News Snap

University students develop technologies
for communities in Chittagong

STUDENTS from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) are partnering with the Asian University for Women (AUW) and NGO, Young Power in Social Action (YPSA), through the iSTEP internship programme organised by TechBridgeWorld.

Launched in the summer of 2009, iSTEP is designed to provide Carnegie Mellon students with opportunities to experience first-hand, information and communication technologies for development (ICTD) research in underserved communities. This summer, the iSTEP 2010 team has ten weeks to research and develop two projects. The first project will create and evaluate culturally relevant educational technology tools to enhance English literacy for AUW's Access Academy students. The second project will develop new features and customise a low-cost Braille Writing Tutor for visually impaired students in Chittagong. Students from AUW have been instrumental to this summer's work by functioning as cultural mediators and facilitating communication between stakeholders in Bangla.

My Mother Taught Me About...

1. My Mother taught me about ANTICIPATION...

"Just wait until your father gets home."

2. My Mother taught me about RECEIVING....

"You are going to get it when we get home!"

3. My Mother taught me to MEET A CHALLENGE...

"What were you thinking? Answer me when I talk to you! Don't talk back to me!"

4. My Mother taught me LOGIC...

"If you fall out off that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me."

5. My Mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE...

"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."

6. My Mother taught me to THINK AHEAD...

"If you don't pass your spelling test, you'll never get a good job."

7. My Mother taught me HUMOR...
"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

8. My Mother taught me how to BECOME AN ADULT...

"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

9. My Mother taught me about GENETICS...

"You're just like your father."

10. My Mother taught me about my ROOTS...

"Do you think you were born in a barn?"

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And last but not least...

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