November 13, 2012
October 22, 2012
ZSP Review Board
The feedback from one attendee was " The Review Board gatherings are so uplifting and it is always a pleasure to be part of the audience".
We will be highlighting video clips from a couple of the speeches in a later post.
September 4, 2012
Saturday morning - must be time for class!
As you can see in the picture, over 40 learners and 3 staff at Die Duine Primary were very busy with their Mathematics lesson in the computer centre.
Look again - the learners are not in uniform because this picture was taken during a Saturday morning lesson. The teachers and learners are taking every opportunity to prepare for the upcoming Annual National Assessment exams, even coming to school on a Saturday.
The learners enjoy learning Mathematics through the use of ICT, as you can see from the full room. During this session learners were able to practise exemplar exam questions, each working at their own pace. The questions are automatically marked allowing immediate feedback for the teachers and learners.
Look again - the learners are not in uniform because this picture was taken during a Saturday morning lesson. The teachers and learners are taking every opportunity to prepare for the upcoming Annual National Assessment exams, even coming to school on a Saturday.
The learners enjoy learning Mathematics through the use of ICT, as you can see from the full room. During this session learners were able to practise exemplar exam questions, each working at their own pace. The questions are automatically marked allowing immediate feedback for the teachers and learners.
We wish them and all learners "Happy learning".
July 6, 2012
June 21, 2012
One year on...
But is this intervention helping the learners learn?
The information below is from a selection of Grade 6 learners from one of the schools in the Zisukhanyo Schools Project. It shows a snap shot of what they could accomplish in Feburary 2011 and then again in May 2012.
The sums they are doing are set at the appropriate level of difficulty and we have only recorded the correct answers. The results speak for themselves.
May 25, 2012
May 24, 2012
Visit of Dr. Zola Skweyiya, the S.A. High Commissioner in the U.K.
The Protea Education Development Project Chairman, Danny Gallagher, hosted a visit by Dr. Zola Skweyiya, the S.A. High Commissioner in the U.K. to two of the ZSP schools.
Dr. Zola Skweyiya visited Sonwabo Primary in Gugulethu and Mzamomhle Primary in Phillipi where he was able to see the impact of this Project on the schools, and the wider communities, for himself.
Staff and learners from the schools proudly talked about the changes and showed how lessons have improved since the introduction of the technology and the e-literacy and IT curriculum training. Dr. Skweyiya was very impressed with the development at both schools. He talked to some of the staff at Sonwabo, where he reflected on his early days growing up in Gugulethu. Dr. Skweyiya shared his appreciation of how he has seen the school and its community being uplifted through the Zisukhanyo Schools Project.
April 25, 2012
ZSP Control Board
On Wednesday 18th April, 81 delegates joined together to review the progress of the ZSP Stage II and Stage III schools against the Strategic Objectives. The delegates consisted of representatives from the 20 schools in the ZSP family, 22 Education Department officials, Project partners, ZSP Team and the Project owner.
It was a very encouraging and uplifting event, where the progress at the schools was clearly highlighted by the various speakers. There will be more feedback from the Control Board in future posts.
It was a very encouraging and uplifting event, where the progress at the schools was clearly highlighted by the various speakers. There will be more feedback from the Control Board in future posts.
April 5, 2012
CCA training - March 2012
During the school break the Computer Centre Assistants (click for more info) received two days of training from the ZSP Team. This training provided support for the CCAs in developing their role in the Computer Centre and a chance for personal reflection and goal setting. There was an opportunity for CCAs to share their experiences and even some advice.
March 20, 2012
IT Numeracy programme - best practice workshops
The ZSP Team held three workshops for educators who are delivering the ZSP IT Numeracy programme at their schools. There were separate workshops for grade 4, 5 and 6 educators. The aim of the workshops was to allow educators to ask questions, share their experiences and strategies for teaching and for the ZSP Team to provide detailed curriculum and pedagogical advice.
