Preparing our Learners for Challenges of the 21st Century

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Preparing our Learners for Challenges of the 21st
Century
e-EDUCATION

• SMS Conference, Bloemfontein
• 12 August 2005
• Bertha Kitching

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Index

• Terminology
• Learners in the 21st Century
• The South African Context
• FSDoE Strategies
• FSDoE Targets
• Current Status
• Free State Growth Development Plan
• Challenges

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Terminology

• IT is Information Technology
• - computer hardware and software
• ICT is Information Communications Technology
• - C means connectivity, ie computers
  communicating via LAN and WANs

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Terminology

• E-Education is using ICTs as a tool for
• management and administration
• curriculum delivery
• communication
• creating an enhanced learning environment

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Terminology

• e-learning is using ICT resources to
• - enhance learning teaching
• - solve learning teaching problems
• - bring about collaborative learning
• - use the virtual environment for learning
  teaching
• - do web based learning teaching

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Terminology

• e-Learning is
• - more than the skills to operate various types
  of information and communication technologies
• - the ability to apply ICT skills to access,
  analyse, evaluate, integrate, present and
  communicate information, acquire higher order
  skills
• - to create knowledge and be able to function in
  a knowledge society essence of the 21st century

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Learners in the 21st Century

• Information society requirements
• Life long learning needs and capacity
• Learning systems accessible, flexible, provide
  access to transformational technologies ICT,
  cater for special needs, diverse, equitable,
  governance based on concept of the learning
  community community participation in decision
  making processes

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Learners in the 21st Century

• Apply knowledge, skills attitude to benefit
  society
• ICTs can play a critical role in learners and
  learning systems of the 21st Century

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South African Context

• President Thabo Mbeki highlighted the importance
  of ICTs for social and economic development / job
  creation
• We must continue to fight for liberation
  against poverty, against under-development,
  against marginalization and information and
  communication technology is a critical
  important tool in that struggle (Imbizo for
  Youth, 2001)

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South African Context

• White Paper on e-Education provides the framework
  for transforming learning and teaching through
  the use of ICTs (Aug 2004)
• Every South African learner in the general and
  further education and training bands will be ICT
  capable by 2013

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South African Context

• .. Use ICTs confidently and creatively to help
  develop the skills and knowledge they need to
  achieve personal goals and to be full
  participants in the global community by 2013

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FSDoE Strategies

• Commitment to e-Education by the MEC of Education
  (Budget Speeches 2 Jun 2004 14 April 2005)
• Re-deploy Managers (June 2004) to improve
  effectiveness
• Pilot the implementation of e-Education in 10
  project schools
• Budget allocations to maximize access to ICT
  environments
• Extending partnerships for e-Education
• Established E-Education and ICT Advisory Theme
  Team (July 2004)
• Established the e-Education Directorate (June
  2004) focussed on providing integrated support to
  curriculum delivery.

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FSDoE Strategies
Utilizing relevant partnerships
Having the right people at schools and offices
Undertaking research and development
Ensuring community engagement
Support classroom implementation
Use web based learning and teaching materials
Deliver training programs (CPD)
Increasing connectivity
Roll out of computers
ICT Have nots
ICT Haves
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FSDoE Targets 2010

• 1 400 schools have access to Education Resource
  Centres, functioning libraries, computers, the
  internet and e-mail
• 5 000 educators have a relevant qualification in
  ICT/e-learning / information skills and use ICT
  to
• solve learning and teaching problems
• increase learner performance
• improve the management and administration of the
  school and the classroom
• assist learners with special needs

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Joystick Rollerball mouse
? Joystick Roller ball? For learners with limited
movement abilities
A hand-gripped pointing device with numerous
functions variety of handles robust
construction USB compatible plug-and-play
device one double-click one drag switch speed
control easily secured to bench
Important features large robust brightly
coloured ball switches USB compatible plug
play device one double-click one drag
switch speed control removable guard easily
secured to bench
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Bindi mouse
Hands-free, input device for learners with
profound physical and/or mental
difficulties. Important features Highly
reflective Bindi dot infra-red tracking
device Ease of use (various parts of the users
body) Ability to adjust speed and
sensitivity Dwell-click function.
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FSDoE Targets 2010

