/ 25 July 2007

Innovative teachers: Helsinki beckons

If you teach in a groundbreaking way and can demonstrate that learning has improved as a result of your creative approach, you may be one of two South African educators making your way to Helsinki in Finland to participate in the global Innovative Teachers’ Awards ceremony at the end of the year.

The Innovative Teachers’ Forum Awards — an initiative of Microsoft South Africa and the national and provincial departments of education, with partners including Dell and the Teacher — is inviting educators to enter for this year’s initiative.

What is an innovative teacher?

– Someone who teaches in a way that is new or groundbreaking;

– Someone who uses information and communication technology in a new way to support teaching; and

– Someone who can demonstrate that teaching and learning have improved as a result of the approaches they used.

How can teachers participate?

– Teachers can enter by submitting a written description of their innovations using the entry form provided at the following address: http://www.school.za/itf/template.doc

The closing date for entries is August 31 2007. Teachers can submit entry forms (the completed template) by one of the following means:

– Email an attachment to [email protected];

– Send a fax to (011) 403 5272; and

– Mail to SchoolNet SA, PO Box 31493, Braamfontein 2017

How will the competition work?

If a teacher’s innovation is judged to be one of the 10 best received, he/she will be invited to present a poster explaining the innovation to judges at the national finals in Johannesburg on September 29 2007. At this event two of the finalists will be selected to attend the Worldwide Innovative Teacher Awards in Helsinki, Finland in October 2007 and a range of other prizes will be awarded.

For more information see http://www.school.za/itf