Internet and Educational Computing Conference
26 & 27 September 1997, Cape Town
Contents
Computer Studies - The Rise of the
Phoenix
Mike Chiles, Western Cape Education Department
For the last 18 years Computer Studies has been predominantly a subject which was dedicated to the development of problem solving skills using a computer and 3rd generation programming languages, such as BASIC and Pascal. Very little attention was given to the use of application packages. Because of this it has been seen to be a subject for the mathematically gifted and has developed an elitist tag. Work is presently being done in the Western Cape, and elsewhere, to change this perception and to make the subject more relevant. The emphasis will be changed towards the use of application packages so as to develop computer skills which will enable all learners to work in a computer-using society. In addition to word-processing, spreadsheets and databases, it is planned to introduce modules on computerised accounting, CAD, statistics, DTP, the Internet and others. All schools wishing to introduce the subject into their curriculum as from 1998.
Computers and Curriculum 2005
Prof Johannes Cronje Department of Didactics University of
Pretoria
This paper considers the challenges of Curriculum 2005. It then goes
on to consider how computers as tutors and tools can be used to facilitate
the outcomes desired. It also considers the place of the Internet and particularly
the WWW in terms of Bloom's taxonomy of the cognitive domain. The paper
finally presents four models of a school and discusses the role compters
can play in:
1. School as a factory
2. School as a workshop
3. School as a construction site
4. School as an opportunity.
Computer Support Infrastructures
in HE
Russell Boezak Education Policy Unit University of the Western
Cape
What do comparative studies of the computer support infrastructures of local and international universities reveal with reference to usage, deployment, and pervasive cultures.
For IT support and academic staff at HEs
Computerized Thinking and Teaching
Games to Simultaneously Improve a Student's Thinking Skills and His Knowledge
of Linear Programming
Alten du Plessis Institutional Research Office, University
of Stellenbosch
Connecting your LAN to the Internet
with one modem and other fun Linux Projects
Anton de Wet, Gauteng
Schools' Network/Obsidian Systems
Advanced, full featured access to the Internet via a LAN can be a costly
affair --- far beyond the budget of the avarage school. But it does not
have to be beyond your reach. The powerful Linux operating system is available
for free on the Internet, enabling anyone with enough ethusiasm to implement
complete Internet system with a simple dialup link. The talk will give
an introduction to what can be accomplished with Linux, what it is, what
it can do, what you will need, how to start learning Linux and where to
go for help.
Anyone administrating or interested in Computer labs in schools.
Designing WebQuests
Gerald Roos, WCED
A WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented activity in which some or all of the
information that learners interact with comes from resources on the Internet.
It is characterised by a specific structure and pointers to resources which
reduce the time taken for information searches during lesson time. This
workshop is an introduction to the WebQuest and uses the online resource
known as The WebQuest Page (http://edweb.sdsu.edu/webquest/webquest.html).
Delegates will do the WebQuest about WebQuests, gaining insight and understanding
about WebQuests in the process.
For teachers interested in technology integration with the curriculum.
Distributed Learning - expanding
the classroom
By Shelley Cooper and Avi Miller, Integrated
Technologies Institute
The Internet and it's growth have facilitated the development of different ways of Learning. Using this broadcast style medium, you can still ensure a type of "classroom" interaction. What is Distributed Learning, how does it differ from Distance Learning and where can it take you? Approaches, Technologies and Solutions.
Evolution of the St Alban's Bionet
Kevin Sean Coles, St
Alban's College Biology Dept.
As a result of what I was exposed to at the WCSN inaugural conference, I started, as a novice, dabbling in the use of the Internet as an educational tool/resource. This presentation outlines the progress of my Biology classes from basic e-mail and web research projects, through simple HTML authoring, to the use of Java, image- mapping and animated Gif's. All these lessons/projects developed by the pupils of St Alban's are available on our Intranet for use by other pupils.
First Ventures into Multi-media:Some
tips and tricks for those about to venture into using Multi-media as a
teaching tool
Ken Masters, CAL Support, ITS, UCT
The potential value of computerised multi-media in education is vast. In the context that previous technologies have often failed to deliver what they have promised, however, it is acknowledged that multi-media's success is not guaranteed. This presentation discusses some of the lessons we have learnt while implementing multi-media in a teaching environment - it is aimed specifically at teachers who know practically nothing about multi-media, and are thinking of taking steps into that arena. The aim is to present a few pointers in order to reduce the chances of time and money wasting, frustration, and perhaps ultimate failure in the implementation of a multi-media program in an education institution or department. For any teachers who are considering using multi-media in education. Introductory level.
