Elfas Mcloud – Bringing hope to Africa through digital access
Elfas Mcloud converted an empty classroom at Step Ahead Primary School in Tsomo, Eastern Cape into a computer lab, got it connected and now runs a programme that offers digital skills training to over 400 learners per week. As a computer scientist, pastor and human rights activist, Elfas Mcloud Zadzagomo Shangwa’s passion is ensuring that every village girl in Africa connected to the internet. Read More
Mr Nicholas Matshele – a principal who leads by example
Mr Matshele of NM Tsuene Secondary School is an exemplary principal who leads by example. He has been attending the SchoolNet SA Change Leadership course as part of the Telkom connected schools project. Some of his strategies for effective school leadership include leading by example, accepting criticism and learning from it, and being prepared to learn new things whenever possible. Read More
Ms. Noxolo Buyeye – Profile of an early adopter
Noxolo Buyeye was born and bred in the Eastern Cape. She taught for many years in the Eastern Cape before coming to the Western Cape. She is currently a permanent staff member at Solomon Qatyana Primary, in Asanda Village near Somerset West, teaching Grade 1 and as Head of Department responsible for both Grade R and Grade 1. Noxolo believes that like building a house, learning must be built on a strong foundation. She describes herself as a teacher who loves challenges. She has always requested the difficult learners be placed in her class so that she can help them build this strong foundation.
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Margaret Tracy – benefitting from the Microsoft Educator Community
Margaret Tracey, the Technology Integrator at Hillcrest High School in KwaZulu-Natal, believes that education can be even more powerful if it is transformed by technology underpinned by sound pedagogy. She feels that teachers need to lead by example and instill a culture of learning. She encourages her teachers to register on the Microsoft Educator Community and access the free online courses that would also allow them to earn continuing professional development points through the South African Council of Educators (SACE). Read more
Gerald Plaaitjies – passionate about using technology in the Maths classroom
It is not every day that you find a teacher who is passionate about using technology in his classroom who is also a published author of a Maths textbook. Mr Gerald Plaatjies, a Grade 5 Maths teacher at Eden Park Primary School is passionate about getting students excited about Maths. This has led to him to create a range of learning materials and activities for his learners using Microsoft Office. Gerald looks forward to that day in South Africa when schools can do away with paper and become paperless classrooms. Read more
Charmaine Roynon – Growing great teachers
Charmaine Roynon from Wynberg Girls’ Junior School in Cape Town motivates teachers by her sheer passion for powerful technology tools such as Office 365. She says: “Because I am an educator and I have worked in IT integration for many years, I know what ‘hooks’ teachers.” Charmaine’s passion is to grow great teachers who not only know how to integrate the curriculum with technology but are also willing to share their expertise with others. Read more
Amandla Vinjwa – upskilling yourself on the Microsoft Educator Community
Amandla Vinjwa from Sivile Primary School in Khyelitsha, Cape Town, believes that “ICT technology, and especially the use of Microsoft tools, are like a bridge that can help you to cross a gigantic river.” He is also very committed to upskilling himself in professional development by making the most of the online courses on offer to teachers free of charge on the Microsoft Educator Community. As a result he continually adds to his growing collection of attainment badges. Amandla’s passion for using technology has enabled him to use creative and innovative ways of teaching and learning in his lessons. Read more
Matthew Hains – Building skills through technology integration
Matthew Hains is a computer applications teacher at Crawford College in Sandton. As a computer applications teacher Matthew needs to ensure that his students know how to use Office applications – but he also tries to ensure that the activities he presents provide opportunities for students to challenge themselves and to develop logical thinking skills at the same time. Matthew says that he started integrating technology into his lessons to make teaching more accessible and access to knowledge more powerful. He particularly likes to get his students to create games using advanced PowerPoint skills. Read more
Hawa Patel – Code.org
Hawa Patel is the deputy principal at Roshnee Islamic School in Vereeniging, South Africa where she is also Head of Department for Computer Applications Technology, Information Technology and Business Studies. In addition to providing students at Roshnee Islamic School with skills for using technology, Hawa aims to get students excited about computers and programming as possible career choices. One of the ways that Hawa has introduced young people to basic computer coding is through using the Minecraft themed materials on the code.org website. Read more
Judi Francisco – 21st Century Skills and Microsoft Office
Judi Franciso says that her favourite title is “chief learner” because she believes that “with technology you never stop learning, adapting, creating and trying new exciting things!” In 2015 Judi introduced a full time Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program for girls at Micklefield School and formalised blended learning is now part of the timetable. In this case study Judi explains how in blended learning lessons girls cover curriculum work, develop critical thinking skills and integrate technology. Read more
Erika Esterhuizen – SharePoint
Erika Esterhuizen says that “problem solving and decision making skills are part of my personality” and as the head of the Information Technology department at St Andrews College in Grahamstown she gets to do both. Erika’s role involves using technology to help streamline administrative processes at the school and supporting and coaching colleagues to integrate technology into the curriculum. Sharepoint has been a useful tool for sharing information and collaborating at St Andrews.
