ComputerEd For Human Flourishing

According to the 2023 Human Development Report published by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Nigeria ranked 164 out of 189 countries in the Human Development Index (HDI). Education is a significant component of the Human Development Index (HDI) because it is considered a critical factor in improving people's lives and expanding their opportunities. Nigeria's educational system faces many challenges, including inadequate funding, a shortage of teachers and a dense-theoretical curriculum, often leaving students disengaged. Given that we live in a rapidly growing technological world, how subjects like Computer Science are taught in schools is crucial. Although Computer Science has been formally introduced in the Nigerian k-12 curriculum, its mode of implementation leaves much to desire due to insufficient infrastructure, reality-detached application, inflexible teacher approaches, and failure to provide students with the necessary skills for today's ICT industry.

In addition to these educational challenges, the country also grapples with many other societal issues, ranging from corruption to rising crime rates. The famous Nigerian American author describes it this way: "I know Nigeria, the country of my birth, intimately… where the exchange of large amounts of money makes so many people conscience-deficient." According to UNESCO, Education for justice Initiative, “Education is a key factor in promoting transparency, accountability, and integrity in public life. It helps build a culture of ethics, and equips citizens with the knowledge and skills they need to participate fully in the democratic process. Education also provides people with the tools to recognize, resist, and report corruption, and to demand accountability from those in power." 

Suppose Nigerian k-12 teachers are better equipped to teach Computer Education in a more engaging and motivating way and are guided on how to promote human flourishing through character Education in their lessons. In that case, students will be more gainfully engaged towards solving ethical challenges in the country. Additionally, they will be adequately prepared for the demands of the workforce of the 21st century.

ComputerEd for Flourishing provides curated lesson plans, guides and resources to teachers in Nigerian k-12 schools to facilitate the delivery of Computer Education instruction in a more engaging and motivating way, with or without the required technological infrastructure, and simultaneously promote aspects of Human Flourishing through character and virtue. Each of the resources has the following components:

1. Learning computational thinking through simple activities can be done in the classroom with little or no resources. It considers the limited technological infrastructure experienced by most schools in Nigeria. 
2. Prompts and guiding questions that teachers can use to facilitate critical thinking amongst the students in the lessons.
3. Assessments tailored to cater to the needs of their family, someone in need, or solve a little problem in their local communities. These assessments are intentionally geared towards promoting collaboration with their parents in learning.
4. An opportunity for community among the teachers who use these lesson plans to share feedback on what works, and collaborate in curating more resources or writing new lesson plans.

The prototype can be assessed here.

This solution is proposed to serve Nigerian k-12 teachers and students who are currently underserved in many areas due to the educational system's challenges, such as limited funding, theoretical curriculum, and resources for educator training and support. It will provide teachers with strategies and skills that can be adopted fast in their lesson planning to teach Computer Education in a more engaging and motivating way and promote character education through those lessons. Ultimately, this approach will lead to better student engagement and preparation to meet the demands of the 21st-century workforce.

The solution indirectly serves Nigerian k-12 students, most of whom are disengaged due to the teaching style adopted by most of their teachers, which in most cases is rote learning. By providing teachers with resources and a supportive community, they can be better equipped to engage their students better, prepare them better for the workshop and to contribute towards the development of a more skilled and ethical workforce.

With over five years of experience in the educational sector, holding leadership positions in teacher leadership education and volunteering in under-resourced schools in Nigeria, I have come to understand the needs of Nigerian educators. This proximity to the community has given me insights into the challenges faced by educators and the need for a tailored approach that addresses their specific needs and context. The concept development process of ComputerEd for Flourishing was shaped through various consultations and academic literature reviews. Some of the resources consulted include "Beyond Coding: How Children Learn Human Values through Programming" by Marina Umaschi Bers, "Mathematics for Human Flourishing" by Francis Su, and resources from the Boston College Center for Formative Education - Devetech. Other platforms currently providing local Nigerian Computer Education resources, specifically Gradly and Classnotes, were also reviewed. The insights gained from the consultations were integrated into the concept development.

