exercises
15:00-15:15 - Refreshments
15:15-17:00 - Internet Tools and Resources (Cut & Paste, saving files, acquiring info via email, printing)
Mr. Steve Jump,Info BotswanaFriday 06 June, 1997
08:00-10:00 - Search Engines, Case study, Christopher Lungu
10:00-10:15 - Refreshments
10:15-12:30 - Exercises
12:30-14:00 - Lunch Break
14:00-15:15 - Internet services in Botswana. Mr. Steve Jump and BCA
15:15-15:30 - Refreshments
15:30-17:00 - Final Evaluation and Close
Mr. C. Lungu, Mr. C. T. Nkwanyana
Resource Persons
- Steve Jump
- Na'eem Jeenah
- Christopher Lungu
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Last Updated on: January 23, 2003 |
