First YouTube video

Final Video Reflection

So I had to make a video for my Life Orientation module, so I decided to put it up on YouTube and send the link to my lecturer.

To watch the video please click here.

SASPAC & School Intranet

SASPAC

So I only thought of it now, the school uses SASPAC for all their IT needs. 

As far as I can understand SASPAC can monitor attendance (whole day and per period), I'm a bit unsure what else the system can do.

Intranet

The school also uses an intranet WiFi network, where everything is available for both the admin and the teachers. Anyone with access can open and modify the contents, which is either very nice or stupid. I did not personally had access to the network, called Public, but one of the other student teachers did, since his Mentor Teacher fell ill. 

Love without limits

LO Sport video

So the Grade 8's did not have a Physical Education lesson today. Lou-Marie decided to show them a video instead, in the School Auditorium.

Love without limits is a powerful video of  Nick Vujicic. He gives great motivational talks and knows how to get his message across to his audience.

The fact that the school has an Auditorium already states the school's power and privilege. Previously all the teachers had to BOOK the venue, these days, it's open for use. The Auditorium is equipped with; WIFI, a projector, Stereo speakers (all around the room), multiple lights and a work station on the 'stage'.

Guide for School Principals, ICT in Schools

Managing ICTs in South African Schools

The guide is done SAIDE for School Principals to help guide them with implementing ICT in their school. The guide discussed many aspects of ICT in schools; from the advantages to challenges, from how to implement it to how a school can build a common ICT vision.

this guide is not the most recent, it looks like it was done in 2005, although the data are old, the principals within the guide can still be of use. Only the technology part of the guide is outdated, the principals and management can still be used.

Mentor Lecturer Assessment

It went well

So my lecturer came to Menlo Park today to assess my lesson, I was a bit scared since my other friend only got 78.5 for her lesson.

So I met my lecturer at the office at 9hoo, but since the school was behind schedule because the longer hall we had the morning, my class also started later than scheduled.

I think my lesson was good and her assessment also reflected that. She gave me a solid 90 out of a 100 for my lesson with only a few comments.

Mentor Assessment

Cape Digital Foundation

A company doing research

Cape Digital Foundation gave some interesting ideas and showed some interesting statistics. Although I found them insightful, SA really needs to work on implementing the solution.

Research is great, but is a waste of time and resources if the conclusion does not go into action.

We need to start somewhere, and I think we should start at the root of the problem.

Don't just treat the symptoms, treat the cause.

Theoretical Lecturer & ICT

My other lecturer, where I had most of my lectures, uses PowerPoint to give class. She doesn't use allot of technology in her classes as well but at least we had more contacts sessions with her.

In her lectures we mostly focused on presenting a class ourselves, so each student got at least 2 times of presenting a lesson in front of the other students.

No student used any form of app or interactive website at that time.

Sports Mentor Lecturer & ICT

In-class ICT use

Since I have an LO Sports Lecturer she does not really have an opportunity to use any form of technology. We only had about 3 sessions with her, 2 being actual Physical Education and only one in the classroom. 

She did use slides and a video to explain our Assignment to us, but no other electronic medium is used. She isn't even a fan of ClickUP...

She is going to crit me on a theoretical lesson since the school where I am at don't want me to focus on the physical education part. My HOD feels that there are enough teachers in that side of the LO part. 

Edmodo

I am trying to get learners to use Edmodo.

I created a class for all the possible classes I have to give.

For each class I gave access to the Power point slides we are currently doing. There are 2 classes that I already gave the pins to.

Now I just have to figure out how I want to incorporate it into my class.

Outside of school activities

Non-academic activities

If you would like to know what I get up to outside of school, feel free to follow my other blog.

First class given

1st "Actual" Class given

So I did my first class today, 'Ekonomiese sektore' for the Grade 10 learners.

//using the projector of-course

So the class went well and I got through all of the material/slides.

First Slide

My first Kahoot Class

Kahoot! away...

So I unexpectedly had to do a Kahoot with a Grade 10 LO class. Luckily I already created one for our LO meeting this Thursday.

I asked the learners, "Who of you are not familiar with Kahoot?", ant to my surprise noone raised their hands. So I assume that Menlo Park High School uses it allot. Menlo Park is really up to date with new technology and all things cool.

I ran into some minor problems before I could actually start with the class.

I think it will be fun using this in my other classes, I just need to enforce some discipline with this.

What a day

So I ran late this morning, not really that of a problem since the school is not far. But as luck would have it, my car did not even make it to my front gate.

Not sure what the problem was, I put my keys away and started speed walking to school.

I left the house at 7:05 and reached the staff room seconds before the meeting started.

12 students were used to count the Matric ballots. It only took us 6 hours to count and recount the ballots.

The ballots was paper, only recoding the final answers electronically.

After such a long day I had to walk home since my lift that was arranged was still in a meeting till 15:00.

WiFi connected

So I'm finally connected to the school's WiFi.