Freddy Chireka – OneNote Class Notebook
Freddy Chireka is excited about training teachers in South Africa in the use of Microsoft applications to enhance the development of 21st century skills. As a technology coach at Thandulwazi Maths and Science Academy, he trains teachers from underprivileged communities on the use of Microsoft Tools for education and as the person responsible for professional development at Vastratech Freddy helps teachers to make use of Office 365. One of Freddy’s favourite tools is the OneNote Class Notebook. In this case study Freddy explains how this tool is useful to teachers.
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Pauline Skosana – 21st Century Learning Dimensions
Pauline Skosana of Hlolisisa Primary School in Bronkhorstspruit believes that the most important component of a successful lesson is providing an activity that learners will enjoy. Pauline attended the Microsoft 21st Century Learning Design course to find out how to structure her lessons to ensure that they cover the topics included in the curriculum and develop 21st century skills such as collaboration, self-regulation and effective communication. This case study describes a lesson Pauline taught after attending this course.
Peter de Lisle – Office 2016 and Windows for Enhanced Learning
At Hilton College, boys are required to bring their own devices which are used for a range of activities including completing research tasks and long essays. Peter de Lisle, a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert reports that Windows two-in-one devices and Microsoft Office tools have provided some boys with user-friendly technology that has greatly assisted their learning.
Adil Mungalee – Using One Note
Adil Mungalee is the Deputy Principal of Dr Yusuf Dadoo Primary School in Roodepoort and the 2015 winner of the Gauteng Teachers Awards for the ICT Enhanced Teaching and Learning category. Adil has made extensive use of OneNote to set up a paperless filing system for himself and his colleagues which has been widely shared with other schools in his district.
Sarietjie Musgrave – Peer Coaching for staff development (2016)
Former Microsoft Innovative Teacher and current Microsoft Mentor, Sarietjie Musgrave has been conducting Peer Coaching through the ICTISE unit of the University of Free State for a number of years. The Peer Coaching program empowers teachers to encourage their colleagues to integrate ICT into teaching and aims to get the support of the principal to do this as part of a whole school professional development model.
Keshma Patel – Using Minecraft to promote creativity, collaboration and problem solving (2016)
Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert and Grade 6 teacher at Micklefield Primary School for Girls, Keshma Patel has used Minecraft with her class to promote creativity, collaboration, and problem solving. Keshma wanted to use the world’s most popular game as a tool for learning and introduced Minecraft in her classroom with great success, despite not being a Minecraft expert.
Mochudu Machaba – Inspiring colleagues through Teaching with Technology (2016)
Mochudu Machaba, a Grade 5 and 6 teacher at Ngwanamago Primary School near Polokwane, Limpopo has completed the online Microsoft Teaching with Technology course and is Microsoft Certified Educator. As a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, Mochudu is often asked to train other teachers in her district and uses the Teaching with Technology course for this.
Mabore Lekalakala – Using the Microsoft Educator Community to access professional development (2016)
Mabore Lekalakala, a Mathematics and Computer Literacy teacher at Toronto Primary School in Limpopo, orientates colleagues to the Microsoft Educator Community and encourages them to complete online professional development. As a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert Mabore uses the Microsoft Educator Community to interact with teachers across the globe and to share lesson resources.
Kathryn Riva – A Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert uses Sway as a presentation tool (2016)
Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, Kathryn Riva, a Grade 5 teacher from Micklefield School in Cape Town, has developed and shared a range of blended learning projects. Kathryn has used Sway to create professional looking presentations to use in staff development sessions and she has also encouraged the girls she teaches to use Sway as a presentation tool.
