Subscribe

Acer extends smart school programme to SA

Staff Writer
By Staff Writer, ITWeb
Johannesburg, 01 Jun 2018
Acer smart schools will encourage digital transformation.
Acer smart schools will encourage digital transformation.

Acer this week locally introduced its programme for schools that have embraced Acer technology and encourage digital transformation in the classroom.

The company has already selected 15 schools from 10 countries to be part of the initiative. Two groups have also been announced in SA, each with multiple schools involved.

However, Acer has not announced the names of the South African schools that have been chosen, but says they are largely focused in Gauteng in Midrand, Sandton and Rivonia, and in Cape Town in Constantia and the southern suburbs.

Schools in East London and another in Cape Town are expected to become part of the project before the end of the year.

International schools taking part include Santa Mar'ia Marianistas in Spain, UCC University College in Denmark, Latymer Upper School in the UK and Escola Global in Portugal.

These schools will become leaders, drawing other schools into the network, particularly in the areas of coding, and mixed and virtual reality, says Peter Lacey, education lead of Southern African Development Community at Acer Africa.

"Our coding products include lesson plans, with currently 30 available, which will give a semester's worth of training. The intention is to free the educator from having to conceive lesson plans and allow them to focus on the learners in class."

The initiative allows teachers to be part of a social network aimed at sharing best practices, learning and getting support from peers, the company notes.

"The programme aims to encourage the creation of a community of like-minded educators with the ability to communicate efficiently and share teaching methodologies, content and experiences," comments Lacey.

"Acer has put together a closed school network so that these 15 schools can interact directly and in open forums so they can all benefit from each other's innovations.

"Social media is playing a role in bringing these schools together through closed Facebook groups and sharing of success stories. We are also driving to hold the 2019 Teachers Summit in Cape Town."

He adds Acer will provide these schools with technology and virtual reality products.

While the project has been led by Acer, notes Lacey, the company is "exploring ways our alliance partners can get involved in SA. For example, Intel is looking to integrate the SKA development in Northern Cape into our programme. Microsoft is looking at how we can link its Microsoft schools to our programme, and Google has done substantial professional development workshops and teacher training events across the Western Cape, Northern Cape and Gauteng."

Share