Richard Appiah Akoto

Richard Appiah Akoto (also knicknamed Owura Kwadwo Hottish),[1] is a Ghanaian educationist at Betenase M/A Junior High School who received attention for his innovative approach for teaching students Information and Communications Technology (ICT) without a computer.[2][3] A photo he shared of himself on Facebook sketching the features of Microsoft Word on a blackboard to teach students in his class went viral highlighting issues with the Ghanaian educational system.[4][5] Since the event, Akoto's school have been given financial and technology support, particularly from Microsoft, and from others around the world. Akoto has spoken at global conferences on the challenges teachers face teaching ICT in the Ghanaian educational system.[6][1]

Career Life

He is an ICT teacher at Betenase M/A Junior High School in the town of Sekyedomase, which is about two and half hours drive from Kumasi, Ghana. He has been at post in the school for 6 years, and was 33 at the time of the photo.[6][1]

Microsoft intervention

His photo caught the attention of global tech entrepreneur and the CEO of Apps Tech, Rebecca Enonchong who tweeted it to Microsoft after which Microsoft pledged to support his students with computers and enroll him in the Microsoft MCE program.[1][7] At the Microsoft education exchange organised in Singapore, he was given a standing ovation by hundreds of participant gathered.[8][9][6][10]

Donations

Donations of laptops started pouring in from Microsoft, individuals and organizations for his school.[10] An IT laboratory was also built for the school.[8][11]

References
  1. Mark Molloy (1 March 2018). "Microsoft offers to help Ghana man teaching computing on a chalkboard". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  2. Gianluca Mezzofiore (1 March 2018). "New World Order: Ghanaian teacher draws Microsoft Word on a blackboard". CNN News. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  3. Malaka Gharib (March 2018). "Computer Teacher With No Computers Chalks Up Clever Classroom Plan". NPR. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  4. "'I teach computing with no computers'". BBC News. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  5. "Man who teaches computing without using any computers in Ghana becomes online sensation". The Independent. 2018-03-01. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  6. Asiedu, Kwasi Gyamfi. "The story behind a viral photo of a teacher in Ghana showing students Windows on a blackboard". Quartz Africa. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  7. Devin Coldewey (12 June 2018). "Teacher in Ghana who used blackboard to explain computers gets some Microsoft love". Techcrunch. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  8. "Ghanaian 'blackboard ICT teacher' gets standing ovation in Singapore". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  9. "Teacher who used a chalkboard in a computer class with no computers, stars at Microsoft's Education Exchange". Asia News Center. 2018-03-17. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
  10. News Desk (17 March 2018). "Chalkboard computer teacher is international conference star". Jakarta Post. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  11. Commentary, Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu. "Ghana's Windows blackboard teacher and his students have a rewarding outcome". Quartz Africa. Retrieved 2019-06-15.
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