The Globe Project
Bridget Hughes, HSRC & Gerald Roos, WCED
Globe is an international project
of environmental observation and South Africa is one of the newest Globe
countries. The Western Cape was the first province to join the project.
Country co-ordinator, Bridget Hughes will explain the project and the opportunities
it offers to schools in the fields of Science, Biology and Geography. Gerald
Roos will report on Globe schools in the USA and possible collaborative
projects associated with the programme.
For Mathematics, Science, Biology, Geography teachers. Technology Integration.
From e-mail invite to International
Environmental Youth Summit.
Goolam Mohamed, CTTC WCED
My presentation is an attempt to show what can be achieved by an average
school with basically one internet connection and a lot of enthusiasm!
I would like to point out that technical and software expertise was minimal
and growth occurred as a continous desire to develop the potential of the
students and the facilitators.
This growth has resulted in fundraising activities and community involvement
to establish a computer facility with discarded equipment which is still
being used very effectively to enhance education and projects at Alexander
Sinton.
Futurekids the key to your Kids
future
FUTUREKIDS SA
Futurekids, the international leaders in computer education present
their unique approach to teaching information technology in schools Head
Masters and Computer Teachers.
For workshops, there is a maximum number of 24 participants.
"Grab! The News the Comminity
Can Use"
Simon Pakamile Masoma, Rhodes University Department of Journalism
and Media Studies
In 1995, staff at the Rhodes University of Journalism and Media studies met with the scholar organisations and high school teachers from disadvantaged high schools in Grahamstown, in a bid to explore ways to make University facilities and skills useful to the local community. Outcome was a series of Saturday morning classes at the University, led by senior journalism students (supervised by a staff member),and attended by a group of four pupils from five different high schools.
Most of the pupils had never used computers before but soon learnt how to utilise them in writing, E-mailing and elementary lay-out. The product was a school newspaper, completed with advertisement, photographs, planned, written, controlled and sold by the pupils themselves. They (under guidance) also put the publication on the Internet on the University computer's server. After a week they were invited to take part in the Internet Relay Chat with counterparts in Alexandra township, Johannesburg and Washington DC. Their horizons were expanded.
Now there's SuperGrab Project which I am busy with right now. It is
the connection of the students from all over the Eastern Cape, with the
E-mailing of one another in a bid to make the Technology useful to every
one. I co-ordinate with the computer centres that are involved in the Project.
We let the participants write stories and send them to me and I edit them,
then I let them edit the stories of one another through the Email.
For high school teachers and students if possible.
Implications of Information Technology
for learning in South African Schools
Lesley Powell Education Policy Unit, University of the Western
Cape, and Patricia Watson University of the Witwatersrand
For anybody with an interest in IT education and the role which IT plays in the educational environment.
Information Literacy enhances teaching
and learning
Cathy-Mae Karelse, INFOLIT
- CALICO, ADAMASTOR TRUST
Internationally, within the framework of life-long learning and the
information age, information literacy is being regarded with increasing
prominence by actors concerned with enhancing teaching and learning. It
is believed that with the increased use of the information and communication
technologies, and ever-increasing access to information, learners require
the competencies which allow them not only to locate appropriate information,
but to use this information critically. The abilities to access, use and
evaluate information enable people to make informed decisions and to act
on information. It is crucial that learners acquire both the hard information
technology skills as well as the "soft" information handling
competencies through their education, to participate fully in shaping society.
For teachers and students
Internet BioEd Project
Roy Volkwyn, Derek Keats & Jocelyn Collins Botany Department,
University of the Western Cape
The Internet BioEd Project (http://www.botany.uwc.ac.za/Sci_Ed/)
aims to make use of the Western Cape Schools Network (WCSN) to evaluate
the feasibility of producing and distributing teaching aids and making
other resources available through Internet access by schools that are part
of the WCSN. Six schools have been selected to take part in the project
of which two have been selected on the basis of longstanding use of computers
in education. Teachers and pupils use the resources we developed and search
for to enhance their teaching and learning.It is hoped that by enabling
these schools to interact via the WCSN with the remaining schools, a partnership
will develop which can serve as a model for the expansion of this facility
into other schools.