The design process of ComputerEd for Flourishing was shaped through various consultations, interviews with three experienced Computer Education teachers in Nigeria, and quantitative surveys among 48 self-selected educators in Nigeria. In addition, informal conversations were held with human flourishing experts at the Practical Wisdom Project, Abigail Adams Institute, and the Harvard Human Flourishing Program. The insights gained from these consultations were integrated into the platform's design, addressing the challenges of limited access to resources, promoting ethical and responsible use of technology, and incorporating a project-based approach to Computer Education. The platform was developed with a user-centred approach, allowing educators to share their lesson plans and resources with others, facilitating collaboration among educators. The goal is to continue engaging with the community, taking their feedback, making necessary refinements, and improving various aspects of the platform.

There is an operating platform that users can interact with, including sample lesson plans, activities, and resources. It has gone beyond the concept stage since potential users can now use and test it.

The platform's design is substantially developed and has a user interface that is easy to navigate. Time and effort have been invested in developing the visual design and the usability.

Overall the solution developed so far can be used and is open to being refined based on user feedback.

• Guidance on how to scale the solution effectively, as we want to expand our reach to more schools in Nigeria and other African countries. 
• I want to attract donors who share the vision and are willing to support our cause. I will need help developing effective fundraising strategies and identifying potential partners and supporters to achieve this.
• A fundamental challenge is having a team of professionally formed teachers to curate resources on the platform and engage with the community. A diverse group with different skill sets and perspectives will help build a more robust and impactful solution. Solve's network can help us identify and connect with potential team members who share our values and vision.
• We also need tips on managing a nonprofit in two continents, as our team is based in Nigeria and the United States. We recognize that navigating cultural differences and legal requirements can be challenging, and we would appreciate any guidance on managing our operations across different locations effectively.
• Lastly, several immediate goals require financial support, including redesigning the platform, increasing social media awareness, and conducting professional user research. Solve can help us identify potential partners or sponsors who can help us achieve these goals and accelerate our impact.

ComputerEd for Flourishing approaches the problem of low-quality computer education in Nigerian K-12 schools in a new and significantly improved way by providing curated lesson plans, guides, and resources to teachers that are designed to engage and motivate students in computer education and promote human Flourishing through character and virtue.

This solution is innovative because it considers the limited technological infrastructure experienced by most schools in Nigeria. By providing lesson plans that emphasize learning computational thinking through simple activities that can be done in the classroom with little or no resources, the solution overcomes the challenge of inadequate technological infrastructure, which has been a significant barrier to providing quality computer education in Nigeria.

Additionally, the solution promotes collaboration between students and their parents or caregivers through assessments tailored to cater to the needs of their family, someone in need, or solve a little problem in their local communities. This approach enhances community building and social responsibility amongst the students, a critical aspect of human Flourishing.
The solution has the potential to catalyze broader positive impacts from others in this space by serving as a model for other educational institutions to follow in developing and implementing inclusive computer education approaches that emphasize human Flourishing. The solution's success can encourage other stakeholders in the education sector to invest in and support similar initiatives, ultimately leading to a broader positive impact in Nigeria and beyond.

In terms of changing the market, the solution has the potential to create a demand for high-quality computer education resources that prioritize human Flourishing in Nigeria and other developing countries facing similar challenges. By demonstrating the viability of this approach, ComputerEd for Flourishing could attract investors and entrepreneurs to the market, ultimately leading to improved access to quality computer education resources for students in these regions.

Our impact goals for the next year are to:

1. Reach at least 500 educators in Nigeria and provide them with access to our platform
2.  Increase the number of lesson plans available on our platform to a minimum of 50 lesson plans.
3. Partner with at least two schools working to promote education in Nigeria to amplify our impact.

Our impact goals for the next five years are to:

1. Reach at least 10,000 educators in Nigeria and provide them with access to our platform
2. Increase the number of lesson plans available on our platform to a minimum of 500.
3. Develop a sustainable model for maintaining and expanding our platform, including building a solid team of educators, technologists, and advisors.
4. Partner with at least five schools working to promote education in Nigeria to amplify our impact.

