Ligbron e-learning project set to expand

Johannesburg, 18 Jun 2009

The Mpumalanga-based Ligbron Academy of Technology aims to quadruple the reach of its collaborative e-learning project by March 2010.

The community education e-learning project, initiated by Ligbron technology teacher Frans Kalp, is based on the Smart Board interactive whiteboard and other educational technology. The project was piloted in three less-advantaged schools within the Mpumalanga area: Camden Combined School, Umzimvelo Combined School, and Ermelo Combined School, during 2008.

A further 17 schools will join the project during the coming year. Of the schools expected to be incorporated in the project, 13 are secondary schools and four are primary schools.

“The project has proved extremely successful in bridging the urban-rural digital divide and a positive attitude has been created, especially in rural schools, towards using technology to spread educational material displayed on Smart Board interactive whiteboards,” says Dr Hardus Maritz, project manager for the e-learning project.

Next to each Smart Board interactive whiteboard is an LCD screen with a digital camera connected to a PC that shows the image of the teachers from linked schools, enabling them to take an active part in the lesson.

“Being able to share quality teaching among geographically dispersed classrooms has had a marked improvement on the quality of lesson content and teaching methodology,” says Maritz.

“There has been an improvement in discipline and concentration levels of learners. They are positively motivated to learn, and attendance at schools involved in the pilot phase has improved during the past year,” he continues.

Maritz explains that the extent of the planned roll-out to the schools depends on the availability of funds for hardware procurement through the public-private partnership process where the department matches - on a rand-for-rand basis - contributions from the private sector.

The Mpumalanga Education Development Trust manages corporate and private sponsorship for the project which, in turn, is managed by the Mpumalanga Department of Education. The private sector companies committed to financially contributing to the project's roll-out at these secondary schools are Sonae Novobord, Samancor Middelburg Ferrochrome and Absa.

“The Ligbron e-learning initiative using Smart educational technologies has been an exceptional proving ground for applying the latest information and communications technology in bridging the digital divide in our education system,” says Kalp. “It is a marvellous role model for other South African provinces,” he concludes.