Four projects that demonstrate how technology can transform teaching and learning in South African schools have been honoured at the annual Microsoft Innovative Teachers awards this week, offering their creators a chance to compete in the worldwide finals later this year.
The winners were chosen from a host of entries submitted by teachers around the country - all of which showcased just how information and communication technology can be used to make teaching in urban and rural schools more effective.
The projects were independently judged on innovation in the use of technology and in teaching methods - all against the backdrop of how this positively impacts the experience of students.
The winners' projects allow learners to understand conflict and promote tolerance between people from different backgrounds; research and create a digital history of a disadvantaged area; digitally-record and share dissections; understand the use of indigenous plant materials and herbs; and create ICT-based artifacts for the disabled.
"It's always inspiring to see the levels of home-grown innovation that our educators can create," said Trudi van Wyk, the national director of curriculum innovation at the Department of Education.
"They are doing great work to give the future leaders of this country the skills they will need for future employability - and to become productive citizens of our knowledge economy and information society."
Now in its third year, the Microsoft Innovative Teachers awards are a collaboration between Microsoft South Africa and the Department of Education. Major support is also lent by the investments of the School Technology Innovation Centre, Dell SA Development Fund, Leaf Wireless, SMART Technologies, Mindset, Learnthings Africa, NEC, SchoolNet SA and The Teacher.
"The awards represent the pinnacle of work done to create local communities of teachers who can share challenges, ideas and best practice solutions with their peers," explained Vis Naidoo, the head of citizenship at Microsoft South Africa.
"This kind of local community helps overcome the fact that not every South African school has easy, affordable access to information technology. It also provides a critical framework for our teachers and students to acquire the skills they need to make the best use of technology in teaching and learning."
The four category winners were:
* Sarietjie Musgrave, of Eunice High, in the Free State, was named the winner of the Community category for her 'Spread the Sunshine' project. This sees Grade 10 pupils investigating the needs of disabled people and then using their skills to create useful ICT-based solutions.
* Thamsanqa Makhathini, from the Mpophomeni High School, in KwaZulu-Natal, won the Context category for her 'Local is Lekker@Mpophomeni' application. This saw Grade 11 learners record research and interviews about the Mpophomeni Township pre and post-1994, and use their findings to create a Web site.
* Jacqueline Batchelor, of Cornwall Hill College, in Gauteng, won the Content category for her 'Dissections for All' project. This allowed Grade 11 life sciences learners to digitally record dissections and to then share their learnings with others.
* Peter de Lisle, of Hilton College, in KwaZulu-Natal, won the Collaboration category for his 'Thinking Tolerance - Do We Hate?' project. This promoted understanding and tolerance between learners from diverse backgrounds by teaching analytical skills, and an understanding of conflict situations and typically prejudiced responses.
A fifth educator, Mmipe Mokgehle of the Toronto Primary School, in the Limpopo Province, was named winner of the Peer Review category for his project on 'Indigenous Knowledge Systems for Biodiversity Conservation'. This project saw Grade 7 learners use ICT to create awareness of the sustainable use of indigenous plant materials and herbs in the community.
All 22 finalists received smartphones from Leaf Wireless, and the four winners each walked away with laptops from Dell. The Peer Review Award winner's school, Toronto Primary School, received an interactive whiteboard from SMART Technologies and a data projector from NEC. The four category winners will join hundreds of their peers from around the world at the Microsoft Worldwide Innovative Teachers Forum, in Thailand in November.
"Educating our youth is the cornerstone to sustainable growth of our economy. We encourage and welcome innovative teaching practices that inspire, encourage our teachers and ultimately benefit our learners," said Janet Thomson, the executive director of SchoolNet SA, a core partner of the Microsoft Innovative Teachers programme.
Microsoft's Naidoo added that 21st Century learning was driven by the belief that the use of technology in education changes lives, families, communities and, ultimately, nations.
"Empowering students and teachers to realise their full potential is a top priority for Microsoft. We work to address the diverse needs of stakeholders in the educational process such as decision-makers, ministers of education, university administrators, teachers, as well as students and their parents," Naidoo said.
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