For Biology teachers.
The Internet: Global Frontiers for
Education - reportback from INET 97 in Malaysia
Dr Jonathan Miller UCT Graduate School of Business Alyce
Miller Educational Consultant
The Internet Society conference in Malaysia included a special one-day
workshop on the Internet and K-12 education, and several papers on the
subject in the main conference. This presentation will attempt to capture
the main themes and what they imply for the effective exploitation of the
Internet in South African schools.
For anyone interested in the future of the Internet in education in South
Africa.
The introduction of Computer Studies
Standard Grade at Pinelands High School
Pam Miller, Pinelands
High School
Computer
Studies SG was introduced at Pinelands High School in 1997. A number
of topics will be shared. They include student numbers and entry criteria,
computer facilities, funding of hardware and software, the method of teaching,
content versus skills, testing and outcomes based education. Most of the
problems at Pinelands High seem to have been solved but the major question
remains and that of an external theoretical exam.
For Computer Studies teachers, high school principals
An Investigation into IT Education
in Schools in South Africa
Paul Lundall, Education Policy Unit, University of the Western
Cape
A presentation of a proposal to undertake research into IT education
in South African schools. The presentation will outline the aims and objectives
of the research proposal and the research method which will be used to
undertake the study.
For policy makers and stakeholders in IT education
Laptops in Education - Benefit
or Side Show
Arnold Lamont, St
Stithians College & Colin Potts, Trinity Grammar School,
Victoria, Australia
The introduction of portable computers into schools in South Africa is very much at the planning stage. What are the benefits and what role could they play in the school education arena.
Colin Potts is currently the Director of Computing at Trinity Grammar School in Kew, Victoria, Australia. He has planned and supervised the implementation of a compulsory notebook computer programme at Trinity. This successful programme was commenced in 1994 and is now imbedded into the curriculum for all students from Year 5 to Year 12. Colin has spoken on implementing a cross-curriculum computer programme to the Australia-wide Expanding Horizons conferences from 1994 to 1997. He has also addressed the Education Victoria 96 conference and the University of Melbourne's Technology in Schools Program seminar series. Colin has recently published a guide to implementing a notebook programme in schools. Colin is a past President of the Victorian Information Technology Teacher's Association and regularly presents professional development sessions for teachers on planning courses for senior students and understanding the assessment criteria for student examination. Colin has published two text books for senior students in the last twelve months. From 1988 to 1992 Colin was employed by the Department of School Education as a computer consultant to primary and secondary schools.
Local Training, International Certification
and Global careers
Andrew Gold and Avi Miller, Integrated
Technologies Institute
South Africa is no longer a Third World cousin for IT Training. International vendor and career qualifications are available in South Africa. These qualifications have become an industry standard for people wishing to enter the IT industry as either Development Professionals and System Engineers. Where do you get this training, What certifications can you get, and where can you go with them?
Managing NetWare networks
Philippa Jane Moll, User Support Services, ITS,
UCT
This is a hands-on workshop aimed at delegates who supervise Novell NetWare networks. It is assumed that users will be reasonably computer-literate, and that they will have had some experience of NetWare management. This workshop is only for those who are currently involved in supervising a network, or plan to start doing so in the very near future.
The workshop will cover some aspects of NetWare 3.x and 4.x administration
in a school environment. Topics to be covered include:
Creating users and groups: the slow way, and automating it
*Granting rights
*Security: backups, viruses, hackers
* Printing
* Email and internet access
* Installing applications
* Workstation client software
* Fileserver maintenance
* What to do when things go wrong (i.e getting help)
Owing to the limited amount of time, we will not be able to deal with all
these topics in great depth, but we will look at the major issues involved
in each, and focus on the topics that interest participants the most. Other
topics may be included: if you plan to attend the workshop, and would like
me to cover additional topics, then please let me know.
For supervisors or supervisors-to-be of NetWare servers.
