Cloud computing and virtualisation software company VMware, has partnered with LEAP 1 School in Cape Town, Langa Township, to improve the school's IT infrastructure and conduct technology workshops for its teachers.
LEAP schools is a high school education initiative for pupils who live in marginalised communities. The programme provides free education to students with potential, focusing on mathematics, science and English.
The VMware Foundation developed a unique leadership programme, called Good Gigs, which is aimed at increasing digital literacy in the classroom through professional development and ICT training of teachers. The programme focuses on taking a human-centred design approach to tackle digital literacy, while introducing technology tools and applications to teachers.
According to the VMware Foundation, the Good Gigs team members, known as 'trekkers', started their sessions last week at the LEAP 1 School and will be working with the school until 19 November, to implement the second phase of a three-phase initiative.
The trekkers, who are volunteering VMware employees, conduct technology workshops aimed at strengthening digital literacy of the teachers and to inspire them to integrate technology into their classroom lessons. During the next phase, trekkers will work with LEAP schools remotely, to understand the organisation's needs and challenges and develop prototypes within those constraints, it adds.
"The foundation's mission is to inspire employees to serve and learn as active corporate citizens in communities around the world. Good Gigs provides the opportunity for all the people involved to learn and grow through immersive service," explains Jessamine Chin, director of the VMware Foundation, USA.
"In the course of this service, teachers innovate through learning and applying human-centred design to problem solving; create an environment of inspiration through radical authenticity; and cultivate a global worldview through practising a growth mindset."
During the Inspire Phase, she continues, the Good Gigs Trekkers will define their leadership insights through the trek so that they can apply the learning to their daily work at VMware.
According to the VMware Foundation, in addition to its work at the school, the Good Gigs team will lead a Community Day on Saturday, 12 November, at LEAP 1 School to provide general technology training for community members in Langa.
"Building on the lessons learned during last year's SA Trek, and based on the prevailing needs and constraints of the LEAP 1 School, we aspire to deliver a practical solution that will not only build the school's IT capacity, but also inspire the best possible use of technology in the classroom via our delivery of an IT assessment and implementation, and teacher technology workshops to support this goal," concludes Chin.
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