Beyond the learners: E-literacy for all staff

Thanks to Thomas Wildscutt Junior Primary for the pictures and quotes.

Beyond the learners - Refugee Forum, Thomas Wildschutt Senior

Weekends in 2011 have become a hive of activity as the Refugee Forum Adult Literacy Classes at Thomas Wildschutt Senior Primary have embarked on the next phase of development – computer literacy in the Zisukhanyo Schools Project Computer Centre.

Andre, member of the school’s family of volunteers and convener of the Literacy Project, approached Mr Jansen (School Principal) and was immediately given the go-ahead to allow the transfer of skills and expertise.

Andre stated that although the programme initially started with adult refugees in mind, their kids have started to partake in the initiative.

Participants, young and old, have begun with simple, tentative exercises in Microsoft Word and by the end of the current year, other software packages will be introduced and mastered as well.

Thanks to Majdi Ryklief, Thomas Wildschutt Senior School for the article and pictures.

Reviews from the ZSP Schools

Schools have been back for three weeks now. Educators and learners at all of the ZSP Schools are getting into a regular pattern of using their Computer Centre to compliment their numeracy lessons.

We think that it is about time we asked the educators and learners what they think about their numeracy lessons in the Computer Centre:

"Excitement for mathematics is returning for the learners."

"Learners realise they must go home and learn their timestables"

" Gets learners thinking outside of the box"

Learners show "more confidence"

 Buck Road Primary School.


“In the computer centre we test the work we do in our class, it is a lot of fun for we to work on the mathematics sums.”  Epiphane Furaha, 7b

“I enjoy working on the  mathematics speed tests because it is fun and I always try to improve my speed test score.” Chris Mampassi, 6a

“I can't play games in the computer centre, but enjoy the mathematics speed test” Thareeq Yon, 5a

 Thomas Wildschutt Senior School

" Cooking in someone else's kitchen"

ZSP schools are running full timetables in their Computer Centres. The ZSP Team plans lesson activities for use in the Computer Centre that are linked to what the educators are covering in class for that week.

The ZSP Team works very closely with the Metro South Education District (MSED) Curriculum Team to decide on the specific focus for each week and to ensure that all the activities are aligned to the workschedules that are given to each grade. We value their support and experience as we work together to provide the best possible support to the schools. The ZSP Team is in fact " cooking in someone else's (MSED) kitchen" by invitation.

The Western Cape Education Department sets clear curriculum goals for each grade and learning area.The ZSP uses targeted technology interventions to support the schools in order to improve the achievement of their learners.The structured speed tests, mentioned in an earlier post, are an example of this inntervention.

MSED Director and ZSP Donor's representatives at Thomas Wildschutt Senior School