Netday 97
Raashida Kahn & Denis Brandjes
Network and Computer Abuse at schools:
Anecdotes and antidotes
Tim Bouwer ECSN Chairperson
A talk on some forms of computer and network abuse at schools. Anecdotes and a discussion of various mechanisms to counteract over-zealous computer users will be used to offer some antidote to the over-zealous user. Victims and perpetrators have a chance to swap war stories and to offer examples of other ways of using computers for education. For network administrators/IT teachers.
The Network beyond the Lab Campus
wide networking to provide ubiquitous computing.
David Rogers Michaelhouse IT Department KZN
Typically schools start to implement Information Technology by installing
computers in a laboratory situation. The size of this lab increases to
about 30 workstations before other department require computers in different
parts of the school. The challenge here is how to design a system that
will be scalable to include many more workstations spread out over the
whole campus. The paper will touch on one or two options before exploring
the use of switches to provide bandwidth to all users. The paper will also
cover topics such as administrating and managing large networks and remote
workstations. Those planning to move to networking within a school environment.
For Network administrators, Designers and implementers of campus wide networks
Newspapers and the Internet
Magdel Stander, Die Burger, and Hugo Truter and Andrew
Collins, Destiny Electronic Publishing.
Report back from the Second International Newspapers in Education Conference, 10-11 September 1997, Sao Paulo, Brazil and a demonstration of how a Newspaper in Education (NIE) lesson plan in the printed newspaper differs from the online version on Nasionale Pers' Schoolnet.
Online learning and exchange about
racism and diversity.
Ronald Ariel Eissens and Mrs. Suzette Bronkhorst, Magenta
Foundation/Stichting Magenta Amsterdam The Netherlands
Magenta's Full Colour Tour South Africa will be an eight-week long tour through South Africa and will consist of a variety of activities for students and teachers a.o. an exhibition, cooperation exercises, games, Internet, theatre, music. An important part will be, similar to the Dutch boat project in 1996, but adjusted to the South African situation, the Internet segment. We intend to find eight locations (universities) in different parts of South Africa to set up shop, so to speak, for a week. The emphasis will be on online learning and exchange about racism and diversity and cooperation and exchange between different individuals/groups regardless of ethnic and/or cultural background, both in South Africa and abroad. A daily e-mail newsletter, a web site and chat sessions will be tools.
For grammar school teachers, secondary school teachers, University staff and lecturers.
The Potential Role of an "Artificial
Psychologist" within an Intelligent, Learning Style- and Computer-based
Tutor
Alten du Plessis Institutional Research Office, University
of Stellenbosch
The power of Multimedia at your
fingertips - workshop.
Carla Webb Educentric and David Ratcliffe CANTAB
Multimedia CD-ROMs are an exciting new technological development within education and offer truly interactive challenges for children of all ages and abilities.
Educational CD-ROMs produced by UK based YITM cover a wide range of
subject areas including Science, Geography, Environment, History, Religious
Studies, Modern Languages, Business Studies, Physical Education, Careers,
Art, Music and the Internet. CANTAB, sole authorised distributor of YITM
Educational CD-ROMs, in conjunction with EDUCENTRIC, will be showing ways
in which these products can not only stimulate pupils, but inform and educate
too. References will be made to current subject curriculae and will endeavour
to address the problem of selecting software from the growing range of
titles by informed support and guidance. Delegates will have the opportunity
to have hands-on experience using the CD-ROMs during the workshop.
For Primary and High School teachers and IT co-ordinators
Preparing for a career in Information
Technology
Professor Pieter Kritzinger Dr Andrew Hutchison Francois Retief,
Computer Science Institute
Young school leavers, who believe that a career in computers is for them, face a very confusing world. Confusing, because nobody can give them a clear answer as to what a career in computing really means. And even if they do get a clear answer, they can be sure that very soon it will be all-different. Five years ago, few would have been able to predict the impact the Internet has had (and still will have) on our information society and the way everyone, from selling a medical scheme (http://www.bankmed.co.za) to selling fast foods (http://www.nandos.co.za), do business. Even the largest computer company, IBM, nearly came to grief a few years ago because it did not foresee the way the information technology industry was heading. The more astute student will also have picked up that the workplace is changing too: There is no longer such a thing as a job for life. One needs to arm oneself with a “portfolio of skills” as Charles Handy in his books, notably “The Empty Raincoat” writes. Every person is predicted to have two to three careers in his or her lifetime. There is a disturbing, but real emphasis in the workplace on short-term needs and immediate demands for the sake of financial gain, all of which does not make the individual feel very secure.