To achieve these impact goals, we will:

1. Conduct targeted marketing and outreach campaigns to reach educators in Nigeria.
2. Continuously refine and improve our platform based on feedback from educators and users, specifically the schools we enter into partnerships with.
3. Collaborate with educators to develop and curate high-quality lesson plans and resources. 
4. Conduct regular training workshops and webinars to support educators in using our platform and integrating their use in the classroom.

To measure progress towards our impact goals, we will use the following indicators:

1. The number of educators reached: We will track the number of educators who sign up for our platform and have access to our resources. This will help us evaluate the reach of our marketing and outreach campaigns.
2. Usage of the platform: We will track the frequency of platform usage and engagement with our resources to understand how educators use our platform and what aspects are most helpful.
3. Feedback from educators: We will collect feedback from educators on the quality and usefulness of our resources, as well as their experience using the platform. This will help us understand what works well and can be improved.
4. The number of lesson plans available: We will track the number of lesson plans available on our platform to ensure we are meeting our target of at least 50 lesson plans in the next year and at least 500 lesson plans in the next five years.
5. Partnerships with schools: We will track the number of schools we partner with to amplify our impact, as well as the impact of these partnerships on increasing the usage of our platform and resources among educators.

The theory of change for ComputerEd for Flourishing is that by providing high-quality, engaging and motivating Computer Education resources to teachers in Nigerian k-12 schools, we can improve the delivery of Computer Education instruction and promote aspects of Human Flourishing through character and virtue among students.

We expect our solution to impact the problem by addressing the limited access to quality Computer Education resources and infrastructure in Nigerian schools, resulting in low student engagement and motivation. By providing teachers with easy-to-use and flexible resources that require little or no technological infrastructure, we can improve the delivery of Computer Education instruction and promote critical thinking skills among students.

By including assessments tailored to solving real-life problems within their local communities, we can promote collaboration and community involvement among students, their families and teachers. This can lead to the development of character and virtue traits such as empathy, leadership, and social responsibility and promote positive change in their communities.

Our theory of change is supported by research and evidence-based practices, such as using computational thinking as a tool for problem-solving and critical thinking, the importance of engaging students in real-life problem-solving activities, and the role of character and virtue education in promoting positive behaviours and social outcomes.

The core technology that powers ComputerEd for Flourishing is a digital platform that provides curated lesson plans, guides and resources to teachers in Nigerian k-12 schools. The platform is built using webflow and is accessible to users via any device with internet connectivity, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers. It utilizes a content management system to organize and present the resources to teachers in an easy-to-use manner. Additionally, the platform incorporates features that allow for user feedback, collaboration, and community building, such as discussion forums and a social media-like interface.

I will employ the following principles to ensure diversity and equity:

1. Ensure that your lesson plans, guides, and resources are inclusive of diverse perspectives, cultures, and backgrounds that exist in the Nigerian society.

2. Foster an inclusive community among the teachers who use your platform. Encourage sharing diverse ideas, experiences, and perspectives through online discussion forums and other collaborative tools.

3. Develop partnerships with schools serving marginalized communities, including low-income and rural areas, to ensure your platform is accessible to all students and teachers.

4. Incorporate feedback from diverse users into the design and development of your platform.

For ComputerEd for Flourishing, the business model is based on providing value to Nigerian k-12 schools, teachers, and students by offering access to high-quality, engaging, and accessible educational resources for computer education that promote human flourishing. The platform is will be offfered to schools on a subscription basis, with different tiers of access based on the number of teachers and students. The revenue generated from these subscriptions will be used to cover the costs of developing and maintaining the platform and provide ongoing support to teachers and schools.

In addition to the subscription model, ComputerEd for Flourishing will also seek partnerships with local businesses and organizations to sponsor access to the platform for schools in need, as well as seeking grants and funding from international organizations and philanthropic foundations that align with the mission and values of the platform.

Grants and Donations: We will seek out philanthropic organizations, corporations, and individuals interested in supporting education in Nigeria and promoting human flourishing. 

Fee-for-Service: We will charge a fee for access to the ComputerEd for Flourishing platform, and offer additional services such as training, consulting, or customized lesson plans for schools that can afford to pay.

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