Comparison of Universal Service Obligation (USO) Solutions X Touch and Intel Devices (2016)
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) in collaboration with the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services (DTPS) requested SchoolNet to compare two solutions being rolled out as part of the Universal Service Obligations (USO). The USO is an ICASA-led initiative where telecommunications operators in South Africa provide ICT infrastructure solutions to at least 300 schools per year until their licenses are renewed for the next period of time.
Brescia House School – Showcasing their Innovation (2015)
Brescia House School was selected as a Microsoft Showcase School in 2015 for the ways in which they are transforming their school through technology. The two principals at Brescia House School have a goal to make digital technology as available and easy-to-use as paper, pencil, and books were in the 20th century learning process and the uptake of technology by teachers at their school shows that this is working.
Linda Foulkes – A Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert uses OneNote to share resources (2015)
Linda Foulkes believes that the potential of OneNote for Education is unlimited. In addition to showing teachers how they can use OneNote as a tool to organize lessons, collect resources and set up class activities, Linda actively uses OneNote to curate and share resources that teachers can use to integrate technology into their lessons.
Phuti Ragophala – A Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert inspires others to use technology (2015)
Phuti Ragophala, the principal of Pula Madibogo Primary School in Limpopo uses technology to enhance teaching and learning despite the challenges of limited resources and overpopulated classrooms. This Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert not only sets up projects for her learners to develop 21st century skills she also trains teachers in her community to access Microsoft online courses and tools so that they can also engage their learners using technology.
Karen Stadler – A Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert uses Skype to Save our Rhinos (2015)
Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert Karen Stadler from Elkanah House School in Cape Town has used technology to make learners in over 100 classes in 55 countries aware of the plight of rhinos in South Africa. As part of Stadler’s “Save our Rhinos” project Skype was used extensively to allow teachers and learners to collaborate and communicate with an expert from another country.
Warren Sparrow – A Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert using Office 365 for staff collaboration (2015)
Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert Warren Sparrow is the Head of ICT at Rondebosch Boys’ Preparatory School in Cape Town. This school has deployed Office 365 as the platform for staff to receive e-mails and share files and some grades are now using this platform to work collaboratively on planning documents.
Free State Department of Education – Commitment to an eLearning Pathway (2014)
The Free State Department of Education is committed to implementing a formal learning pathway for teachers in the Free State. Instead of offering one course on basic computer literacy and then moving on to the next school, schools in the Free State are selected each year to work through a number of courses. Since 2010 the Free State Department of Education has commissioned SchoolNet SA to offer the Microsoft Partners in Learning ICT Skills for Teachers, HelpDesk and ICT Leadership for Education Managers courses to teachers from approximately twenty schools per year.
Observatory Girls Primary School – Making the most of professional development in ICT Skills (2013)
The Microsoft Partners in Learning ICT Skills for Teachers course contains almost 40 scenarios that directly relate to the work of teachers. Teachers at Observatory Girls Primary School chose to attend the ICT Skills for Teachers course to boost their own professional skills and completed portfolios of documents that they were going to use in their classrooms.
Free State Innovative Schools – Empowering themselves with resources available (2013)
In 2011 five under-resourced schools in the Bloemfontein area, namely Vulamasongo, Moemedi, Kaelang, CommTech and Kopanong, were invited to be part of a three year project to localise the Microsoft Innovative Schools Toolkit. During this time they received mentorship and support from both Eunice High School and the ICTISE Division of the University of Free State. In addition to working through the Microsoft materials, the schools also formed a network of peer support and learnt from one another.
Brescia House School – Where learning is always on (2013)
At Brescia House School every grade 10 girl has a laptop. The AlwaysOn-Learning Solution (built using Office 365) has been implemented at Brescia House to provide a portal for sharing resources, completing administrative tasks and encouraging communication and collaboration within classes.
St Cyprian’s – An innovative school that uses technology to improve learning (2012)
St Cyprian’s was selected as a Microsoft Innovative Pathfinder school in 2010 and is currently a Microsoft World Tour School. This case study describes a range of innovative teaching and learning practices adopted by teachers at St Cyprians to ensure that learners cover curriculum content and develop 21st century skills.
Mamoeketsi Primary School – Innovation in Challenging Environments (2012)
In the challenging context of a Lesotho primary school, Mamoeketsi Primary School, Microsoft Innovative Teacher winner Moliehi Sekese encourages learners to use technology in their science studies and prides herself on making children aware of how both computers and their environment have the potential to improve their lives.
