Pick a Spot and Sparkle

 

Those who walked the journey before us have a lot to say from their experiences.  In 2014, a new journey in my career started shortly after returning from the Science Centre World Summit in Belgium. I was there to share my experiences about the management and coordination of Science Centre activities. I happened to learn more than sharing. 

I came back and pick my spot in the ICT lab where I started training teachers on digital tools for learning.  My spot was finally made when I conceptualized the establishment of the Mpumalanga ICT CLUB through the Google Education Groups that I already initiated for teachers to learn some Google tools integration in the classroom. 

Together with Karabo Mashabela who was the Admin Clerk at the Centre at that time. We put together and presented the concept document to teachers to join Mpumalanga ICT CLUB, a Professional Learning Community to learn and share new classroom technologies. 

Our first initiative which attracted more than 150 teachers was "Microsoft Networking Session" where teachers learn more about Microsoft programmes in the classroom. The sessions were then followed by 60 teacher seminars were teachers themselves would share their best ICT practices in the classroom. 

The journey continued until I finally got to be introduced to Microsoft Youthspark where I had to learn how to Code on Minecraft Hour of Code. In 2016, shortly  after the schools closes for December holidays, we hosted grade 4 to 7 girls to celebrate the global initiative called Hour of Code.

In 2017, we officially launched the DigiGirlz initiative. The initiative is aimed at empowering young girls in Positive Personal Branding through career guidance towards STEM careers, connect girls with successful female in STEM careers and do hands on activities such as Coding on Scratch and Minecraft. We continue to empower these young girls in the club. Little did I know that one day I would again represent South Africa internationally,  that was in 2019 in France, Paris.

Yes, I picked a spot not to sparkle but to make others to continue to sparkle in every corner of the classroom.  When this happens,  all our schools will sparkle towards quality education.  This message was shared during the UJ Teacher Librarian Seminar held on the 20th October 2021 virtually on Zoom.

She is pioneering Coding and Robotics subject in Mpumalanga

“My moment came alive when I stood side by side with the upper echelon of the department officials before my work was officially recognized in the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature during the Policy and Budget speech delivered by the MEC of Education in Mpumalanga on Tuesday, 08th June 2021.”

She stood in the middle of the Head of Department Mrs. Lucy Moyane and the MEC for Education in Mpumalanga, Hon. Bonakele Majuba posing to the photographers.  Keninda was so excited when the exact words of her recognition filled the assembly which was quarter full due to the COVID-19 pandemic strict regulations on the number of people allowed to attend the session. The proceeding was at least broadcasted on the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature's Facebook page and various community radio stations and would later be heard on the DSTV 408 Parliamentary channel. 

She received recognition for becoming a true pioneer of Coding and Robotics subject in South Africa, particularly in Mpumalanga province. The MEC also committed to work side by side with her and Pepper the “Robot” to promote and advocate Coding and Robotics in Mpumalanga schools. “I hope this remarkable recognition and my commitment to education will take me one step further in becoming a voice of hope especially in girls’ education. 

Keninda is a well-known seasoned educator in the integration of technology in education. She served as an e-Learning Specialist in the Mpumalanga Department of Education charged with a responsibility of training and coaching teachers in ICT skills in line with Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) Framework. She is also a founder of the Mpumalanga ICT Club. The club is well-known of motivating young girls to stay in Science, Technology Engineering and Mathematics(STEM) subjects for girls to pursue Information Technology Careers under the initiative called DigiGirlz. 

Keninda started training kids in Coding and Robotics shortly after she came from Belgium in 2014. She was identified by the international Organising Committee in Belguim to attend a Science Centre World Summit. “The science centre summit exposed and empowered me with digital skills and I ended up picking Coding” I was then later trained by Microsoft South Africa to become confident on Minecraft Education and later acquired other Coding skills from various coding languages.

Mpumalanga Department of education has already started with the training of teachers in Coding and Robotics and Keninda has been part of the team. She continuously supports teachers physically and online for teachers to attain their Coding and Robotics National Certificates.  Keninda is a true pioneer of ICT in education, she holds a BA degree, a Higher Diploma in Education and Public Management, Post Graduate Degree in Online Journalism, she is about to complete her Master of Education ICT (Information and Communication Technology).

 

She has also received other outstanding recognition awards. She has been recognised by Microsoft Education Corporation as a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert and Microsoft Innovative Educator Fellow (Highest recognition in Microsoft). Lastly, she was recognised as an Inspiring Fifty Woman in South Africa by a Netherlands based company called accelerateHER aimed at making tech female role models more visible to young girls.