Four tech-savvy South African teachers have booked their spots in the global final of the world's top education technology competition, after winning their categories at the regional event in Jordan this week.
Louise Clarke and Kim Jackson, of St Cyprian's, in Cape Town, and Lyneth Crighton, of Brescia House, in Johannesburg, won their respective categories at Microsoft's Partners in Learning Middle East and Africa Forum. They will now compete against more than 500 teachers from around the world at the Partners in Learning Global Forum, in Washington DC, in November.
Clarke and Jackson won the Collaboration category for a project that got grade 4 learners creating their own stories using Windows Movie Maker. Crighton won the Cutting Edge Use of Technology award for a project that saw grade 10 learners using social media tools to discuss and analyse 'Cry, The Beloved Country'.
Microsoft Partners in Learning runs a series of Innovative Teacher events across the region that recognises teachers who creatively and effectively use technology in their curriculum to help improve the way students learn. More than 200 teachers and educational professionals from 25 countries that had been chosen to participate following national forums attended the Middle East Africa Innovative Education Forum, in Jordan, and the winners were decided by an international jury comprising 27 education experts.
Another local teacher, Natalie Meerholz, of Holy Rosary, in Edenvale, was placed fourth in the Extending Learning Beyond the Classroom category for a project which encourages the school and surrounding community to address the issue of e-waste.
A Lesotho teacher, Malatela Monaheng, from Mazenod Primary School, was named runner-up in the Innovation in Challenging Contexts category for creating a road safety educational programme in several media formats that was distributed to neighbouring schools.
“These amazing teachers are transforming education by using technology to engage their students and to enhance the effectiveness of their teaching,” said James Bernard, Microsoft's World Wide Director for Partners in Learning.
“In South Africa, there is a real need to prioritise education to create a skilled and well-trained workforce,” says Microsoft South Africa's Citizenship Lead Vis Naidoo. “This is essential for economic growth in a country where a huge percent of the population are under 25. Equipping young people with the right tools, opportunities, knowledge and infrastructure will enable them to create a more bright and hopeful future.”
Clarke and Jackson say they got their grade four learners to learn without realising it by using Windows Movie Maker: “Our project used Norton Juster's 'The Phantom Tollbooth' to predict what adventures the main character would have in 'The Lands Beyond'. The learners then used Windows Movie Maker to produce movies using artwork they had drawn and narrate what they imagine would take place when these two stories would collide.”
Clarke and Jackson feel there is something to be said about personalised learning. “We found that technology makes it possible to give children who might not do well in a traditional classroom the opportunity to excel. This project enhanced the children's creativity and helped them work as a team, as each girl had to play their part to create the movie story.”
Crighton's grade ten learners analysed the movie 'Cry the beloved Country' by using Web 2.0 collaborative tools, including a wiki and online discussion forum to stimulate independent thinking and participation. “The girls loved creating a pod-cast to capture their views and also developed a word cloud with the help of staff experts across a range of learning areas,” she said.
“Quality education is a social imperative. It is the key to economic opportunity, not only for individuals, but for their communities,” said Naidoo. “Technology is the best way to equip students for success in a competitive world, and we believe that by sharing the experiences of teachers around the world, we will improve the way we educate and learn.”
Share
Microsoft Partners in Learning
The Microsoft Partners in Learning programme is a 10-year, nearly $500 million commitment by Microsoft to transform education systems around the world. Announced in 2003, the Partners in Learning programme helps governments envision a new future for education in their countries; provides leadership and change management information to school leaders; works to strengthen teachers' capacity to use technology effectively in the classroom; and provides greater access to technology for teachers and students. Microsoft believes in expanding the power of education through personalised learning.
Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realise their full potential.
Editorial contacts