Johannesburg, 26 Oct 2006
Microsoft SA, in partnership with the Department of Education and SchoolNet SA, honoured two Gauteng-based teachers for the innovative utilisation of technology in education, at a function in Bryanston this week.
Abdullah Sujee, from Roshnee Islamic School, and Paul van Zyl, of St John`s College, were declared winners of the South African leg of the Global Innovative Teachers` Forum, which aims to encourage technology in teaching, and encourage learners to use technology in the learning process.
The two were nominated for the award which saw participation from teachers in all provinces, says Ashley De Klerk, Microsoft`s public sector director.
Sujee`s project involved the use of technology to teach English, while Van Zyl focused on using technology to teach biology, Microsoft says.
Judges put emphasis on the scope of innovation, how far it reached and affected learners, what made it groundbreaking and evidence of the impact the innovation may have had, says De Klerk.
Microsoft integrated both projects and developed an educational computer game, the company says.
Taking it further
Lessons learnt from the initiative will be shared on the Department of Education`s Thutong Web site, an online collaborative space for teachers with best of class practices to communicate and share learning and content worldwide, says De Klerk.
Van Zyl says one of the challenges was that some students were intimidated by the use of a computer for learning purposes, even though they attend a private school where such resources are prevalent.
"Many of the learners are fine when they use computers to play computer games, however, use of computers for learning purposes is still a challenge," he says.
In addition to prizes which include a laptop from Dell and a Microsoft Xbox 360, Microsoft has undertaken to pay for Sujee and Van Zyl to compete in the annual Global Innovative Teachers` Forum Awards to be held in Philadelphia, in the US, in November.
Pfungwa Serima, Microsoft SA MD, says: "We are exceptionally proud of the achievements of our teachers and look forward to seeing how they fare against their international counterparts."
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