<p>Tyler Cinnamon is a American programmer and entrepreneur. He started TechLit Africa with Nelly Cheboi in 2018 to disrupt poverty with used IT devices.</p>

Founder & COO

<h2>Specialists Graduating</h2><p>ingLast term, our computer programming educator, Evanso, graduated to another role. He was one of our most promising specialists, carefully understanding what students need and always finding new teaching methods. He is now an IT teacher at a public school called Ol-Rongai, which means he has all the benefits of a government job and can work with the same students every day.</p><h2>In Need of An Educator</h2><p>So this week, I decided to take over Evanso’s role as TechLit’s computer programming educator while we choose and train someone to fill his shoes. My week of teaching began at Dreams Hills, a private school 30 minutes from Mogotio. Dreams Hills is a challenging school to start with because they are much busier than many of TechLit’s member schools.</p><h2>A Passion for Coding</h2><p>I have been programming computers for most of my life, and have worked professionally at many companies. In all of that time, I have only become more passionate about code and crafting software. My passion for the creative potential of technology and the leverage it gives people is why I’m building TechLit.</p><h2>Learning The Basics</h2><p>This week I’ve shared my passion with hundreds of students at Dreams Hills, and I think it caught on. Students from class 3, 4, 5 and 6 started their journey with programming this week with me. I explained the potential of computer programming, and how they can learn the basics with Scratch, a block-based programming app built for kids.</p><h2>Unlimited Potential</h2><p>Soon these students will all be creating projects of their own. This week they only had 20 minutes each to practice combining blocks of code, and so they only made a basic animation. But in the next few weeks, they will have enough time to make games and see their visions come to life.</p>

Filling In As Coding Specialist, Teaching Scratch In Primary Schools | Students Learn To Code With Motivated Teacher

<p>This week, I filled in as our coding specialist. Teaching at Dreams Hills primary school, I was reminded of how much I enjoy computer programming. All the students I worked with will soon be able to code on their own.</p>

Teaching Coding in Dreams Hills Primary

<p>Nelly Cheboi is a celebrated social entrepreneur, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/nelly-cheboi/?sh=179de9a85764" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Forbes 30 under 30</a> honoree, and<a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2022/07/14/world/education-technology-recycling-kenya-poverty-cnnheroes/index.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> CNN Hero</a>. After growing up in rural Kenya and lifting her family out of poverty, she focused on her community.</p>

CEO | CNN Hero | Forbes Under 30

<p>Every Thursday, we all gather around on Zoom to share stories from the classroom. Every educator writes a story to share from their week about student achievement.</p>

