Perceptual Skills Development @ Firgrove PS

PERCEPTUAL TRAINING @ FIRGROVE PS

Educators @ Firgrove PS also use CAMI Products in the LAB. On top of that, STIMU-ZONE do a whole program of PERCEPTUAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT. These skills development program includes:
1. Letter association;
2. Beginning sounds;
3. Number association;
4. Basic counting skills;
5. Number recognition;
6. Pattern sequencing;
7. Sorting and ordering;
8. Classification and many other perceptual skills.

I must compliment the school. They have embarked on a program of pro-active perceptual skills intervention. Well done Firgrove PS.

Is ICT usage dead at schools?

Many times when visiting schools labs are found locked and unused or used for the wrong reasons. In this week I have found schools using their labs, not for Master Maths but for assignments and research. At Zola BCM, the new Zimbabwean educator assist a few learners with their mathematics assignment on the Koch Snowflake. While others had lunch these few learners eagerly discussed mathematics and how their assignment would proceed with the use of ICT.

Just down the road at Intlanganiso it is the last period and it is hot. Ms Dlova, the science educator has called in her class to do a research assignment on the elements (Na, Li, K, etc) of the periodic table. Well after the bell has rung the learners were still engaged with Encarta. This program seems to be a favourite at many schools even if they are linked to the internet.

At Bulumko learners visit the lab eagerly during intervals to surf the net under supervision. The lack of chairs did not dampen the enthusiasm of the learners. Mr Blayi allowed learners to use the e-KAPA CD to teach learners about Environmental Issues. He sites this as an invaluable resource. They supplemented this information with that on Encarta and the internet. Mr Majake has started wetting his toes teaching maths on the the Electronic Whiteboard.

Are schools using ICT at schools? In many cases the answer is YES, but maybe a little differently to what we expect.

LAN 1 Administrator training

Khanya East has Regular LAN administrator training to support administrators in maintaining Computer laboratories. Training is presented by Mark Carollissen and David Mathe. These knowledge gained, should be implemented in school's khanya computer lab on a daily basis. Assessment of LAN training will take place at the end of each term.

Lan administrators will be able to attend the second stage of LAN training after a candidate was successfully assessed and found competent. The Khanya facilitator will provide LAN administrators with a check list to execute or practise deliverables to be met.

LAN Training will be conducted in all areas in East, dates and venues will be forwarded in advance.

The next LAN1 training will commence on the 2nd of March 09, at Strand Moslem Primary, 13pm to 17pm. Only schools of Helderberg area should attend. LAN administrators will be contacted.

Please view your comments and implementation of LAN skills in Computer lab, on the East Blog.

Photo's of Eerste river LAN 1 training at Faure school on the 23 Feb 09.

GET Facilitators training refresher

Language Cluster : CONTENT PLANNING for WORKSHOP
Reading Software Programs

GET TEAM PLANNERS and PRESENTERS: Sipho (Navigator); Siki; Barbara; Max & Albie

Workshop Presentation Intermediate phase

A. Software :
· CAMI Reader – adding your story (Text Editor)
· OpenSpell
· Khanya LTSM (Kipi, Fifi + Fritz)
· PowerPoint and Scanning

B. Activities:
· Navigation
· Activities
· Reading: Story BUSY BEE – LEVEL 2
· Comprehension
· Acronyms
· Episcope

C. Khanya LTSM:
· KIPI – Structure + Navigation by Activity
· Fifi & Fritz – Navigation + PowerPoint + Web Activities + Reading LO3

D. OPEN SPELL:

E. LO:
LO 1 – Listening
LO 2 – Speaking
LO 3 – Reading & Viewing
LO 4 – Writing
LO 5 – Thinking & Reading
L 0 6 – Language Structure

F. Workshop:
· Introduction – 5 min
· Reader – 30 min
· Fifi & Fritz – 15 min
· KIPI – 15 min
· Scanning – 20 min
· Resource column in work schedule – 5 min
· Reflection – 5 min

G. PowerPoint + Scanning:
· Scan a reader > aim is to do your own story / newspaper
· Hyperlink last slide for questions.

H. linkage:
* Khanya LTSM
* Open Spell activities
* Passage reader
* Link LO’ and AS’



70% East GET educators attended the Literacy technology, curriculum integrated workshop last year. Are educators implementing what has been offered?

GET Educators and facilitators comments will be highly appreciated.

E-IAWB @ Somerset West Methodist PS is Interactive !!

