Distant Learning for Bethlehem Students

The experience of Bethlehem with invasions and 24-hour curfews has taken its toll on the regular attendance of schools by students, especially in 2002 and the early part of 2003.  This resulted in the deterioration of the educational process significantly. For example, the students of the Dar al-Kalima Model School have lost around three months of schooling during 2002 alone. The fact that the children experienced difficulty in getting to and back from school has inspired the International Center of Bethlehem to seek a solution that would make students’ access to their teachers and their studies more regular and less interrupted. Hence, the idea of the Distance Learning project was born.

The ICB and the Dar al-Kalima Model School undertook an innovative and critical project that made it possible for the students of Dar al-Kalima Model School to continue their education unhindered by the curfews. The project entailed setting-up of a communications system to facilitate distance learning so that the students and teachers can be in contact. As such, the physical barriers imposed arbitrarily on the students attempting to reach their classrooms can no longer stop them from getting educated. 

The Distant Learning project was built on the success of an already existing project, namely the Bethlehem-on-Line project. Each student became part of different relevant e-groups through his/her assigned e-mail account. Teachers have the responsibility of guiding the students through the educational material and through the discussion groups emerging from each e-group. Technical support is provided by the ICB to offer solutions for the technical problems that may arise.

The project, which involved installation of servers and modems capable of handling the large number of users, meant that the ICB had to become an internet provider as well in order to offer the students and teachers cheap internet service to enable them to participate in the program, given the deteriorating economic situation of the Bethlehem are residents.

To prepare the teachers for this new method of teaching and to enable them to carry out this project successfully, the Dar all-Kalima Model School, in cooperation with the ICB, undertook an intensive training program for the teachers on the Internet and e-communications.

Further and continuous training of teachers and students on the system continues. This pilot project will be replicated at other schools, starting with other Lutheran schools in Palestine.