74 educators from 16 ZSP schools attended over the three days. Educators really appreciated discussing different aspects of the IT Numeracy programme; planning, delivery, assessments and intervention strategies; with colleagues from different schools.
March 9, 2012
Curriculum innovation: sharing the success.
Recently Sonwabo Primary hosted a visit by a delegation of Eastern Cape Education Department officials and principals. The Western Cape Education Department had invited the delegation to Sonwabo Primary to showcase how the school was successfully using technology to assist with their numeracy programme.
After a short explanation about ZSP from one of the ZSP Team, the delegation moved into the computer centre.
Mthuthuzeki, Sonwabo Primary's ICT Champion, explained how the ZSP IT Numeracy programme ran at Sonwabo and what impact it had made on both the staff and learners.There were many questions as the visitors were clearly interested to see how well the technology had been integrated into the curriculum. The delegation were also impressed that despite all the distractions the learners in the computer centre kept working on their numeracy exercises!
What they saw in action really made an impact on all of the Eastern Cape visitors, "I was blown away" was one of the comments.
February 27, 2012
February 20, 2012
February 10, 2012
Personalised learning
Technology is a great tool to allow personalised learning for all learners. Every child can work at their own pace and at a level suited to their ability. It is particulary effective in supporting learners who require more intensive support.
The learner below is able to work independently in the Computer Centre, whereas she needs constant support from her teacher in class. Her teacher reports that this learner is able to gain a huge sense of achievement from successfully completing the IT numeracy activities on her own.
February 6, 2012
A week full of potential..
This week 393 numeracy lessons will take place in the ZSP Computer Centres, while educators in 42 classrooms will make use of alternative technology throughout the week in all subjects.
Happy learning!!
February 1, 2012
Lifelong learning
Meet Mr Dam, he is the caretaker at one of the ZSP Stage III schools.
One of the Project's strategic objectives is that all educators will acquire a competent level of computer literacy. However all staff, teaching and non-teaching, are encouraged to attend the e-literacy training provided by the ZSP IT Facilitators. We have seen a huge interest from non teaching staff at all of the Stage III schools as the e-literacy training has started this term. Mr Dam is one of the non teaching staff who has taken up the opportunity to develop his computing skills and he is enjoying every minute of it!
January 30, 2012
Community ICT Technicians
One of the Project's strategic objectives is that young matriculants from the local community are recruited and trained as ICT Technicians
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The Project provides comprehensive support to these ICT learnerships.
The Community ICT Techncians are provided with "on the job" experience that they gain at the ZSP schools where their skills are developed by shadowing the ZSP Technical Team. Additionally the learnership candidates receive mentoring from and group training sessions with the ZSP Technical Team.
The IT learnership programmes involves periods of college based study. The Community ICT Techncians attend IT techncial courses and sit examinations which - when passed - result in internationally recognised IT qualifications being awarded.
.
The Project provides comprehensive support to these ICT learnerships.
The Community ICT Techncians are provided with "on the job" experience that they gain at the ZSP schools where their skills are developed by shadowing the ZSP Technical Team. Additionally the learnership candidates receive mentoring from and group training sessions with the ZSP Technical Team.
The IT learnership programmes involves periods of college based study. The Community ICT Techncians attend IT techncial courses and sit examinations which - when passed - result in internationally recognised IT qualifications being awarded.
January 18, 2012
January 11, 2012
2012: Eager to start!
The 2012 school year started for educators on Monday of this week and for learners today (Wednesday). There is a sense of excitement in the schools at the start of this new year.
The ZSP Team has been working to ensure that there is smooth start to the year for all of the ZSP schools. The ZSP Technical Team have ensured all the technology is deployed after the holidays and is ready for the educators and learners to start their Computer Centre lessons.
We are pleased to report that due the precautions put in place by the schools, the Western Cape Education Department and the ZSP Team, there has been no vandalism or damage at any of the ZSP schools over the long school holiday.
Welcome back!
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