Classroom Stories | TechLit Africa

Stories From The Classroom

<p>Kenya's new Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) teaches <em>three mindsets</em>:</p><ol><li>Self-Learning</li><li>Self-Efficacy</li><li>Digital Literacy</li></ol><h2>Why Are The Three Mindsets Important?</h2><p>These mindsets are fundamental for students to thrive in a changing, digital world. The early years of one's life shape the way we see and interact with the world. Changing one's mindset becomes very difficult after a certain age. That is why it is so important for students to adopt the necessary mindsets early in their education.</p><p>Self-learning, or learning to learn, gives students the curiosity needed to adapt in a changing world. Self-efficacy gives students a drive to overcome the challenges they face, not only for today's challenges, but for whatever challenges develop in the future. Digital literacy gives them the tools to achieve anything. They can learn new skills through online videos, find detailed technical information through an online encyclopedia, or seek out the advice of experts in a challenging field.</p><h2>1. Self-Learning</h2><blockquote>We are curious and seek to learn everyday.</blockquote><p>The previous system of education in Kenya focused on memorizing a fixed set of information. The outcome was that students were taught that success followed cramming. But in real life, cramming isn't very useful. Adapting to challenges, improving techniques and learning the basics of a new field are the keys to success.</p><p>The new CBC system will create students who are able to learn new skills after graduation. Students will be able to adapt to new challenges, improve themselves and pick up the skills of whatever new opportunity becomes available.</p><h2>2. Self-Efficacy</h2><blockquote>We have the confidence to do difficult things.</blockquote><p>In the past, students were given a handful of fateful exams. Either you passed, or you failed. And the results would largely determine your success in life. The outcome was that students were taught that failure was final, and trying anything was an existential risk. In real life, failure is a normal first step, and trying something new is safe and healthy.</p><p>That's why competency based curriculum teaches a mindset of self-efficacy. Self-efficacy means having the confidence to do difficult things, and to affect change in your environment. Students will believe they can achieve even the most difficult tasks, because that it the real truth. Given the right mindset and enough time, students can create a better future.</p><h2>3. Digital Literacy</h2><blockquote>We use digital devices to create and access information.</blockquote><p>Computers and the internet have changed how the world learns, does business and governs. Every part of our lives is affected by technology, for better or worse. The previous education system did not prepare students for digital life, and as a consequence many graduates do not take advantage of digital tools.</p><p>Under CBC, students will learn digital literacy starting in their lower primary years. They will be able to leverage 21st century tools in whatever career they pursue.</p><h2>Why TechLit Africa Teaches The Three Mindsets</h2><p>TechLit Africa's mission is to teach digital skills to unlock global opportunities for students in rural Africa. In rural Kenya, there are more opportunities available online than there are anywhere locally. The three mindsets of CBC are fundamental for students to take advantage of the very opportunities that TechLit was started to unlock.</p><ol><li>Self-learning is necessary for anyone to work a tech job, and will be required for anyone in a field disrupted by technology. Students that can teach themselves new skills and refine the skills they already have will thrive in the digital world.</li><li>Self-efficacy is one of the three pillars of our curriculum. We believe that it is more necessary when working online and with computers, because the culture of the internet has more variety and is more malleable than culture in real life, and because computers themselves can be shaped to fit our needs. Self-efficacy enables students to confidently control their world.</li><li>Digital literacy is the very idea that TechLit is founded on. Technologically Literate Africa was founded to disrupt poverty in rural Africa with the unbelievable leverage that you gain from technology. Students who know how to type, search and code will be the true masters of the future.</li></ol>

Three Mindsets of CBC | Kenya's Competency Based Curriculum | Self-Learning - Learning to Learn | Self-Efficacy - Belief in Achievement | Digital Literacy - Unlocking Global Opportunity

<p>Kenya's new Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) teaches <em>three mindsets</em>: <strong style="color: var(--tw-prose-bold);">Self-Learning, Self-Efficacy and Digital Literacy</strong>. These mindsets were fundamental for students to thrive in a changing, digital world.</p>

CBC #3 - What Are The Three Mindsets? | TechLit Africa

<p>Kenya began reforming it's national education system in 2017, away from structured exams and toward individual development. The new system, called Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) is meant to prepare students to thrive in a changing world.</p>

What Is CBC? | Competence - Character - Creativity | The Four C's: Communication, Critical Thinking, Citizenship, Creativity | The Three Mindsets: Self-Learning, Self-Efficacy, Digital Literacy | CBC With TechLit Africa

CBC | Kenya's Competency Based Curriculum

The Basics of CBC in Kenya

CBC #2 - The Three Mindsets of CBC

Tyler Cinnamon

<p>I founded TechLit with Nelly in 2018. We were living and working together&nbsp;in a small apartment in Chicago. Nelly had the idea to teach technology&nbsp;in Kenya by building schools, and I said: "the schools already exist,&nbsp;we just need the computers classes." Since then, I have worn many hats,&nbsp;from connecting hardware and software to lifting boxes and teaching classes.</p><p>Before TechLit I was a self-taught software engineer. I was immersed in&nbsp;programming from a young age, first hacking on TI calculators and visual&nbsp;languages, and eventually building websites and flash games.</p><p>Now I’m bringing my love of software and ambitious optimism to TechLit,&nbsp;because I believe everyone in the world should be able to use recent technology.&nbsp;I think we can use technology this way to make humankind as a whole more equitable and efficient.</p>

American Programmer and Social Entrepreneur | How Tyler Started TechLit | Electronic Reuse to Disrupt Poverty in Rural Africa

Tyler Cinnamon
Founder & COO

Recent Posts from Tyler Cinnamon

Teaching Coding in Dreams Hills Primary

CBC #2 - The Three Mindsets of CBC

Tyler Cinnamon Founder & COO

Recent Posts from Tyler Cinnamon

Teaching Coding in Dreams Hills Primary

CBC #2 - The Three Mindsets of CBC

Tyler Cinnamon
Founder & COO