/ 11 July 2007

Getting started

Expectations and more expectations. Sometimes it feels as if everyone is demanding a teacher’s time and attention. We teachers sometimes feel as if there is something – or someone – coming at us from every direction.

If we are not directing operations in the classroom, we are organising parent-teacher meetings, sport events, clubs and societies. It doesn’t seem to stop. It’s only at the end of each term that we have time to regroup.

Recently the education department released its White Paper on e-education, which encourages the inclusion of technology in teaching and learning strategies. The first reaction from many of us was to throw up our hands in dismay and say: “Not more expectations and pressure”.

But, used correctly, information and communication technology (ICT) can mean better efficiency – and you can achieve results quickly and easily.

ICTs offer a different way of teaching, help to engage learners and make them more responsible for their own learning. The connection to the internet enables both teachers and learners to find up-to-date, relevant resources. By using ICTs in our preparation and administration tasks we can streamline these often monotonous and tedious procedures. The catch, of course, is that to use ICTs to improve productivity, we first have to invest time and effort to acquire a minimum level of proficiency.

So, where do we get the skills? A common complaint is that commercial courses are too expensive and do not take into account the realities of teaching and education. These courses focus mostly on the technology alone, how to use a software program, for example. They do not focus on how to apply the skills that are being taught.

But there is help available. SchoolNet SA offers short- to medium-length courses to educators at various levels, using programs aimed specifically at the education sector. SchoolNet, with Microsoft and Intel, developed the courses, which include educator development and training for principals.

The University of KwaZulu-Natal also offers a distance education course (www.ukzn.ac.za) which includes material from a CD. Through email, the user is linked to a peer group and a mentor, who guide the learner through the material and provide feedback on tasks and assignments. The focus of the modules is on how to use ICTs effectively within specific learning areas. If you are interested in adding a qualification while you are learning new skills, this is the route to take.

The option above, however, assumes you have a basic knowledge of computers. So how do you get those skills?

One option is to use Thutong (www.thutong.org.za) to access the Telkom Foundation’s set of Basic ICT Skills tutorials. Free tutorials give users the basic skills required to operate a computer. There are multimedia tutorials on using the mouse and keyboard, creating files and folders, starting programs and basic word processing, as well as a set of tutorials on the internet and using email.

To access the materials, visit Thutong, insert the phrase “Basic ICT Skills Tutorials” in the quick search field. A list of individual tutorials will appear. If you need help, ask a colleague or friend to show you the initial steps to get you started.

Before ICT can reduce, or at least streamline, your preparation and administration, you will have to invest time and effort into acquiring basic skills. It does not have to be an expensive process. Investigate the cost-efficient courses mentioned in this article. They could be exactly what you are looking for to get started. Good luck!

Andrew Moore’s is a former teacher. He ran courses on how to effectively integrate ICT into teaching and learning. He has an MEd degree in computer assisted education from the University of Pretoria, and works for Neil Butcher and Associates, an education technology consulting company