My World !! Not 3, but 6 Facilitators in Our World !

My World 3 - what a small world. On Friday 12/06/09, EMDC East Facilitators meet @ Isikhokelo PS Khayelitsha to add more activities to My World. Who welcomed us ? Barbara !!! She joined in the activities to enhance the content of My World 3.

Sipho printed the notes on how to use editor. Siki guided us through some vital procedures. She worked on the graphics and managed to get her birds, insects and butterflies to use their wings - motion !!! Sipho was on his knees begging her how she did it !! He got hold of his diary and wrote down the steps. Barbara also had her input on how to get the program working. Eventually, Steward and Nontobeko got their Editor working and said that they can't wait to create new activities. I eventually hugged Barbara and thanked her for the venue and eats !!

We will keep you up-to-date on My World 6.

We as the GET EMDC EAST Team will meet again to load and finilize the new screen activities.

Albie

PDFs and FFCs

No I'm not swearing! Not today. I have mailed some links I think will be of use to fellow facilitators. I think I need to share it will everybody since we may have encountered this or maybe we will encounter this when we meet up with new laptop/PC owners. Many have either MSOffice 2003 or MSOffice 2007. The two don't necessarily talk to each other. Their file formats are different. In order for MS2003 to read MSOffice2007 documents (e.g. mark.docx) download and install an add-in program from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=941b3470-3ae9-4aee-8f43-c6bb74cd1466&displaylang=en.

If you pdf documents like I do, then you can download and install an add-in program from http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=4d951911-3e7e-4ae6-b059-a2e79ed87041&displaylang=en. It only works for MSOffice2007. When you type a document and you do not want anybody to change it, then you can pdf it by clicking on File, Save As and choose the pdf option.

I must warn you that Microsoft may check the legality of your software while you are visiting their site. Do this at your own risk.

Virtual Literacy at Nomsa Mapongwana

I had the privilege of visiting Nomsa to assist educators with the use of the Virtual Server Software installed on our schools' servers. As we learnt a few things together on the technical side, I took some time to walk around the room to chat to some learners and take some pictures. I was impressed with the ease with with the educator handled the class and the learners eagerly doing the Literacy Module on CAMI. Even I could assist them where it was necessary. Now they can teach me isiXhosa. I am an MTN (more time needed) learner with an atrocious pronounciation of isiXhosa words.

Exploring zones in K ZONE @ MACASSAR PS

ALL the Foundation Phase Educators did a workshop during the examination time on the newly installed K-ZONE.

What started to be just a short introduction to K-ZONE, developed into a full 45 minutes++ of exploring the zones within K-ZONE. The educators clicked and navigated through the K-ZONE software. They were very impressed with the software and even complimented Khanya and the LTSM Team on developing such a wonderful program for the FP.

After the official ending of the workshop, most of the FP Educators still navigated through the software. I eventually left while they continue to explore the K-ZONE software. That is something noteworthy – educators willing to walk that extra “zone” or two during the exam time and in the afternoon to equipped themselves with general computer and software skills !!

Training at Faure

After a period of almost one year, Faure educators sucessfully completed their training sessions. The staff of Faure Youth school was very committed. Every Tuesday educators travelled from their various schools to Faure Khanya laboratory to receive training. They sacrifice their time, money and energy to fullfill their goal. How effective and worthwhile was this training to you?

Please leave your comments?

Sylvain Goliath

K-ZONE Training @ UMNQOPHISO PS in Nomzamo / Lwandle Strand

On Thursday 4/6/09 Umnqophiso PS was ready to explore K-ZONE and the MS Word Guidelines in a workshop. The FP Educators were all present and WORD was explained and practised and then we moved on to the K-ZONE for Grade 1 - 3.

The FP Educators were showed the practical layout and application of the software. The easy layout was enjoyed and the practical hands-on click and go was worthwhile. The program will be used @ Umnqophiso PS to ensure that perceptual, reading and eventually Maths skills are strenghten with the UQPS Learners by applying the K-ZONE software.

Albie

Virtual Server Training done by Cyberspace Denric Cloud

Virtual Server Training done by Cyberspace Denric Cloud

Denric Blaauw came to Sizimisele Sec to give EMDC Est Team a Virtual Trip into Cyberspace. He got the servers (2x of them on line) and started the training.

Albie got only his real head visible while his virtual body was gone. Denric found the total package eventually and continue with training. After a while he went to the drawing board to do the "old" teaching style - using a koki pen on a normal plastic whiteboard. He draw and draw and draw lines to explain the concept of old vs new server. (I got lost but found my body again). Mark sat back and critically evaluate the whole virtual server concept trip into Milkyway Cyberspace @ Sutherland's Telescope III. Bonny decided to take notes to ensure we will be well equipped with written scribbled notes into pdf format. As usual, Sylvain had his expertise SNA / LAN input - we need that !! Denric summarized the whole virtual server concept and it went into cyberspace - we all can do it now !

Albie Head and soul in ONE

Hopolang on the trot

After weeks of having pre-progression, pre-whole school

evaluation visits and whole school

evaluation, educators still found time to smile during a Word training session today

. Colds, flu, exams and cold weather did not keep these dedicated teachers away. As the tired hands dragged the mouse devices and typing continued the occasional grunt or laughter brightened up the mood. It was just somebody making a "stupid" mistake or got something right for the first time.

Our crawling is slowly progressing into walking. Keep it up Hopolang!

UK Educators @ Somerset West Methodist PS and Danie Ackerman PS

27x UK educators were assisting SWMPS and DAPS this week in the classrooms, in the LAB and with the EIAWB. They are from the Special Schools and Academic Trust from the United Kingdom and include the following schools: Studley Junior and High School, Mappleborough Green Primary School, Alcester Grammar School and St Mary’s Roman Catholic Primary School. At SWMPS and DAPS they were assisting learners on how to do research, but also how to do it with creative writing and thinking skills.

The topic was the Meerkat. The purpose was not just to collect information about the meerkat and its habitat, food, environment and other characteristics, but also about its future, growing up, facing trouble and dangers in their environment and equipping themselves with “skills”. These skills will be needed by the little meerkat when he / she is a grown up meerkat, as an adult, in an ever changing world and environment. This message was made applicable on the learners and their own environment.

The one lesson was further enhanced on the EIAWB together with a practical demonstration – a suitcase. What do you put in the suitcase to take with you when you are going on holiday ? But even more – what do you put in your “life suitcase” when you leave home / school one day ? The lesson was further explained and demonstrated on the EIAWB with the a group discussion amongst the learners – what will be in your suitcase one day. What do you put in the suitcase to take with when you go on holidays? But even more – what do you put in your “future life suitcase” ? (e.g. morals, values, ethics, ethos etc) when you leave home / school one day.

To be equipped and to be ready to be going out into the wide wild world out there waiting for you as a human and person, is more then just a lot of statistical data and information in your brain.

I would like to compliment the UK educators on a successful educational sharing session at the Helderberg Schools and on top of that they spend a whole week, supposed to be their summer holiday, at SA schools to enrich our learners. Thankxx.

Albie

Note: I am awaiting a more comprehensive report from the group of UK educators that will also be posted on the blog.