Onscreen Marking

Last week while attending an e-learning update conference, a speaker introduced us Onscreen Marking. This is an interesting tool developed by UNISA for teachers who would like to use electronic-type marking. It may not save you from marking, but it is a cool way to use the marked assignment as a feedback and learning tool for the student.

The assignment that is submitted must be in Adobe pdf format. Teachers can then mark the assignment in various ways. If they click on the calculator the program adds up the mark. Comments can be made on the assignment and mailed back to the student with the teacher keeping an electronic copy.

Some people may not agree with some of the marking methods, but it a useful tool.

For more details go to http://bit.ly/camn1X.

Microsoft Education Labs

If you are a Maths or Science teacher, please check out these resources at http://www.educationlabs.com/pages/default.aspx. What particularly interests us is the Maths worksheet generator. It generates problems and gives the answers without showing how to work it out. It saves time setting up exercises for learners to practice and is paper-based. Unfortunately, the marking of the exercises will remain the domain of the educator, otherwise the learners can mark them. The target audience are the lower grades, which is good. There is also a Chemistry Add-in program which will help with inserting Chemical formulae into Word documents. We have not looked at this yet, but we're sure it will be of use.

You light up my life...

A few days ago I visited Uxolo High School and was stopped by the most gentlemanly Physics teacher that I know, Mr Mathungana. Last quarter he begged me to come to his school and install Science Freeware for him. I did this and did a quick training session with him. This took place amongst a number of disruptions as different people vied for his attention.

Mr Mathungana explained to me how he used the PhET simulations (http://phet.colorado.edu) of the Photo-electric effect and waves in his teaching. He explains to learners and they visually see the concepts which otherwise they would have to imagine. Change a value here and there and the investigative process starts. What if..? What is our hypothesis? Instead of getting apparatus together we can use the simulations. Do we have an answer. Does it confirm or refute our hypothesis?

On the same day at Intlanganiso I observed Mr Yali teaching a grade 9 class transformations in Mathematics on the Interactive Whiteboard. He had Master Maths (http://www.mastermaths.co.za) open going through a few slides, explaining each step of the problem. There was a set of axes a one point plotted. The program asked for a reflection of that point about the x - axis. The learner came to the board and clicked the wrong answer. The program responded. Mr Yali picked up the Interactive Active Whiteboard pen and wrote over the program on the the board. He knows his stuff with Maths and with ICT.

Was our time wasted in schools? I don’t think so. To these teachers who are working hard at getting learners to do well in Physics and in Maths, you’re the best.

Skills Transfer Session 8

Skills Transfer Session on Inter Electronic Whiteboard Skills -

Participants:- MEED Officials all Learning areas and Management

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School library and Computer lab launch at Lwandle Primary
Principal : Mr S. Maqhubela
This ceremonious event took place at the premises of the Lwandle Primary school on the 17 August 2011. The main objective behind the launch was to notify all relevant stakeholders about existence of the two main information centres that are now officially in operation. Launching these two information Centres was paramount as it was through collaboration and efforts of the stakeholders. Furthermore, learners needed to be made aware that the library and Computer lab work reciprocally to uplift learning and teaching. The WCED (represented by Ms K. Mabandla) and Khanya Project (represented by B. Hendricks and S. Didiza) were the main official representatives who made the existence of the school library and Computer centre possible for our learners. The WCED efforts started when Ms K. Mabandla visited the school to meet our school library coordinator. The school coordinators keenly consulted all school structures (Principal, educators, School Governing Body and broader parent community). Parents never wasted time as they saw the initiatives will benefit their learners. Learners will definitely improve the level of reading, writing and numeracy. There were other partners (i.e. Equal Education and Rotary Club) in education who primarily help schools from the disadvantaged community. They indicated from their speeches that they would like to see the centres used profitably for the best interest of learners so that in the end they (learners of the school) are on par with other well-off learners in well-resourced schools. A number of representatives from various neighbouring schools were in attendance also to witness the event. Both rooms were resourced satisfactorily but space for books and other equipment is vast and the school will appreciate assistance from any organization.

Music, dance and poetry characterized the jubilation of learners and visitors during this event.

Reported by Sipho Didiza