Partnering to bring today’s learning to developing countries
CyberSmart Africa partners now include: the United States Agency for International Development, the Senegalese Ministry of Education; The Millennium Villages Project and its urban counterpart The Millennium Cities Initiative, joint initiatives of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, Millennium Promise and the United Nations Development Programme; and The Women’s Health Education and Prevention Strategic Alliance.
CyberSmart Africa reaches the poorest schools on earth with the world’s first adapted interactive whiteboard operating with inexpensive solar power. These schools — considered unreachable with traditional educational technologies—educate the roughly 20 percent of the world’s population living without electricity.
CyberSmart Africa began in 2007 as a single-school personal initiative of Jim Teicher, co-founder of CyberSmart! Education (USA), a company engaged in teacher online professional development in 21st century skills. We currently operate in 6 public middle schools and 3 public elementary schools in Senegal.
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Jim Teicher, Director and Founder, CyberSmart Africa
contact: jim@cybersmart.org / Tel. +1 908 221 1516
An education and information industry veteran, Jim founded CyberSmart Africa in 2007 with the single minded vision for every school to deliver a meaningful and affordable 21st century education—especially focusing on the poor schools others ignore. Jim is cofounder and CEO of CyberSmart Education (USA), a leader in facilitated online professional development and curriculum fostering 21st century skills to increase student engagement and prepare students to achieve in today’s digital society. Jim currently serves on the advisory board of the United States Congressional Internet Caucus, and on the consumer advisory board of McAfee Corporation. He is a speaker and participant at education gatherings including eLearning Africa, and those sponsored by the Software and Information Industry Association, the International Society for Technology in Education, and others.
Sarah Nehrling, Project Manager
contact: sarah@cybersmart.org / Tel. +221 77 724 11 70 / +221 33 827 65 06
Sarah directs CyberSmart Africa’s operations in Senegal. She oversees the development and implementation of all in-country activities and manages the local project team. Sarah has been living in West Africa since 2003 where she is a respected member of the International Development Community. She previously directed the volunteer program, including training, in six African implementation countries for Tostan, the global human rights and education NGO based in Dakar, Senegal. Under her leadership the Tostan volunteer program expanded to 3 new countries, experiencing a 100% increase in length of service of volunteers and a 50% increase in incoming volunteers. Prior, Sarah managed a functional literacy program for cocoa farmers in southeastern Cote d’Ivoire for the International Foundation for Education and Self-Help. A graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Sarah also holds a certificate in in African Studies and Global Cultures and is fluent in French and Wolof.
Aminata Lo Badiane, Senior Consultant, personalized learning and curriculum development
Ami has spent her time and teaching energy in Dakar, Senegal—with the exciting exception of a year-long experience as a Fulbright exchange teacher in Boulder, Colorado. Ami is respected as a ‘master teacher’ by her peers, and focuses on keeping learning authentic and meaningful for students. She received a Masters of the Arts degree in British Literature and American Civilization, and is certified in English Language Training. Ami spent the first 8 years of her teaching career as a middle school English teacher. For the past 10 years, she has been serving at a Franco-Senegalese primary school in Dakar as the coordinator of the English for Young Learners Program. Ami is working with CyberSmart Africa’s middle school partners to integrate the LiveScribe Pulse SmartPen into English, Math, and History/Geography classes in the region of Louga.
Saliou Sall, Senior Consultant, professional development and whole-class learning
Saliou was born in Kaolack, Senegal, and grew up always loving education and working hard to continue his studies. He is a certified primary school teacher, and taught in conservative northeastern Senegal before receiving a Masters Degree in English, and then an English teacher training certificate. Saliou’s phenomenal motivation has powered him to attain the level of education “inspector,” in which capacity he is in charge of both training and guiding new and experienced teachers in their classrooms and beyond. Currently, Saliou is the head of mathematical pedagogy at the primary school teacher training center in Dakar, while working with CyberSmart Africa to train and support primary school teachers in effective whole-class integration of the interactive whiteboard. While integrating technology, Saliou coaches teachers to instruct in ways that encourage a learner-centered classroom where students become active, responsible participants in their own learning.
Roland Dietz, Senior Advisor Business Development
As an international business leader and chief executive, Roland delivers great results and shareholder value through product and business model innovation, international commercialization and business transformation initiatives. At Elsevier, the world’s largest scientific-technical-medical publisher, he led the development of new business models, drove product innovation through in-depth customer engagement, and directed the successful commercial roll out of the ScienceDirect product line around the world. He has personally forged key relationships with governments consortia and key universities and corporations around the world resulting in a dramatic increase in access to, and usage of, key education literature and scientific research. Coupled with his broad prior experience as a founder of a software company and marketer of computer hardware; Roland offers unique expertise in creative strategy development, innovation, technology deployment and execution for information based businesses.
Mala Bawer
Mala Bawer is Co-founder and Executive Director of CyberSmart! Education. She is widely recognized as a leader in the planning, development and distribution of online professional development in 21st century skills. Mala managed the development and growth of the CyberSmart K-12 Student Curriculum—the first-of-its kind standards-based online safety and digital citizenship curriculum—implemented in thousands of schools and used by millions of students globally. Mala’s efforts to advance 21st century learning have received numerous accolades from school associations, school administrations, the media, and most importantly, from teachers who have gained value from using CyberSmart’s curriculum and participating in CyberSmart online professional development. An information industry veteran, Mala was cofounder of the award winning interactive financial information service, Stockalert, Inc., and was part of the senior management teams that launched America’s first consumer online service and North America’s first networked interactive public video kiosk service.