1. Arthur Mfebe Senior Secondary School was chosen as a pilot
site. A base study of the Cofimvaba School District was undertaken
in early 2012.
2. In August 2012, the learners and teachers were introduced to
the Dr Math service as well as the QuizMax solution (practice Maths
and Science tests and exam papers for grades 10 -12) and the
Siyavula Maths and Science textbooks, all available via MXit. Cell
C provided free SIM cards and airtime to all learners at the
school, since access to MXit is free over the Cell C network.
3. All the teachers at the school were provided with 7-inch
tablets, under the innovative CSIR Meraka EARN AS YOU LEARN model,
where each teacher had to agree to attend each training course and
do their homework, in order to earn their tablets.
4. Safe storage and charging stations were installed at the
school, as well as a wifi network and a content server. Learners
and teachers are able to access the content via their tablets.
5. The Cofimvaba project was officially launched by Minister
Hanekom of the Department of Science and Technology and Deputy
Minister Surty of the Department of Basic Education in December
2012.
6. The school was provided with 2xMobiKits, which each held 10
tablets. These tablets were given to their matric learners, who
shared them and took it in turns to take home to help with their
studies. The teachers are actively using the tablets in the
classroom as textbooks, research tools, browsers, video cameras,
multimedia tools, audio recorders, etc.
7. Teachers at Arthur Mfebe continued their training and were
eventually provided with 10inch Samsung tablets, after a decision
was made to provide teachers with larger tablets. Their 7-inch
tablets were made available to learners at the school.
8. In June 2013, ALL the teachers fulfilled the requirements as
set out, and graduated from training. The tablets were officially
earned and became their personal properties.
9. In May 2013, the project team visited the additional 11
schools that were earmarked for Phase 2 of the project. Children
were given an opportunity to experience the tablets for the first
time.
10. Teachers at the new schools were also given the opportunity
to play with the tablets. The visit to the schools was undertaken
as part of the communication and change management processes that
are inherent in the project.
11. On 18 July 2013, matric learners at Arthur Mfebe, the first
pilot school, were each given their own tablet. Parents were
present at the celebration. The rest of the learners were promised
tablets once the storage and charging facility at the school had
been adequately prepared and secured.
12. On 19 and 20 July 2013, 144 teachers at an additional 11
schools all received tablets, also under the EARN AS YOU LEARN
model. Over the next 9 months they will go through comprehensive
teacher training at their schools, as part of the preparation for
tablet rollouts to each school.
13. After the feedback from the first pilot school, the EARN AS
YOU LEARN system was formalised into a badge system, where badges
are used to accredit micro-skills as they develop. Teachers need to
complete 13 COMPULSORY badges to earn their tablets over a 10
module course. Small incentives are linked to badge attainment, at
both a personal and school basis. The first badge was the ICT4RED
badge, where they earned covers for their tablets. Schools receive
additional technology equipment once their teachers have received a
minimum number of badges.
14. ICT4RED Christmas in July for Cofimvaba teachers but lots
of hard work ahead for them and the CSIR Meraka extended team!
These teachers have just earned their ICT4RED badges.
15. A successful visit by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee
on Science and Technology was undertaken to Cofimvaba and Arthur
Mfebe in July 2013. Members were exposed to the project and to
various teaching techniques being used to teach mathematics
supported by tablets (Jigsaw methodology and creating videos).
16. The rest of the grade 10 and 11 Arthur Mfebe learners were
each provided with their own tablet in August 2013. This is the
largest tablet rollout thus far 300 tablets!
17. Professional Teacher Development was in full swing by
August 2013 (2 weeks after receiving their tablets), where the
teachers began focusing on various teaching strategies and
comfortably and competently using their tablets to support their
teaching. JIGSAW
18. MIND-MAPPING JIGSAW MOBIQUETTE Some of the learning
artefacts that are being produced by teachers as they complete the
various professional teacher development modules!
19. The little school that could! Celebrations at Zamuxolo
Junior Secondary School, which became the first school to earn a
projector via the EARN AS YOU LEARN system, despite being one of
the most disadvantaged schools in the project.
20. Additional schools soon earned their projectors as well,
under the watchful eyes of our on-the-ground partners and champions
from the District Office, Sindiswa Sibawu and Roy Kattukkanal.
21. Young, eager and excited learners are helping their
teachers develop ICT policies for their schools.
22. Indications of how technology is both an enabler of
opportunity and erases barriers of age the devices are being used
by young
23. ROLE PLAY .. and old!
24. Learning how to use various digital resources on tablets in
the classroom all about ebooks, videos, podcasts, simulations and
animations, using the Learning Station concept. LEARNING
STATIONS
25. A tablet fun day was held on a Saturday in November 2013,
in order to provide the opportunity for teachers to earn technology
badges and to celebrate the success of the project so far. Although
attendance was optional, more than 160 teachers and officials
arrived to enthusiastically participate!
26. All teachers were set up with email addresses, could
download apps, could attend social media workshops and could give
input to evaluation questionnaires. There were also prizes given to
top teachers. The day was so successful that it was the top
trending topic in South Africa on Twitter!
27. In January 2014, some of our ICT4RED team members started
visiting the 15 new schools where the project will be expanded to.
This was to view the schools, interact with educators and start
communicating about the project and what was going to happen.
28. At the same time another ICT4RED team visited the current
schools to check on school numbers and to do badge assessments.
Some of these schools will soon earn tablets and internet
connectivity for their schools.
29. Modules 7 & 8 enabled the teachers to learn about new
techniques, such as field trips as learning strategies.
30. Different interpretations of feet off the ground in the
scavenger hunt!
31. Teachers are becoming increasingly comfortable with the
technology!
32. No problems with the touch interface
33. Or typing..
34. Comfortable in the paper and digital worlds using both
interchangeably.
35. Just fully engaged learning!
36. They are being exposed to new methods of teaching,
discussing, questioning and debating as they experience the various
teaching strategies and then go back to their classrooms to try
them out for themselves.
37. The project is seeing increasing use of the learning
strategies that the educators are being exposed to, being repeated
in the classroom!
38. Some of the amazing learning artefacts that are being
developed by the ICT4RED teachers as they employ new pedagogies.
Gallery Walk Role Play Scavenger hunt Field trip
39. Were looking forward to what our ICT4RED educators are
going to produce after the module on game-based learning! This is
one of our Angry Birds champions, who is also one of the oldest
educators, yet one of our star performers!
40. This project is about FUN
41. OPPORTUNITY
42. LEARNING
43. CHALLENGE
44. EXPLORATION
45. TEAMWORK
46. CREATIVITY
47. EMPOWERMENT
48. MOVING OUT OF COMFORT ZONES
49. And HARD WORK!
50. Its about giving our children the future they deserve.