Hi Albie

Firstly I want to thank you on behalf of the teaching staff for all your support and IAWB workshops. We are starting to come to grips with using these white boards and are growing in confidents after each lesson.

The grade 7's and 6's are presently utilising it the most, but I have spoken to the other classes and will in due course join the party. Although some teachers are more daring than others in taking on the challenge, we have decided on assisting one another in terms of material development and the deployment thereof using the iawb.

We were also able to buy a Mathematics game program, which has been installed on our computers and this in addition to Cami ad Encarta opens up a whole new educational spectrum to our learners. Although our system is running at a below average speed we are able to provide an e-educational service to our learners at a very patient speed.

Thank you once again and all of the best with future endeavours.


Best Regards

Trevor G. De Waal
LAN (Methodist)

Bulumko Secondary

Recently Bulumko had the benefit of having Albie Smith sharing his tricks and tips on the electronic whiteboard. As usual the educators were impressed, but also a bit apprehensive about this new venture. They were encouraged to play on the board first before engaging learners in this new way of learning learning. Our motto was "Practice makes perfect".

A few days later Mark and Faeeza did training on the electronic whiteboard with the science educators. We were showing the value of applets in teaching Electrodynamics. Later we created simulations in Crocodile Physics and Chemistry on electricity (circuits grade 10), electrochemistry (galvanic cells, grade 12) and light (Refraction, reflection and how telescopes work, Grade 11). Again educators were encouraged to prepare simulations before-hand to familiarise themselves with the program before asking learners to engage too.

Our aim is to make teachers and students competent at using ICT in their teaching and learning of science.

It was encouraging to be at the school and seeing learners in the lab engaging with the various software packages and the internet. Learners were busy with Encarta and the internet searching for information for assignments they were busy doing (the pictures are real, not posed). Mr Blayi, the Life Sciences educator, used the e-KAPA Cape Lowlands software with learners to complete an assignment on Biomes. This CD came in handy as learners had lots of information in the lab to complete their posters on this section of work. A number of learners stay later to complete their assigned work.

"Go Bulumko, go, go, go........".

LORETO PRIMARY

KHANYA IAWB TRAINING

Mr. Albie Smith facilitated the IAWB training at Loreto Primary School during the week of 24 November 2008.

The training sessions of 1½ hour each were well prepared and presented. Mr. Smith showed exceptional patience and tolerance. The staff felt comfortable and freely asked questions. At times, when certain members of staff, felt overwhelmed, Mr. Smith gave encouragement and reassurance. On numerous occasions it was necessary to repeat information. Mr. Smith did so without hesitation. He also stayed after each session to answer additional questions and queries.

The staff are extremely excited about the new technology. One staff member stated "I can't wait to show the learners this wonderful stuff - my learners are going to be thrilled to be in the classroom!"

A very big thank you to all at Khanya who made this happen. Thank you for new inspirations and for rekindling our love for teaching and for learning. You truly have made a difference in our school.


Yours faithfully

V.C. OERTLE
PRINCIPAL

Strand Moslem Primary

We are online at Strand Moslem Primary. As a token of our appreciation to Khanya for their investment in our school, we feel obliged to communicate with you on a regular basis via email to keep you posted of what is happening at our school. Once again thank you for your organization’s ongoing support. Many thanks to Albie and Dean who are always willing to accommodate us.

I would like to give you a brief report of where we are at the present moment :

Thus far we have a timetable in place accommodating approximately 880 learners (26 classes) on a weekly basis from grades R to 7. Our lab has been running non stop from 25 July 2008 to the present from 8am to 3pm.
We are done with the entering of learners and educators’ names into the active directory.
Our learners have been working keenly on the following software : Robo Maths, Kipi, Fifi & Fritz, Encarta, Literacy Bank and Microsoft Office.
We are in the process of training our educators & learners with regards to the use of the internet and email facility.
We have a daily register in place making provision for the subject in focus and learning outcomes.
We intend to implement a valuation system whereby we will be able to judge how the technology has improved our numeracy and literacy levels using the external grades 3 and 6 evaluations set by the Education department as a barometer.
We hope to present a computer literacy course at a minimal fee during the last term of 2008 in order to raise funds to sustain our lab.

We are always open to comments, suggestions and advice from you. So feel free to raise your opinion since we can only learn from your experiences.

Thanking you
Riyaad Rhoda (LAN Strand Moslem Primary)