Policy for Transforming Teaching & Learning through ICTs in South Africa

1. Policy for Transforming Teaching & Learning through ICTs in South Africa Seugnet Blignaut seugnet.blignaut@up.ac.za

2. Using ICTs in Society & Education • Global revolution • Obligation to deliver quality education • Increased effectiveness of development • Key for teaching and learning in 21st century • New challenges for delivery of education

3. Digital Divide • Use of ICTs in Africa increased with 20% • 73% of Americans use the Internet • 7% of South African use the Internet

4. Digital divide is also about … • Number and quality of local websites • Collective knowledge generation • Developing the capacity of the local workforce • Overcoming of cultural inhibitions • Creating of investment climates • ICTs as a core feature of innovation

5. Government’s response • “Through appropriate technologies, it is hoped that South Africa will leapfrog into the new century, and implement a solution that works now, and has the capacity to handle future developments” Prof Kader Asmal Me Naledi Pandor

6. Government’s response (…/ continued) • Three critical elements will determine ICTs as an effective tool: • Cost • Sustainability • Efficient utilization of ICTs

7. Profile of ICTs in Schools • ICT professional development: • Scope • SchoolNet SA • INTEL “Teach to the Future” • Electronic Content Resources • Infrastructure and connectivity • Uncoordinated efforts • Disparities in SA society • 5–83% of schools in provinces has computers

8. e-Education • Concept revolves around the use of ICTs to accelerate the achievement of nation education goals: • Apply ICT skills to access, analyse, integrate, present and communicate info • Create knowledge by adapting, applying, designing inventing and authoring info • Function in a knowledge society

9. e-Education: Tool for Development • Tool to assist the whole-school development: • Management and administration • Resource for curriculum integration • Communication tool • Collaborative tool for teachers and learners • Learning environment that advances creativity, communication, collaboration and engagement

10. e-Education Policy Goal • “Every South African learner will be ICT capable (i.e. use ICTs confidently and creatively) to help develop skills and know-ledge they need to achieve personal goals and to be full participants in the global community by 2013”

11. e-School Development • Operational dimension • Skills necessary for the use of new ICTs • Cultural dimension • A culture that supports the practice of ICTs for educational purposes • Critical dimension • Critical dialogue, analysis among teachers, and researchers to provoke teachers benefits of ICTs

12. Using ICTs in Education • About teaching and learning philosophies and methodologies within: • An outcomes-based education • A ICTs learning environment that: • Do not replace teachers • Support teachers and learners • Actively contextualize learning content • Address issues of excellence and equity

13. The Policy Framework • Access to ICT infrastructure • Capacity building • Norms and standards: • Initiatives and donations • Compliance, responsibility, implementation • Content relevancy • Inter-operability • Rights-management

14. Strategic Objectives • “Every teacher, manager and administrator must have the knowledge, skills and support they need to integrate ICTs in teaching and learning”

15. Strategic Objectives (…/ continued) • “The school curriculum must be supported through effective and engaging software, e-content and online learning resources, and teachers, content developers and admini-strators who contribute to these resources” • Thutong portal

16. Strategic Objectives (…/ continued) • “Every teacher and learner must have access to ICT infrastructure”

17. Strategic Objectives (…/ continued) • “Every teacher and learner must have access to an educational network and the Internet”

18. Strategic Objectives (…/ continued) • “Schools must work in partnerships with families & the wider community to ensure shared knowledge and extended opportu-nities for learning and development through ICTs”

19. Strategic Objectives (…/ continued) • “The research and development community must continuously assess current practices, and explore and experiment with new technologies, methodologies and techniques that are reliable and will support teachers and administrators in e-learning and e-administration”

20. Funding and Resourcing • Need for investment • Principles for funding and resourcing • Sources of funding

21. Implementation Strategies • System-wide approach • Co-ordination and collaboration • Monitoring and evaluation • Planning cycles: • Readiness to use ICTs • System-wide integration of ICTs into teaching and learning • ICTs integrated at all levels of the education system – management, teaching, learning and administration

22. Thank you! • Questions?