Given these two driving forces, fast changing computer technology and the changing expectations of the workplace, what does a young person do? Happily the young school leaver is confronted with a whole spectrum of offerings: From a university education in computer science (http://www.cs.uct.za) to specific skills training, to institutions offering a choice in between (http://csc.co.za).
A university education is expensive and can cost as much as R22 000 per year for 4 years plus the lost income of at least R50 000 per year during this period. Universities world-wide are moreover suffering from severe funding problems. Why? Largely because the relevance of a university education in the present day, demanding job market is under severe question, apart from those problems which are currently unique to South African universities.
The job market wants skilled employees NOW, and is no longer enthusiastic in supporting long term education. There are many training institutions that will indeed train the young person in computer skills or provide product training for immediate employment.
This is very short sighted, however, since it prepares the school leaver for a job, not a career. It does not make the person a self- learning individual who can cope with the fast changes in information technology. If one has been trained to use the technology of today, without understanding the broader, fundamental picture, will one be able to adapt and be a useful productive individual five to ten years from now? Or will one subsequently have to retrain, at great expense, for every new product the industry will think up?
Of course one has to have the computer skills which industry need; but it is much better if one can put it in perspective, knowing where it comes from and where it is going. An example is the present rave about the JAVA language, which is just a better language than C++ although both are based upon the same principle of Object Oriented Programming.
Now emerging in the spectrum between university and technikon education on the one hand and pure product training on the other hand, is an entirely new and promising career alternative: An internationally recognised Diploma in Information Technology offered by the Computer Science Institute (CSI)(http://www.csc.co.za) founded and managed by persons with BOTH years of experience in computer science education AND a knowledge of the practicalities of industry. In this way CSI, accredited to offer the International Cambridge Information Technology Diploma by the University of Cambridge in England, offers students a knowledge of products as well as an understanding of the fundamentals of computers while omitting mathematics, physics and other such courses normally part of a university education.
Although no longer so popular in South Africa, a good university education is still the best. That is, if one has the time and means for a broader education. If not, one is no longer at the mercy of computer training with a very short professional “shelf life”. Simultaneously, computers are not an end in themselves. By far the largest application of computers is in the business environment. Understanding the fundamentals of business, marketing, accounting and customer service as well as electronic commerce (finding information products on the Internet and paying for them electronically) will add to the portfolio of skills a person increasingly needs in the modern information society.
The world of computers is an exciting and fast moving one. Be careful, as a young person embarking on a career, not to be tossed around in the waves of new technology and be lured by quick financial rewards. Paradoxically the old ways still work: Just as the woodcarver must understand his tools and the different woods for his craft, the computer professional must know the fundamentals of the technology, become a self-learning individual who will always be able to cope with the continual application and technological changes in the world of computing.
Prince Pascal or Jester Java: Who
will be king?
Cobus Rabe Dept Comp Inf Systems, Fact of Military Science,
University of Stellenbosch
With the explosion of the WWW, a new playing piece came into the picture.
This is the two year old programming language Java, developed by
Sun MicroSystems . With this came concepts like OOP and Dynamic Web
pages. The question is how will this influence you? This presentation will
look at what Java is, how does it differ from Pascal, what will the future
be for Java at Universities and how does it differ from JavaScript.
For Computer studies teachers
Project TECSAS - An electronic Standard
7 Biology Curriculum published on theInternet
Ron Beyers, St
Alban's College
TECSAS: Technology Education Curriculum for South African Schools Telematics for African Development, a South African consortium with the vision of using Information Technology to improve Africa's access to and the utilisation of information for community development, has arranged funding for five projects that will make use of the revolutionary advances in information and communications technology. Project TECSAS is one of these projects.
Further information on the consortium, its members and the other projects is found on the web site http://www.csir.co.za/isad
PROJECT TECSAS focuses on the provision of curriculum resources in high school subjects from Standard Six through to Standard Ten. The application will serve both pupils and teachers and will be delivered in an open non-proprietary World Wide Web environment, using the Internet infrastructure, but mindful of the ever present developments in technology and communications.
