Leading telecommunications operator Telkom today launched a youth-focused Internet edutainment project called e*telpal.
The e*telpal project is centred on encouraging and promoting communication, education and the learning experience through technology. Using the internet, young South Africans will now have the opportunity to make electronic "pen pals" or e*telpals online on the e*telpal Web site.
Featuring a spectrum of interactive edutainment the e*telpal Web site will offer e*telpals a secure e*telpal chat room, where e*telpals can chat to other young people about various interests, getting to know one another`s culture and orientations.
Each e*telpal will be placed in a group of four to six e*telpals from around SA. The groups can then chat every school day afternoon for 30 minutes each, between 2pm and 5pm.
E*telpals will recognise each other by a digital character of their own design that they create when registering on the Web site. Personal identity is key - so each e*telpal member can create their own unique character by choosing distinctively funky hair, body and head shape to represent them online. As part of the e*telpal world, each e*telpal has the opportunity to keep an e*diary - a journal in which they can post reminders, notes or messages to themselves or their e*telpal group.
On the edutainment side - e*telpals will be able to click on e-zine# and explore themes and topics relating to `Telkom, Science and Technology` and `The World We Live In`. This information will be updated every two weeks and there are exciting tasks to take part in to earn e*telpal reward points. There will be opportunities to chat to role models and celebrities, and find out about the latest events.
E*telpals will be encouraged to fill the e*buzz newsletter with stories that they would like to share with fellow e*telpals. This newsletter also covers positive stories about South African youth that will fill e*telpals with pride in themselves and their country. The `Become You` section of the e*zine is the Personal Growth Development Sections where article and actions encourage constant personal growth.
Temba Masilela, Executive of Corporate Communication Telkom, reiterates: "Safety of the e*telpals is of utmost importance." Online moderators monitor the chat room constantly to ensure the complete safety of e*telpals and parents` peace-of-mind. The e*helper`, Rules of Use, Top Chat Tips and Your Responsibility are all displayed on the Web site to ensure e*telpals safety while online.
A valuable aspect of the e*telpal Web site is the `Teacher-to-Teacher` section. This section specifically aims at teachers` unique needs. The "T2T" section offers teachers innovative teacher-support material that can be printed and used in lessons.
This support material is in line with the government OBE requirements but relates to life skills rather than the school curriculum. These are 30 minute pre-planned activities on issues such as communication and listening skills, group and teamwork, self-confidence and non-verbal communication. Teachers are able to download these programmes and all the resource material from the Web site. There are also a series of theme related pre-planned activities for use in the classroom. These programmes are not designed to replace the school curriculum, but to enhance and complement it. These programmes are related to themes of the e*telpal Web site for 2002. The T2T section also has a bulletin board, where teachers from all over SA can raise issues or concerns on this notice board and seek responses or advice from other teachers.
"One of the paramount features of the Web site is its ease of navigation. The site is uncluttered, fresh, interactive, exciting, easy and user friendly," says Masilela. The splash page only has four icons to click through to get you to where you want to be.
Masilela says: "E*telpal will be implemented as a national project using the Internet facilities primarily available through South African Schools. This exciting interactive youth portal will offer educational content, an interactive learning environment but above all a way to build relationships that stretch across cyber-space. By working with the Telkom Foundation, whose many projects include supplying disadvantaged schools with computers and the internet, Telkom hopes to bring e*telpal to all the children of SA and introduce them to the importance of technology and education for the future."
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