Busitema University

The light board, a new tool developed by Dr. Samson Rwahwire, a Senior lecturer in Mechanical and Materials Engineering at Busitema University, is an essential device for E-Learning

Online Education and lifelong learning are the remedy to the rising number of working class people who need to upgrade and the rising number of students being admitted.

In a sample video that went viral on social media, Rwahwire stated, "Over time, I wanted something I can use, especially for learners, whereby I can face them and simultaneously demonstrate how I can be able to solve equations for the courses such as Engineering Mechanics."

Whiteboards and chalkboards aren't the best for E-Learning because they force the instructor to turn away from the students when filming a video of them solving equations, which distances them from the learners. The light board is a recent invention in Uganda and the first of its kind in the Academic system.

In order to allow students to watch recorded lectures at any time and from any location, it will be simpler for instructors to record lectures for Online learners in flipped classrooms.

The ability of the lecturer to make eye contact with the students owing to new technology increases learning.

In his backyard, Rwahwire experimented with various materials using funding from the Faculty of Engineering, creating the first prototype that was promising The light board operates on the principle of Total Internal Reflection; however, the optimal glass type was not available in the Nation.

"I was capable of developing a working light board through trial and error after I moved to Kampala and asked a few glass suppliers for glass with low iron content. I had to improvise and get something that was almost perfect," Rwahwire said. Since Busitema University celebrated its tenth Anniversary in October 2017, it is advantageous that the University was the first to lead the innovation in the development of light boards, which will undoubtedly revolutionize E-Learning sessions.

The invention demonstrates that many innovations will result from government funding of research.

The invention demonstrates that many innovations will emerge from the Nation's Engineering schools if Government funding is provided for research. Furthermore, to his numerous other material Engineering inventions, Rwahwire is an occupied Researcher at Busitema University. His Google Scholar profile indicates that he is interested in Acoustics, polymers, Eerospace, composites, and Nanocomposites.

Rwahwire is active in research at Busitema University and has several other material engineering innovations that can be seen on his Google Scholar profile which shows that his research interests are in the sphere of acoustics, polymers, aerospace, composites and nanocomposites.