2. Topics to be discussed.
• Why technology?
• What are some of the common concerns when implementing
technology in an educational setting?
• What are the motivation factors for the implementation of
technology in a learning environment?
• Specific benefits when working with a barrier to learning.
• What are we doing at the moment?
• Practical implementation.
• Financial implications.
3. The undeniable truth.
• Technology is moving faster that we ever anticipated.
• 3rd world countries are now the fastest growing platforms for
mobile devices.
• Nigeria and Pakistan are some of the fastest growing countries
when we look at smart phone implementation.
• Sugata Miltra – India; Teaching children how to teach themselves.
Won the TED prize and has received international acclaim as an
exceptional project.
• Professional arena – Critically linked with technology.
• Sir Ken Robinson – Changing Education Paradigms: “…living in the
most intensely stimulating period in the history of the Earth.”
4. Concerns.
• The use of technology can isolate my
child in the class as well as socially.
• My child might not develop the social
skills which I would like them to.
•The cost of current technology is high,
and coupled with the fact that it is quickly
outdated, it becomes to expensive to
implement.
• Teachers: The successful implementation
rests on the learners ability to navigate and
type efficiently. Typing practice is the
learners responsibility.
5. Quotes.
• Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach: “Teachers will not be replaced by technology,
but teachers who don’t use technology will be replaced by those who
do.”
• Will Richardson: “21st century skills are all about teaching our kids to
navigate the world as they are experiencing it, not the world we
experienced.”
• John Dewey: “If we teach today as we taught yesterday, we rob our
children of tomorrow.”
6. Motivation.
• It can help shift the emphasis from teaching to learning. The push
– pull model. This is far more consistent with the expectations
which we commonly face in life.
• It fosters a better understanding of collaboration both amoungst
learners, but also with the educator.
• It increases personal productivity – This is particularly important
for high school, later studies and their career. The aim of education
is to show the learner how to succeed in life, and provide them
with the tools to do so.
• It can help motivate the learner.
7. Benefits regarding barriers.
• New techniques which may suit the
learner better. It helps discover
potential.
• Improved spelling and presentation.
• Lessen anxiety about untidy work.
8. What are we doing?
• We are researching and making use
of small, non-committal experiments
such as the Tech Day.
• We have purchased a tablet and are
currently trying various educational
programs and applications.
•All of our intermediate and senior
phase classes are equipped with
interactive white boards.
• We are placing an emphasis on
personal development.
9. Practical implementation:
• Maths: Mental maths, maths games,
data handling, geometry, space and
shapes.
• Languages: Creative writing, oral
presentations.
• Social Sciences: Research, map work,
source based questioning, essay writing.
• Natural Sciences: Research.
• Technology: Research, practical work,
design.
• Life Skills/Orientation: Case studies,
research.
• Arts and Culture: Art theory research
in Gr 7.
10. Practical implementation continued:
• If possible, we would like the
devices to be brought to the
school from the 4th term onwards
in order to iron out the
implementation.
• We are aiming for a full
implementation by January 2014.
• Shelanti will not be held liable for
any damage to any device, but we
will take every precaution to
make sure that the devices are
used exclusively in the classroom
etc.
11. Financial implications:
• Initial cost of laptop.
• R 50 for a monthly block, allowing
students to visit safe websites while at
school.
• R 50 once off admin fee to cover I.T.
expenses such as setting up email and
connecting to networks and printers.
• A small monthly fee for the extension
and implementation of our school
network. More users require extra
bandwidth. This can only be calculated at
a later stage.
