Technology improves numeracy in schools

Friday, October 8th, 2010 | Computer Usage | 4 Comments

The CAMI Speed Challenge has become a part of the annual education calendar of the Western Cape.  The finals of Grades 1 to 7 of this mental mathematics speed challenge took place in a shopping mall in George today.

Learners in all parts of the province went through rounds of elimination over the past weeks and the finalists, with their teachers and supporters, arrived in throngs today to see who the champions are.  Super prizes were sponsored for winners of first, second and third places in each grade.

Little hands moving faster than shutter speed

This competion generates a great deal of enthusiasm every year.  For months prior to the competition learners are allowed into computer facilities at all hours to practise for the event.  The benefits are:

increased use of computer facilities

improvement of numeracy skills of individual learners

improvement of overall numeracy performance of participating schools.

This event is not driven or sponsored by the education department – it is a purely private initiative.  The Khanya Project applauds this type of private involvement, which underscores our motto: Together we can make it happen.

The finals of Grades 8 to 11 take place tomorrow.

Tags: numeracy, partners

How can I derive benefit from partner programmes?

Saturday, May 2nd, 2009 | laptops, training | Comments Off

Several large computer companies have declared themselves to be partners of education, and have launched training programmes to assist educators.  Examples of such programmes are:

Microsoft’s Partners in Learning initiative

Intel’s Teach to the Future programme.

These programmes are offered free of charge to teachers and have the potential to take you to a higher level of proficiency in the use of your laptop.  Their big advantage is that they are specifically geared towards educators and will help you to learn to use your laptop as a teaching tool.

Many teachers undergo a sense of being lost when they go on one of these courses and feel that the course is pitched too high for them.  The reason is that they do not have sufficient basic computer knowledge when they enter the course – a certain degree of computer proficiency is a pre-requisite.

When such courses become available, first find out what knowledge level is expected of you.  If you do not measure up at present, it would be in your interest to obtain the required skills before attempting the course; otherwise you will not gain full benefit from it.

Many other programmes are available where you could become a “master” teacher or a “distinguished” educator or a “thought leader” once you’ve completed the programme.  At times this title may be accompanied by a free computer.  It would be fine for you to aspire to one of these courses – just make sure that you’ve laid a firm foundation and that you have enough basic knowledge to be able to cope with the course.

Partner programmes could be a great way for you to become expert laptop users.  Make use of them. But do not bite off more than you can chew – first grow your teeth.

Click here to find answers to more laptop related questions.

Tags: laptops, learning, partners, training