Phase Zero is the development of a local content prototype based on topics from the Standard Seven Biology curriculum. The application will include the core content as prescribed by the Core Syllabus of the Independent Examination Board.
The program provides access to a variety of interactive activities such as on-line worksheets and self-tests, slide shows, and resources such as worksheets and keywords. Links to sites on the World Wide Web will provide enrichment and variety. Sample tests and exams will also be provided for the purpose of self testing and evaluation.
An essential feature of the application will be ease of maintenance
so that the content can be easily updated and modified as the possibilities
and capabilities of the environment change. For example, the inclusion
of video clips and virtual worlds. Extensive evaluation and testing by
teachers will determine the framework for curriculum development and replication
during Phase One.
For Curriculum developers in General
Setting up computer centres (including
funding models, layout, establishing centres vs. computers in classrooms)
Violet Madingoane, Partnership Project Wits
While Bill Gates of Microsoft says that there will be computers in every home and office, Partnership agreement Project says: there will be computer centres in every cluster of high schools in South Africa.
In conjunction with donors, the first five Computer Resource Centres have been established. Each centre comprises of a modern computer laboratory which runs innovative educational methodology programmes. Each laboratory consists of a server and 20 Workstations connected by a Local Area Network (LAN).
The criteria for selection of schools where the Resource Centres are situated is as follows:
The first five Computer Centres are situated as follows:
Ten teachers have been trained to be computer educators and manage the
centres Monday to Friday. The centres serve an average of five schools
each. 1600 (one thousand six hundred) pupils and twenty teachers are registered
for computer based education at these pilot centres. They are in the process
of being connected to the Internet.
Teaching mathematics with computers
in an under-resourced school
Shaheeda Jaffer, Mathematics Education Project University
of Cape Town
This presentation focusses on the use of a computer programme, Cabri
Geometre to teach congruency to standard seven pupils. The presentation
includes an outline of the power of Cabri as a teaching tool in mathematics
as well as a reflection on the implementation of the congruency topic in
a school which has very few computers and is plagued by large classes.
The intention of our presentation is to demonstrate how a few computers
can be optimally used and how to integrate the use of computers in the
teaching and learning of mathematics .
For Mathematics teachers as well as teachers interested in using a few
computers with large classes
Technology for Secondary Mathematics
Douglas Butler, Mathematics Department OundleSchool, Peterborough,
UK
An exploration of current software and hardware, and the implications for the teaching of the subject at secondary level. Douglas Butler teaches mathematics at Oundle School in the UK, and runs the Technology for Secondary Mathematics INSET programme (day conferences and seminars). Please see: http://www.argonet.co.uk/oundlesch/tsm.html
He is always on the look out for new ideas to use technology in mathematics
education, which can add variety to teaching and bring exciting new perspectives
to the learning process. Prepare for a breathtaking tour of symbolic algebra,
geometry packages, graph plotters, spreadsheets, CDs and the Internet -
almost none of which was around 5 years ago!
For secondary mathematics teachers, or anyone in IT with a mathematical
background who is interested in what's going on.
Towards a Southern African School
Network
Christopher Geerdts International Development Research Centre
- Acacia Project and Delegates from Mozambique, Lesotho, Zambia, Botswana
There is increasing interest in potential benefits for Southern Africa if it plans and acts as a region. Information Technology makes it possible for students and educators to discover ways in which we can discover our commonality and learn from our diversity. The talk describes the work which IDRC http://www.idrc.ca/acacia has done through its Connectivity Southern Africa http://www.idrc.org.za/connectsa programme, to establish a regional school network. It will also mention work known to be in progress in other countries. A panel of representatives from Lesotho, Mozambique, Zambia and Botswana will each describe national plans, and the talk will conclude with a vision regarding how a regional school network could work.
Teachers interested in making Southern African contacts.
School networking implementers.
Government departments.
Uninet - funding, topology, cost-recovery
and future plans
Mike Lawrie Foundation for Research Development
Contrary to popular belief, and out of line with wishful thinking, the Internet is not free. There are some very real costs associated with running a network that forms part of the Internet.
This paper discusses the cost of running the research and academic network of South Africa, and how Uninet sets about recovering those costs. Certain steps have been taken in order to keep the costs as low as possible, and to have a mechanism that encourages efficient use of the network.
