New Nation Teachers master some digital tools
In the first term of 2018, teachers from New Nation School in Vrededorp, Gauteng, enjoyed five afternoon workshop sessions on using a range of digital tools in the classroom. These workshops were sponsored by Microsoft Philanthropies in order to help staff to use technology as a catalyst for change at a school that largely provides education to orphans and vulnerable children.
Below is a summary of what was covered at the workshops with links to some of the resources that other teachers may w...Read more
The Technical Support Specialists based at Telkom Connected Schools in Zwide, Eastern Cape and Garankuwa, Gauteng have been using the last few weeks of school to expose learners to basic coding concepts. Learners have been working through the Minecraft themed Hour of Code tutorials which provide a fun, free, accessible introduction to coding using a series of simple drag-and-drop puzzles that get progressively more challenging. Microsoft Philanthropies supported these sessions by providing each participa...
Many schools have finished exams and learners are waiting to get their reports. Technical Support Specialists based at Telkom Connected Schools in Zwide Township near Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape and Garankuwa, Gauteng have been using this time productively to provide learners with the opportunity to try their hand at basic coding.
Brenda Mohale, based at NM Tsuene Secondary School and Mapfumo Mashau, based at Winterveldt Secondary School challenged their learners to complete the Minecraft t...
In October 2018, SchoolNet SA facilitators Hlengiwe Mfeka and Senzo Ngcobo completed the Intel Tablets in the Classroom for 28 GET subject advisors from Kwa-Zulu Natal at the Bergville Education Centre. These subject advisors had already attended two previous courses namely; ICT Skills for Teachers and Using Digital Resources in the Classroom. The Tablets course, which formed the final step in their professional development pathway, aimed to provide subject advisors with tools and strategies for integrat...
SchoolNet SA teamed up with the Mpumalanga ICT Club to run a number of train-the-trainer workshops at different venues across the province. The aim of these sessions was to motivate teachers to learn some basic coding skills, and to then share these with learners by running the Hour of Code at their schools and getting their learners to code something “from scratch” using Scratch programming.
In addition to trying out Scratch and the Minecraft themed Hour of Code tutorials, teachers were g...
South African teachers who have attended a Global E2 event in Toronto, Singapore, Redmond or Budapest agree that these have been amazing professional development and networking events. Not to mention an opportunity to visit another country and experience another culture.
The 2019 Global Microsoft Educator Exchange will be taking place in Paris, France. Three teachers from South Africa or Lesotho will be selected to attend this international gathering of some of the world’s most innovative teacher...
The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has provided 165 focus schools with technology devices for learners. Having seen how successful YouthSpark training can be to introduce teachers to basic computer science resources that can use with learners, SchoolNet SA was asked to run workshops with champion teachers selected from eighty of these schools. It was hoped that having access to some free resources aimed at youth, a portal of online training resources aimed at teachers, as well as the skills and c...
SchoolNet SA recently offered five introductory #YouthSpark computer science workshops to teachers from schools in the Western Cape, facilitated by Charmaine Roynon – an educational consultant with a passion for getting teachers using digital tools to enhance teaching and learning. The aim of these workshops was to equip teachers with the knowledge and skills to introduce learners to basic coding using free tools and resources. The courses were widely advertised on SchoolNet SA social media, and te...
Digital skills are often out of reach for the young people who need them most. In a world being transformed by technology, all youth should have the opportunity to develop the creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills gained by learning computer science.
SchoolNet SA is delighted to offer teachers an opportunity to attend a free YouthSpark Workshop, sponsored by Microsoft Philanthropies. The aim of these workshops is to equip teachers with some skills and free tools that they ...
The Mpumalanga ICT Club is a community of practice established by teachers to empower other teachers, learners and the community of Mpumalanga to develop their digital skills.
SchoolNet SA has worked closely with the club to present a range of opportunities for teachers to learn basic computer science skills that they can pass on to their learners. We look forward to co-hosing three Train the Trainer Coding Workshops which will be taking place as follows:
11 August 2018 at Waterfal Boven TVET Campu...
