{"id":19209,"date":"2013-04-12T23:01:23","date_gmt":"2013-04-12T21:01:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/e-learning-and-technology-in-the-classroom-in-focus-at-african-education-week-in-june\/"},"modified":"2013-04-12T23:01:23","modified_gmt":"2013-04-12T21:01:23","slug":"e-learning-and-technology-in-the-classroom-in-focus-at-african-education-week-in-june","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/e-learning-and-technology-in-the-classroom-in-focus-at-african-education-week-in-june\/","title":{"rendered":"E-learning and technology in the classroom in focus at African Education Week in June"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cIt is very difficult to think of any learning that is not E-enabled.\u201d<\/p>\n

Are mobile devices revolutionary or disruptive in a classroom setting? Should IT and social media be used to develop professional learning networks? And can twitter, Facebook and MixIT enhance teaching and learning in the classroom? These are some of the compelling questions that will be discussed during the Education Technology Indaba at the annual African Education Week from 19-22 June at the Sandton Convention Centre.<\/p>\n

The African Education Week Convention and Learning Expo is the meeting and trading platform for everyone who is passionate about improving the standard of education in Africa. Now in its 7th year, it remains the continent\u2019s leading educational resources and training event, attracting more education professionals than any other event.<\/p>\n

\u201cE\u201d will be big!
\n\u201c\u2019E\u2019 will be big this year in South African education!\u201d says well-known educational technology expert and head of e-Learning at Mustek, Kobus van Wyk. \u201cAlthough e-Learning is already happening in isolated schools, it still has to get going at a much broader level. e-Learning can make a huge contribution towards alleviating the bad state of education in South Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n

He continues: \u201cthe National Department of Basic Education (DBE) is putting large emphasis on the use of technology in education, or e-education as they call it. In its document, \u201cAction Plan to 2014\u201d, chapter 7 is entitled \u201cThe importance of e-education,\u201d with some ambitious goals set for 2013 and 2014. This adds impetus to the implementation of e-learning initiatives in the different provinces.\u201d<\/p>\n

From tablets to phablets
\nAccording to Kobus van Wyk, who is a regular speaker at African Education Week, it became very apparent during 2012 \u201cthat the use of tablets and mobile devices will play an increasingly important role in education in the future.\u201d He encourages teachers to embrace technology: \u201cEducators, get your hands on a device \u2013 today! Experience it first hand, familiarise yourself with it, and when you get stuck, ask a learner to help you!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not just tablets that are the way forward, it is the concept of \u2018bring your own device (BYOD)\u2019 says one of this year\u2019s keynote speakers at African Education Week, Prof Johannes Cronje, Dean Informatics and Design at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology.<\/p>\n

He explains: \u201ctablets are getting cheaper and cheaper, and more and more versatile. Of course it\u2019s not just tablets but the combination of tablets and phones, \u201cPhablets\u201d, that are set to revolutionise things. We are progressively finding that our technology has to be portable. We are moving to a multi-screen universe, with the screens being very intelligent, and even knowing where they are and who is using them. This ability of machines to learn our behaviour and our needs will mean that we have to explore new ways of learning and thinking about technology.\u201d<\/p>\n

Prof Cronje believes the term E-learning will disappear in favour of an older term, \u201clearning\u201d. He says: \u201csince electronic books have started outselling printed books, and since Facebook exchanges are outperforming email, it is very difficult to think of any learning that is not E-enabled.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s learners tech-savvy
\n\u201cToday learners are becoming very tech-savvy and engage with one another through technology as a primary means of communication\u201d says Paulo Ferreira, Head of Enterprise Mobility at Samsung South Africa. \u201cAs such\u201d, he continues, \u201censuring education takes place within this environment means that learners will naturally engage more actively within the education space \u2013 learning more and increasing their knowledge around technology at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSamsung started off by offering the African continent our Solar Powered Internet Schools (SPIS),\u201d says Paulo, \u201ca world-first; the exclusively solar-powered, mobile and completely independent classroom is geared at increasing accessibility to education and connectivity across Africa. It is designed particularly for use in remote rural areas with limited or no access to electricity. Each Solar Powered Internet School is built in a 12 metre long shipping container, making them easily transportable via truck to remote areas.\u201d<\/p>\n

Paulo Ferreira says \u201cthe success of this Samsung solution is evident through the one that has been stationed at Phomolong Secondary School in Tembisa for approximately 9 months. Over this time, the matric pass rate increased from 89% the previous year to 97% at the end of 2012 \u2013 an increase of 8%.\u201d Samsung is a gold sponsor at this year\u2019s African Education Week.<\/p>\n

More programme highlights in the Education Technology Indaba at African Education Week will include:<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Panel discussion: A futuristic view of education
\n– Kobus van Wyk, Head of e-Learning, Mustek
\n– Phil Minisi, Director for Curriculum Innovation, Department of Basic Education, South Africa<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Panel discussion: The challenge of change: Is social media disruptive in education?
\n– Adele Botha, Senior Research Scientist, CSIR Meraka Institute, South Africa
\n– Maggie Verster, Senior Consultant, ICT4Champions, South Africa
\n– Jaye Richards Hills, Digital Evangelist, Educator and Innovator, ICT in Education Excellence Group Member at The Scottish Government, United Kingdom
\n– Paul Colditz, CEO, Federation of Governing Bodies of SA Schools (Fedsas)<\/p>\n

\u00b7 Panel discussion: E-learning in action
\n– Dr Johan Jacobs, Deputy Director: Facility of Learning ICT Support, UNISA Campus Cape Town, South Africa
\n– Brett Simpson, Managing Director, Breadbin, South Africa
\n– Overcoming the barriers to e-learning and distance education: An African perspective Kobus van Wyk, Head of e-Learning, Mustek
\n– Prof Johannes Cronj\u00e9, Dean, Informatics and Design, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa
\n– Elizabeth Thobejane, CEO, Gauteng City Region Academy,Gauteng Education, South Africa<\/p>\n

Event dates:
\nWednesday, 19 June 2013: Pre-conference workshops
\nThursday, 20 June 2013: Opening keynote session, Learning Expo opens
\nFriday, 21 June 2013: Conference sessions, Learning Expo open
\nSaturday, 22 June 2013: Learning Expo open, Post conference workshops<\/p>\n

Location: Sandton Convention Centre, South Africa
\nWebsites: www.educationweek.co.za ; www.careerindaba.co.za<\/p>\n

Contact:
\nCommunications manager: Annemarie Roodbol
\nTelephone: +27 21 700 3558
\nmobile: +27 82 562 7844
\nEmail: annemarie.roodbol@clarionevents.com<\/p>\n

URL<\/strong>:
Twitter<\/strong>: https:\/\/twitter.com\/Education_Week<\/a>
Facebook<\/strong>:
YouTube<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Author: Annemarie Roodbol<\/strong> from African Education Week<\/a>. Originally distributed by MyPR.co.za<\/a>.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

No of Images Uploaded: One<\/strong><\/p>\n

To gain access to One<\/em> image\/s please Like, Tweet or +1 this article:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\nAfrican Education Week<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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