• 2000 office based employees
• are connected to e-mail and internet
• are competent in supporting schools to move from
  ICT schools to e-Learning schools
• are more effective in managing information
• have a relevant ICT qualification
• have improved their service delivery through ICT
• have adequate end user hard- software support

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FSDoE Targets (ICT)
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Current Status

• 4 Education Resource Centres provide increased
  access to learning and teaching resources,
  including ICTs
• 300 schools have computer centres
• 700 schools have computers for admin use
• 140 schools have functioning school libraries
• 114 schools are connected (awaiting TELKOM to
  connect an additional 419)

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Current Status

• 780 office based employees have e-mail
• 120 office based employees have Internet
• 6 836 employees attended computer training
• 5 872 educators attended information skills
  training
• MOU with Department of SACST
• pilot project in 10 schools where web based
  learning and teaching materials were produced and
  subsequently exhibited in London

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Current Status
e-LAPA Project
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ICT Roll out
Rox, a teacher now has access to a Lap top to
prepare for his lessons
Teachers working together
Web cam for communication on the internet at
Ikanyegeng Jacobsdal
A data projector ceiling mounted at Olien
Lesson Preparation
A maths class
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Mars Express
Connectivity

• Broad Band internet connection at Gelukwaarts
  Farm school

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Learners in the e-Lapa project
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Visit to the UK
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Current Status

• Learners comments about the e-Lapa project
• made me realize that anyone can reach a goal
• you can be what you want be if only you believe
  in yourself
• made me think of what is right or wrong .
• the Lapa Project is about improving teaching in
  South Africa, using computers
• I learnt a lot about the computer, I can now log
  into the internet and use other programs as
  resources for information
• At Chafford Hundred Campus they taught us a lot
  about the Microsoft power point. I now know how
  to scan pictures and search for information.

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Current Status

• I learned a lot about computers what they can
  really do in our lives today. How a pocket PC
  work in a laptop procedure
• What can I do with computers in my daily life is
  that computers seems like your carrying the world
  in your hand.

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FS Growth and Dev Plan

• Social and Human Development
• Enhance peoples skills and self-reliance
• -Capacity building of clients
• Improve access and quality of formal education
• -Implement GET FET
• Provide access to reading, learning and
  information resources
• -Provide library and information services

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FS Growth and Dev Plan

• Effective governance and administration
• Build governments capacity in critical areas
• -Develop information technology skills
• -Provide capacity building programs for all
  staff
• Improved communication
• -Increased access to ICT infrastructure

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Challenges

• Affordable, sustainable, implementable,
  resourcing models
• Ensuring end user support
• Equity in Connectivity
• Demonstrating how ICT can solve learning,
  teaching, management and administration, etc
  problems
• Acquiring the required information skills
• Increasing reading levels
• Information specialists at school level
• Integration of the use of ICT in daily classroom
  practice and school management
• Optimal utilization of resources, sharing, etc

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Thank you for listening

• Bertha Kitching
• Director e-Education IRRISS
• Free State Department of Education
• 16th Floor, FS PGB, Elizabeth Street
• Bloemfontein.
• Tel [phone] fax [phone]
• kitching_at_edu.fs.gov.za fredw_at_ kokf_at_,
• stalse_at_, zandile_at_ www.fsdoe.fs.gov.za

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FSDoE Targets by end 2010

• 1400 schools will have at least
• 2 computer centres each for learners
• 2 computers each for administration purposes
• 5 computers each for teachers for L T
• 5 data projectors each for classroom application
• a fully functioning computerized library / multi
  media centre

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FSDoE Targets by 2010

• 1400 schools should have
• a computorized school management and information
  system
• effective partnerships
• community involvement in its ICT resources
• end user support for hardware and software
• e-mail and internet access
• one classroom where learners can use PCs in group
  work

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FSDoE Targets 2010

• 1400 schools should have a teacher corpse that
• have at least a certificate in ICT / e-learning /
  information skills
• have embedded the use of ICTs in daily classroom
  practice
• use ICT skills and resources to solve learning
  and teaching problems, eg support learners with
  special needs and have improved learner
  performance
• use ICT for more effective management and
  administration of schools and classrooms