I am not sure if the learners even know how lucky they are to have access to Wireless internet at their school. I know I matriculated in one of the best schools in North West, and we didn't have WiFi there and I believe they still don't offer that for learners.

I used the WiFi to check in on ClickUP and do some research. At times the connection was slow, but not as bad as I have experienced before.

I'm not sure about the regulations for students using their smartphones in class, for academic purposes but if I followed my HOD correctly I'm welcome to use Kahoot or other medium in class to work with.

1st day at Menlo Park High-school

Today started chaotically.

More info on that on my other blog.

So I met my HOD, who is a great lady. She has some experience behind her name.
I was so struck when I heard her say she wants us, her LO students, to create a kahoot for every grade.
She is so driven to use more technology, and I love it.

The school is very technologically orientated, with alot of the school stuff being on a server or cloud, still not sure which they are using.

Every class I have been to have WiFi and all have projectors. I even saw some of the classes have a telephone line. One of the teachers used it to call a parent as well as to call another teacher.

I hope my mentor teacher uses the technology in class and allow me to use it in my teaching.

Not sure what more to write about

ICT here is limited

Harties is great but we have limited resources here, not that it creates a barrier to learning.

I have everything that I need to do my work inside the classroom. Sure there is always room for more Tech in the class but I can work with what I've got.

There is not more that I can say about Harties and ICT here, hope all that I have mentioned was enough.

Quality of ICT usage in schools

It is not about the Technology, it's about its usage

I agree with Nokulunga Sithabile Ndlovu and Donovan Lawrence in their Lit. review. I believe the mear presence of ICT in classrooms will not help at all if the people don't know how to use it effectively.

Having the technology and using it, are two different things. I think that the government should either help the teachers to learn how to use it OR give the opportunity to the people who will make the effort to understand it. 

Handing out technology left and right will not erase the mistakes of the past. Giving the technology away will not make the future a better place. Knowing how to effectively use the technology will help to make it easier to make the future a better place. 

Start at the root of the problem, don't just treat the symptoms!

Mouse scanner

So I saw my mentor teacher using her optical mouse so scan in pages to her computer.

Since she hurt her leg last week she is using her projector more and more in class.

So today I saw her scanning in pages from the teachers guide for the learners to mark this worksheet.

I must say I'm really loving the technology available now for anyone to use, so if I'm ever to lazy to write on the board I will just scan a few pages in for the learners.

Projector used

So my mentor teacher used her projector the first time on Friday, and only because she hurt her back on Wednesday at the netball practice.

So sad to see a young teacher not using technology at her disposal.

SchoolNet

Finally, a company that trains

SchoolNet is a company that, as far as I can understand, helps educators with ICT training.

I really feel that more companies like this should exist since most of the educators out there don't really know what ICT stands for and how to use technology in their classes.

More knowledge, better future!

Overhead projector

The projector in my classroom is not really that nice, half of the screen is so dim that I cannot even read while I'm at the forms of the class.

What would be really nice, if we had that new overhead projector that has a camera. One can connect different apparatus to it from a computer to USB to even HDMI.

Companies like Telkom

Investing companies

More and more companies are trying to invest in the people of the future, every company takes a different strategy. More and more companies are investing in technology for the Educational Sector.

Telkom states that there are many advantages to having technology inside the classroom, like; "•An increase in motivation, Increased active participation and creativity, Improved knowledge and skills, Increased collaboration, and Increased responsibility and self-esteem"

They state that there are also advantages for the teaches, like; "Easier record keeping and access, Fewer records lost due to misfiling, Lower administrative costs and less paper wastage, Easier communication between staff, and Curbing exam paper scams", of course, this will only be applicable if the staff know what they are doing. 

This is the main problem that I have, people don't know what they are doing!

People want everything but are not willing to work to understand how they should use it.

More and more companies invest in technology, buy how many of them invest in the training for the effective use of the technology?

Cost of going digital

The Big Switch On

So Gauteng initiated 'The Big Switch On' in January 2015. After 2 years not much have changed, They said their devices will be 'unstealable' yet there are still 20% missing. They said it will be easier yet most of the teachers don't know how to use it.

I think they should look before they leap!!!

Projectors

I  did not give class, but I saw that most of the Natural science labs have protectors.

I saw that one of the teacher have a smartboard installed but it does not look like it is bring used as one, which is very sad.

1st Post

New blog, new content

So I actually wanted to use edublog.org for my ICT blogging, but I am not up to speed with all its functions. And I already know all the functions of Blogger.com so here we are.

So I actually landed yesterday, I was at my parents in Hluhluwe, KZN. It was my first Domestic flight.

So back to ICT, I am not sure what technology is available for me to use at Harties, e.g. Projector. 

I will be working with the Natural Science learners for my first Teaching Prac, and since I practiced all my Micro-lessons with PowerPoint Slides I wold like to keep working with PP.

Not really sure what to expect when going to the school.

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Hope for the best and wish me luck