ICT in Schools

MultiChoice also contributes towards bridging the digital divide through its ICT in schools project. It involves installing multimedia laboratories, including computers, educational CD-ROMs, televisions, DStv decoders, DVD recorders and multifunction printers in previously disadvantaged schools.

MultiChoice's ICT in school project is a partnership between MultiChoice and the MEC's for education in Limpopo, North West and Gauteng Provinces. The company provides multimedia laboratories and related teacher training to six high performing schools in previously disadvantaged communities in the participating provinces.

MultiChoice Uses Technology to Uplift and Empower Teachers and Learners

“Teacher training is a key element of MultiChoice’s ICT in Schools Project,” says MultiChoice’s CSI Manager Itumeleng Letebele.

The company’s ICT in Schools Project - which contributes towards bridging the digital divide by installing multimedia laboratories, including computers, educational CD-ROMs, televisions, DStv decoders, DVD recorders and multifunction printers in previously disadvantaged schools, has benefitted 227 teachers in the last 18-months.

“MultiChoice understands the value of providing both training to teachers and hardware to schools,” says Letebele. “We strongly believe that empowering teachers to use computers effectively will reduce their administrative load, making them more likely to plan activities that involve learners using the computer facilities. We also anticipate that the teachers will grow more confident in integrating ICT into their lessons,” says Letebele.

PARTNERSHIP WITH MEC’S
The project, a partnership with the MECs for education in Limpopo, North West and Gauteng Provinces, was initiated in 2007 and saw six top performing, previously disadvantaged high schools outfitted with multimedia laboratories, that included a fully equipped and networked computer room.

To ensure that these multimedia laboratories would be effectively used, MultiChoice commissioned SchoolNet SA to offer training to teachers from the Boijane and Gabonewe Secondary Schools in North West, Ivory Park, Falvius Mareka and Bona Lesedi Secondary Schools in Gauteng, and the Harry Oppenheimer Secondary School in Limpopo.

After the computers had been installed at the end of 2007, participants began with the ICT Skills for Teachers, “Which,” says Letebele “was an ideal course for teachers who had only recently started using computers. This was followed by the One Step Further course in 2009.”

ICT Skills for Teachers is a Microsoft Partners in Learning course that aims to provide teachers with their initial computer confidence.

“The learning methodology is based on just-in-time learning and adult learning principles. It ensures that teachers learn all the necessary skills they require to use applications software such as word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, email and internet. However all learning takes place in the context of the teachers’ own professional life needs, so for example through designing a mark-book, teachers learn how to set up and work with spreadsheets,” says Letebele.

ONE STEP FURTHER
One Step Further, on the other hand, is offered to teachers who have had some time to acquire and use basic computer skills. It aims to empower teachers with the skills to integrate ICT across the curriculum, with the ultimate aim of improving the way learning happens. It also provides guidance on the use of Microsoft Encarta and Microsoft One Note and enables teachers to easily use ICT and to encourage ICT integration.

According to SchoolNet SA Programmes Manager, Megan Rademeyer, the trainee feedback described the course as an “eye-opener”, “wonderful” and “interesting” with most teachers planning to incorporate what they had learnt into their lessons.

One teacher stated: “I enjoyed training and feel that I am equipped and approach learning and teaching easier, I can even make great change and improvements in the lesson preparation. I learned a lot and appreciate this, thank you!”

The trainers, meanwhile, reported that the teachers were interested in the course and the participants themselves reported that their computer skills had improved; that they enjoyed learning how to use One Note and Encarta; and that they were amazed by the amount of information they could retrieve from Encarta.

Each participant was given a CD containing the training materials on it. “This is a cost-effective way of sharing training materials and encourages teachers to familiarize themselves with navigating through electronic courseware,” says Letebele.

Now that the infrastructure rollout and training are completed, Edu-bouquet training and sustainability workshops are scheduled at the six schools in August.

“SchoolNet SA looks forward to a continued relationship with MultiChoice, an organization that strives to use technology to uplift and empower teacher and learners,” says Rademeyer.

The MultiChoice Corporate Social Investment Strategy is underpinned by the need to make a sustainable and lasting impact in communities within which it operates. “Our focus areas are media development, education and the orphaned and vulnerable children,” says Letebele.

Through direct technology investments and support MultiChoice enables individuals and communities to help themselves, thereby minimizing dependence.