What is the Educators’ Network (EDN)?
The Educators’ Network was implemented in the early 2000s until 2009 as an educator ICT development programme that guided online communities of educators to learn with and from each other. This course was updated and is now incorporated into the Commonwealth of Learning Technology Integration (CCTI) Certificate programme. This programme is open to all educators in and beyond the boundaries of South Africa.
- Introductory training
- Teachers that are introduced to the Educators’ Network for the first time receive two days of training (optional) that introduces them to the learning approach and tools required.
- Teachers that are introduced to the Educators’ Network for the first time receive two days of training (optional) that introduces them to the learning approach and tools required.
- Materials
- Public domain, web-based experiential learning materials, arranged in modules.
- There were 20 modules in the original EDN and this has now been condensed to 9 courses.
- Materials are contextually relevant for education, and the educators participating are directed to provide their own rich classroom contexts to all activities.
- Online communities of educators
- Educators who participate in the modules are grouped into virtual communities of up to 20.
- Individuals in each group are linked to each other by e-mail groups and digital tools
- Participants also collaborate and share using various online tools such as blogs, wikis, synchronous/asynchronous group discussions, and online educator communities
- Tutor support for groups and individuals
- SchoolNet SA’s specially trained tutors facilitate the learning in these groups online, using mostly digital tools, forums and in low bandwidth areas use email.
- Tutors support the educators and encourage them to grow and improve their skills as they integrate ICT with teaching and learning.
- Tutors are facilitated by a tutor coordinator, who ensures the quality of mentoring at all times.
- Tracking and archiving
- Interactions between participants are avaliable for viewing on the online networks which they use during their courses. These online communities are sustained beyond the duration of the course.
- Educators develop and share a portfolio of work, which is archived.
- Recognition / Accreditation
- In South Africa the University of KwaZulu Natal offers an Advanced Certificate in Education based entirely on the EDN. It was briefly discontinued due to restructuring, but will resume in 2012.
- The Commonwealth of Learning have adopted the EDN and funded some upgrade modifications. The same materials are being used in The Bahamas and Trinidad and Tobago and other Commonwealth countries and is known as the Commonwealth Certificate for Teacher ICT Integration (CCTI).
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