This is how I started to use the computer lab at Makaula J.S.S. to integrate teaching and learning in my classes

1. 4
February 2015 theTeacher
Technology
ICT makes
teachers’ lives
“easy and simple”
Thabo Mohlala
N
tsikelelo Hamilton Ntoy-
anto started teaching at
Makaula Junior Second-
ary School in Mthatha
district, Eastern Cape in
1997, teaching social sciences as well
as computer literacy in the senior
phase. Throughout his teaching
years he has been involved in many
academic and non-academic activi-
ties. He has been working really
hard with excellence in many areas,
trying to help pupils improve their
performance. A former principal
inspired his love of the teaching pro-
fession.
Technology should form part
of the curriculum
Ntoyanto strongly believes ICT
should be part of our education sys-
tem, because it makes things easy for
both educators and pupils. For edu-
cators, it makes life very easy,
because they can use their comput-
ers to do their lesson plans, keep
their pupils’ records and also to do
their assessments. They can also use
the internet or Microsoft Encarta to
do their research. For pupils, it sim-
plifies things as they can access
information through the internet for
homework, and tablets can be used
in class to access information related
to the subjects they are learning.
Exposure to ICT
“I was exposed to the power of ICT
when I started to teach computer
literacy,” says Ntoyanto. He used
the data projector in his computer
classes to help pupils get an idea of
what they could do with computers.
His love for ICT continued to grow.
“I bought my own laptop and
started to do my lesson plans and all
assessment activities on it.”
Lesson plans
“As the South African government
has signalled in the White Paper 7 its
intention to progress education
through the use of ICT, I try by all
means when planning my lessons to
select and prepare suitable textual
and visual resources for learning.”
He says he often teaches his subjects
through Microsoft PowerPoint
slides, displayed on a data projector.
“In the slides I use pictures that are
relevant to my subject.” The whole
process is easier: instead of going to
lessons with picture charts, Ntoyanto
simply carries his laptop into class.
Use of videos
Ntoyanto uses videos, especially in his-
tory, to make the subject lively and
fresh. He said when pupils see a video
of say, the Soweto uprisings or the
Sharpeville massacre, they gain a clear
picture of what happened. “I always
encourage my pupils to use available
technology devices to enhance their
learning, support knowledge building,
collaboration or learning beyond the
classroom.” He also encourages them
to use Microsoft Encarta for research
purposes, during their spare time and
without any supervision. He says he
has created a Facebook and WhatsApp
group account for the school. “I
encourage my pupils and colleagues to
share information through them.”
Overcome the fear of ICT
“I would love to encourage my col-
leagues who still fear ICT to try to
use it and feel the power of it. It is a
21st century teaching tool that
makes life very simple. Using ICT
makes you as the teacher to be more
comfortable in your subject, because
everything you need in class is
handy and readily available,” says
Ntoyanto.
Ntsikelelo Hamilton Ntoyanto says technology livens up and
refreshes learning in the classroom
Ntsikelelo Ntoyanto showing his learners how to master
technology. Photo: Supplied