Inside GLXi: Classroom Technology Can Change the Future in Guatemala
“We talk a lot about technology in the classroom here at GLXi. Why? Because it is essential to opening doors not just for individual students, but entire communities. Every time we provide a laptop or projector or digital book to a classroom, we are creating new and endless opportunities for learning — opportunities that can meet the demands of our constantly changing world, while also providing practical literacy solutions that would otherwise be lacking in the educational environment.”
A student practices reading with the technology that GLXi provided to her classroom.
The Hard Truth: Generations of Guatemalans are Falling Behind
In Guatemala, 60% of entry-level jobs require technological skills.
Yet in many of the rural areas where Global Learning Exchange Initiative (GLXiⓇ) operates, most students and even teachers have never touched a computer.
Think about that for a second, and then you will better understand why our programming makes such an important difference with so many Guatemalan students, families and teachers.
It takes a moment of empathy – walking in these students’ shoes – to fully appreciate the situation we are describing, and GLXi’s impact upon it.
Consider this:
In many of the low-income communities that GLXi serves, students depend solely on what happens in the classroom to learn.
When technology is absent, so is the possibility of accessing the many tools that facilitate learning. The teacher becomes the essential bridge to model learning. However, many teachers in these communities also lack basic resources to integrate technology into their lessons.
This limits students in their development of skills such as independent research, interactive learning, or problem-solving through digital simulations.
They fall behind their peers in more privileged environments, perpetuating social and economic inequalities.
In other words, there is a domino effect.
We strongly believe that the lack of access to technology in public schools is one of the most concerning educational barriers that directly impacts the education of new generations.
But there’s a way to change the outcome, one classroom at a time.
A laptop, a projector, or even a mobile device with internet access is the key to brightening futures for generations to come.
Teacher Eira Izabel Pérez works with her GLXi-provided equipment
GLXi to the Rescue
GLXi provides a projector, a laptop, and a collection of digital books to each teacher who participates in our Open Books, Open Minds program.
With these resources, the teacher can do any of the following, and beyond:
model and demonstrate the use of technology
show students how to search for information
work on guided reading and guided writing
use basic programs, or solve problems with digital tools
The teacher can design more interactive lessons, using interactive videos, presentations with dynamic exercises, and readings or diagrams that facilitate instruction and learning.
Access to technology not only transforms students’ lives but also has a multiplying effect that extends beyond the classroom and into their homes and communities.
By empowering teachers with digital skills, opportunities are created to benefit future generations and contribute to the development of the community as a whole.
Exposure to technology can motivate and inspire children to seek out learning opportunities outside of the classroom. They will better understand the world, and reach for further educational opportunities to meet the demands of the labor market.
By following this approach, we are also better preparing students for a globally interconnected reality. They are developing necessary skills for the future, and having fun while doing so.
Going Green with GLXi
A teacher working on guided reading with her students using GLXi-provided technology
Of course, there are other benefits as well.
Using technology helps the environment, as it reduces the cost for materials in the classroom.
GLXi provides over 400 digital books to each teacher. This not only reduces paper usage in each individual classroom, but also expands access for other classrooms and throughout communities.
We can turn instead to a multisensory experience that combines visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli to facilitate integrated learning.
The use of colors, digital images, sounds, and videos all become a part of the educational experience.
And all of the paper and physical books ( i.e. trees) that are such a staple of the traditional classroom are being saved.
Win - win, right? We are not only able to better capture children’s attention, but we are contributing to environmental conservation.
GLXi Makes Technology Work
Of course, the solution to the technological scarcity in Guatemala doesn’t just lie in providing the right equipment to schools. It also means training teachers to use these resources effectively.
A teacher empowered with technology has the potential to transform learning, even in environments with limited resources.
And that is what GLXi is enabling through its teacher training program and ongoing teacher workshops.
We firmly believe every child has the right to a quality education that allows them to reach their full potential. Technology should not be a privilege, but an accessible tool for all.
If we can equip public schools with technological resources and train teachers to use them appropriately, we will be building a future where all children have the same opportunities to learn, grow, and dream of a better tomorrow for them, their families and communities.
Visit our blog next month to learn how GLXi teachers use technology to maintain ongoing training in an easy and accessible way.
A classroom receiving its GLXi-provided technology
You can help support GLXi by donating here.