Enlace Quiché Project - Guatemala

There are four technical assistants who run the labs of new machines and work with the teachers. The EQ project has staff with expertise in creating books in html, a database ofSpanish-K'iche'-Ixil words, language games and exercises programmed in Visual Basic, and a CD-ROM of projects that will be done by the students. For instance, the skill of the weavers and embroiderers of the area is outstanding, and each village has different designs. One plan is to make a survey of the styles and techniques for different areas.

EQ is alsoputting on workshops for the teachers, and later in 2001 the Ministry of Education and others are sponsoring the Hemispheric Indigenous Education Fair, July 25-27, 2001. Guatemala City.

They will be developing the following:

• Culturally appropriate Mayan language instructional support materials.This includes the digital formatting of a set of core K'iche' and Ixil Mayan language materials.
• Teacher's professional skills and proficiency in oral and written Mayan languages.LearnLink is purchasing the necessary technology and installing multimedia computer labs in four teacher training schools (escuelas normales) in the region, also producing educational materials for bilingual teacher preparation, including an interactive multimedia system on CD-ROM to train teachers in oral and written K'iche' and Ixil.
• Early childhood activities to enhance learning.After researching and collecting K'iche' and Ixil language materials, LearnLink will produce programmes for radio, which will be provided to local radio stations.
• Institutional capacity in computer applications for teacher training schools and communities.LearnLink will train trainers to use the computer labs. In addition, training will be provided for the Departmental Directorate of Education staff to increase their effectiveness in the use of software, email, and the Internet.
  

Development Issues

Education, technology.

Typically, teachers working in areas with large indigenous populations possess limited local language skills - many speak the local language but do not have reading or writing literacy - and are essentially ill-prepared to teach Mayan children in their own languages. Opportunities for training are also inadequate, particularly in the areas of active learning and intercultural understanding.