Submitted by Megan Rademeyer

Five schools in Mankweng, Limpopo are to be provided with connectivity and Microsoft Windows 8 devices through the TV White Spaces pilot project. SchoolNet SA has been appointed to provide professional development to teachers from these schools to help ensure that they maximise the benefits that a connected classroom bring to education. 

So far champion teachers from each of the schools have attended the ICT Skills for Teachers course and in the coming months they will also attend sessions on Using Office 365 in the Classroom and the Microsoft Innovation Course. Between 30 January and 1 February 2014 stakeholders from the various White Spaces schools participated in a Policy and Vision workshop. This workshop involved thinking through the benefits of the project and the potential challenges that may need to be overcome. A highlight of this session was representatives from Microsoft demonstrating the Windows 8 devices, providing an opportunity for teachers and learners to practice swiping the Windows 8 tiles for the first time.

To read more about this project go to http://goo.gl/pMZcPY