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FSDoE Targets (IT)
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FSDoE Targets (training)
Schools with computer centres
Keyboard and mouse skills
ICDL
Information skills
INTEL
PC Network Control
Schools with Computers for Multi Media
Keyboard and mouse skills
ICDL
Information skills
PALS
Schools with Computers for administration
purposes
Keyboard and mouse skills
ICDL
EDUSOL
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FSDoE Targets (training)

• Mouse and Keyboard skills
• 2 modules 8 hours
• The computer and its basic functions

Typing Tutor
PHASE 1 First time computer users
PHASE 2 Employees with basic computer skills
ICDL 7 Modules 180 hours
Module 6 Presentations PowerPoint
Module 1 Concepts of IT
Module 5 Database MS Access
Module 4 Spreadsheet MS Excel
Module 3 Word processing MS Word
Module 2 Using computers and managing files
Module 7 Internet and communication
Learning
PHASE 3 Employees involved in teacher development
Module 1 Getting Started
Module 2 Locating Resources for Unit Portfolios
INTEL Teach to the Future 10 modules 40 hours
Facilitators
Basic Information Research Skills
Non- Office Based Educators
Module 6 Creating Student Web Sites
Module 5 Creating Student Support Materials
Module 4 Creating Student Publications
Module 3 Creating Student Multimedia
Presentations
Module 7 Creating Teacher Support Materials
Module 8 Developing Plans for Im-plementation
Module 9 Putting Unit Portfolios Together
Module 10 Showcasing Unit Portfolios
Job Specific Training
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e-Education
ELITS
ERCs
Resourcing School Libraries, the Education
Library Multi Media Centres Capacity Building
on the use of Multi Media Resources
Information skills for Cur implementation
Providing access to L T resources
facilities skills to use the resources
E-Learning

• Web based L T material
• Capacity building in ICT skills to support
  curriculum delivery
• Show ICT can solve problems

Roll out of ICT infrastructure Increasing
connectivity Maintenance of servers
networks Supporting users re hardware FSDoE
Web-site
ICT
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FSDoE e-Education targets for schools 2004/2005
to 2009/2010

• Total number of schools on 1/04//2004 2029
• 20 Specialized Education Schools
• 895 School on towns and townships
• 1114 Schools on private property (farm Schools) -
  629 FS with less than 20 learners to be 485
  school with long term viability
• 1 400 schools will be targeted for the roll out
  of e-Education by 2010

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Model of the Training
Learning about ICTs
Learning with ICTs
Learning through the use of ICTs
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10 e-Lapa schools in five Districts were
identified
Pilot Project
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e-Lapa Pilot Project

• The FSDoE is running a pilot project, called the
  e-Lapa Project.
• Whole range of the activities that have to be
  undertaken to deliver e-Education piloted ahead
  of the comprehensive implementation plan.
• This includes the production, distribution and
  utilization of web based learning and teaching
  material in the classroom with help of UK
  educators.
• Establish a model of best practice for the
  implementation of e-Education for the province
  that is practical, implementable and sustainable

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e-Lapa Pilot Project

• 10 schools, two in each district were selected
• Olien, Ikanyegeng, Retief, Marallaneng, Heilbron,
  Retshedisitswe, Gelukwaarts, St Bernards,
  Kheleng, Unitas
• Pilot started in October 2004, some of the
  learners had not touched a computer before this!
• By Jan 2005 they were producing web based
  learning and teaching materials and engaging with
  UK learners.

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e-Lapa Pilot Project

• Deliverables
• identify classroom based learning and teaching
  problems and how to solve these by using ICT
• taking ownership of ICT outcomes based learning
  and integrating it into classroom practice
• setting up a web page
• building and populating the Lapa web site
• producing web based learning and teaching
  material that include local indigenous knowledge
  and culture

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Partnerships the e-Lapa Project

• Deliverables
• web based L T materials were produced in
  partnership with the curriculum directorate
• 30 learners and 20 educators exhibited their web
  based L T materials in London in January 2005
• on site learning at UK best practice schools took
  place
• partnerships established with twinning schools
• projects designed between UK and Free State
  schools
• action research has started and a baseline survey
  was done

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OFFICE BASED STAFF
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SCHOOLS WITH PCs FOR ADMINISTRATION
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SCHOOLS WITH PCs FOR L T
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SCHOOLS WITH MM CENTRES