AFRICA TREND

The Internet is currently full of posts about using Microsoft products effectively in the classroom. Here are a The Internet is currently full of posts about using Microsoft products effectively in the classroom. Here are a number of them from this past week. The list is embedded below but can also be found at  http://bit.ly/2yXShMz . The link to the back-dated posts is:  http://bit.ly/1GVLTUZ

Before opening the SchoolNet SA 2017 ICT in the Classroom Conference, the national Deputy Minister, Mr. Enver Surty, sat down with Janet Thomson, Executive Director for SchoolNet South Africa to discuss the DBE’s approach to digital learning.     The Deputy Minister thanked Thomson for “the enormous contribution by SchoolNet in the ICT domain” asserting that “ICT is becoming more critical and central to the facilitation of teaching and learning”. Surty then demonstrated the department of education’s holistic approach to digital learning by describing the various streams of the Operation Phakisa framework as well as government’s efforts to digitise content effectively and in an interactive format. In relation to the vital teacher development component of Operation Phakisa,  Surty noted  the vital role of education centres, stressing that ICT was central to the future development of educators.  He pointed out that The Integrated Strategic Planning Framework for Teacher Education and Deve

Submitted by Megan Rademeyer Over 400 delegates attended the SchoolNet SA ICT in the Classroom conference held at Brescia House School in Brynaston, Gauteng between 5 – 7 October 2017. The conference was opened by Deputy Minister of Basic Education Enver Surty who also sat down with SchoolNet’s executive director, Janet Thomson, to define the national Department of Basic Education’s plans for digital learning. (See here for more on this interview – http://bit.ly/2gUwRcb ) The opening keynote speaker was Stephen Reid from Immersive Minds, based in Scotland. In his keynote, Stephen explored a variety of emerging technologies and discussed how they can be merged to create blended learning and cross-curricular experiences for students. Across the three days of the conference, Stephen presented various hands-on workshops which gave delegates practical experiences of using Minecraft, 360 Cameras, and virtual reality headsets to provide opportunities for their learners to make, create, visit

SchoolNet is pleased to recomment the eighth annual Global Education Conference, a  free online event  bringing together educators and innovators from around the world. It will be held Monday, November 13 through Wednesday, November 16, 2017 (November 17th in some time zones). The entire virtual conference will be held online using the Blackboard Collaborate platform. The Global Education Conference is a collaborative, inclusive, world-wide community initiative involving students, educators, and organizations at all levels. It is designed to significantly increase opportunities for building education-related connections around the globe while supporting cultural awareness and recognition of diversity. To attend this year's conference and to be kept informed of the latest conference news and updates, please  join this network . Present at the 2017 Global Education Conference The Global Education Conference Network invites you to  submit a proposal to present  at the 8th annual Globa

What is iEARN? iEARN ( https://iearn.org/ ) is a non-profit organization made up of well over 30,000 schools and youth organizations in more than 140 countries. Omashani Naidoo from SchoolNet is the Country Co-ordinator for South Africa. iEARN empowers teachers and young people to work together online using the Internet and other new communications technologies. More than 2,000,000 students and 500 educators each day are engaged in collaborative project work worldwide. 30 different languages are used. There are over 100 projects in iEARN, all designed and facilitated by teachers and students to fit their curriculum and classroom needs and schedules. Projects take place in the iEARN Collaboration Centre .  (We will provide a link to the iEARN project book below) To join a project, participants select an online project and look at how they can integrate it into their classroom. Take a look at some of the current projects: Holiday Card Exchange Registration Deadline Approaching Registrati

Submitted by Hlengiwe Mfeka SchoolNet SA has been contracted by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education to conduct training for 30 Education Library Information and Technology Service (ELITS) Officials during the first week of December 2017. The traditional role of a librarian as a knowledge manager has evolved to become that of being a curator of resources and a partner in the development of online learning materials. The intention of this course is to equip officials who run libraries with the skills to adapt to this changing role. In order to conduct this training, SchoolNet SA has developed a new Digital Library Course, which was designed to equip librarians /ELITS officials with knowledge of digital issues pertaining to the management of a school library. Across the week long course, officials will see how digital tools and resources can enhance the services traditionally offered at libraries and resource centers. Participants will walk away from the course with the skills and k