The future plans of Uninet will also be touched upon, particularly in area where school networking might be affected. For teachers, sponsors, funders who need to have a behind the scenes understanding of the costs of networking. This is a non-technical presentation.
The use of tool software in the
Primary School classroom
Carla Webb Educentric and David Ratcliffe CANTAB
Tool software such as wordprocessors, spreadsheet and databases are
amongst the most powerful educational computing resources available, yet
many teachers are unaware of their potential in the classroom. Write Away!
is an educational word processor for Windows which has been specifically
developed to meet classroom requirements and contains a range of tools
designed to advance skills and encourage pupils in their writing. Assignments
which Cape Town students and teachers have completed using these products
will be referred to and evaluated. In addition to Write Away!, Number Box
an educational spreadsheet and First Workshop, an introduction to data
handling will also be demonstrated.
For Primary school teachers and IT co-ordinators (primary)
The use of the Internet: An alternative
learning experience
Mrs Annette de Jager, Menlopark High School (Pretoria)
The proposed presentation will be on the use of the Internet as a constructivistic
tool when teaching a syllabus topic in an ordinary classroom with Internet
facilities. The following will be discussed: The need for an alternative
learning experience for South African pupils. Objectivism versus constructivism
in modern teaching The development of the onthology of a cognitive, constructivistic
subject strategy The methodology of a cognitive, constructivistic learning
strategy as practical implemented on a syllabus topic eg. the mole concept
(in science teaching grade 11) Brief discussion of the results on learning
(from a cognitive, affective and psychomotor point of view) Recommendations
for future implementation and the possibilities of OBE.
For science teachers or any other teachers interested in the use of the
Internet in the classroom when teaching a syllabus topic.
Using the Internet in the Primary
School classroom
Margaret Dugmore, Micklefield
School
For primary school teachers.
Using offline web browsers
Stefan Coetzer Andre Wiese, Western Cape Education Department
Problem: one computer with web access. A possible solution: an offline
browser Workshop
For schools that do not have web access on a network and cannot afford
a leased line or UNIX box, etc.
Using Spreadsheets as investigative
tools with primary mathematics pupils
Monty Paul, Department of Primary Education, Rhodes University,
East London
This presentation is designed for higher primary teachers who would
like to see how spreadsheets can be used as tools by pupils in their clasrooms.
Several investigation type approaches will be demonstrated.
For senior primary mathematics teachers who are interested in learning
about the ways in which spreadsheets can be used in the classroom.
The use of technology to support
curriculum 2005 and outcome based education
Charl J Vorster, Director, CAMI Mathematics
For Maths teachers
A Visit to the USA - Interaction
and Reflection
Gerald Roos, WCED
A report back, with slides, of a personal visit to the USA in which the presenter visiting a number of online schools. The observations concentrate on technology integration (and teacher involvement) and telecollaboration (online projects), but will also include general comments in the use of IT in education. Several online projects would have been discussed with these schools and opportunities for your school to participate will be announced.
Universal Services Agency/National
Computer Foundation
Al Karaki, Universal Services Agency
What's the point of computers for
the little kids?- looking at a computer network as an integral part of
the cognitive development in a primary school
Alixe Lowenherz & Claire Tomkyns, The
Grove Primary School
This presentation will examine whether computer networks are a fashionable
toy in primary schools or add real cognitive value to the education of
6 to 13-year-olds. In light of the above, it will look at the choice of
software and facilities for curricular support as well as the development
of thinking processes in young children. The structure of the network and
its administration, catering for maximum pupil and staff participation
will also be considered. Participants will be able to view software illustrating
the presentation and discuss any related issues.
Primary school: teachers, parents, existing and prospective network administrators.
Writing a "Computer Skills
Continuum" for Western Cape Schools
Gerald Roos, WCED
There has been much debate about the need for a syllabus for so-called
"computer literacy". The real danger of this is that the computer
will become the subject rather than the tool. A "continuum of skills"
is suggested as an instrument to take stock of the various skills which
can reasonably be expected to be mastered at various phases. This workshop
puts a summary of existing continuums on the table and seeks to make significant
progress in defining a continuum for the Western Cape (or the nation).
Your input in the process is vital.
Teachers of computer skills, computer literacy.