Mpumalanga ICT CLUB: Microsoft Educator Community Networking Session rocked teachers

Mpumalanga ICT CLUB: Microsoft Educator Community Networking Session rocked teachers

Microsoft Educator Community Networking Session rocked teachers

"technology won't replace teachers but teachers with technological savvy skills will replace traditional teachers" was a quote shared with 160 teachers who attended the Microsoft Educator Community Networking Session held on the 22-23 March 2016 at Anglo American ICT Centre, Landau in eMalahleni.

The session was organised by teachers for teachers to share new trends in education using Information Communication &Technology(ICT) in the classroom.  Microsoft Education presentation was shared with teachers by Ms Nomusa Keninda-eLearning Specialist for Mpumalanga Department of Education. The presentation highlighted the ICT skills levels of teachers as described by Microsoft Education, UNESCO and the White Paper 7 on e-education. Teachers were introduced to Microsoft Office Mix, Office365, OneNote, Skype in the classroom, Sway and other tools for education.

The presence of Schoolnet South Africa made it possible for teachers who were ready to take the Mrs Megan Randemeyer, she swiftly took teachers on a step by step guide to the Microsoft Educator community site. After the completion of the course, teachers will earn a Microsoft badge and 15 points from SACE as part of their professional development.

Online Teaching with Technology Course and they did so right away. Thanks to

Another Networking Session has been planned in April and teachers are encouraged to attend these types of sessions to participate vigorously in shaping their teaching skills in the ICT environment.

Congratulations Class of 2015 in advanced.

Like in New Year's Eve, the Class of 2015 is starting to count down. The reality is at the door steps. My son Sbonelo Makhotha is among the young people who will receive "Matric" results on Tuesday 06th January 2016.

Close to 800,000 learners wrote the 2015 Grade 12 Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement ( CAPS) Examination. Although most  Learners will get their results from their schools in the morning of the sixth it will be too late. The results will also be published in the print media-Daily Newspapers.

Other learners with an access of internet will use their devices to log on some websites like the Department of Basic Education to download their results.

Eyewitness News on matric.ewn.co.za powered by Vodacom. SABC Education offers an SMS and USSD service
which is available to learners from 9 December 2015 until 31 January 2016. Learners send their ID number and exam number to SMS number 35658 or dial *120*35658#. SMSs cost R3 and USSD
rates apply. The Matric results will be available from 6 January.

Lot of drama ranges from excitement to the worse disappointment will also take place immediately after the results are out. The Department of Social Service has provided the helpline for both parents and learner.

In advance,  the Mpumalanga ICT Club says "congratulations class of 2015."

Maloma Primary School Gives Skills to the parent community

We are in the ecosystem of Intel She Will Connect Initiative

We are in the ecosystem of Intel She Will Connect Initiative

Little did they know that when they join the training  on the 30-31 March 2015 at Anglo American ICT Resource Centre in eMalahleni, these young women are counted in the 5million women that Intel She Will Connect Initiative will reach in three years. It was exciting to see the ICT training centre full to capacity with women volunteering to be empowered.

I was so excited when I received a message from SchoolnetSA to join an afternoon Google Hangout group chat, to discuss about the initiative. We were requested to volunteer our time, skills and resources to empower South African Women into digital literacy.

According to Intel report "Women and the Web", women in developing countries have 25% less access to Internet and a staggering 45% less access in regions like the Sub-Saharan Africa. Intel has created SHE WILL CONNECT Initiative in collaboration with UN Women Foundation and UN Missions in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa to connect 5million young women in Africa over the next three years which expected to reduce the gender gab in ICT by 50%.

 This initiative has presented an opportunity for me to be a volunteer and to empower other women. I thought of many approaches to start this project. I randomly invited women and asked them to invite others or to bring their girls to the centre. I also created an event page on my Facebook. It was exciting to see my friends sharing the event page. I was not so sure that I will reach so many women in my community.

I would like to thank Ms. Evelyn Mswetsa who brought six young and energetic women from her  Youth Development Centre near KwaMhlanga. She insisted "Nomusa I am bringing six, do you have enough space?"

After creating their Gmails and Twitter accounts, some sent me messages showing how they appreciated to be part of the global initiative. 

"Thank you Sis' Nomusa for inviting us to the class and the email address." from Busi Dube.

On Twitter Lebu replied : 

LEBU@elledonsi_lebu  Follow @musakeninda @SchoolNetSA@mnisiyntombi @MosaMgidi@thandoskhoza @dipstick YEAH GOOD DAYS WORK. KNOWLEDGE GAINED CAN NEVER BE WAISTED

The course consists of 12 modules that include: creating logo, letterhead, business cards, brochure, flyer, poster, budget, inventory, Gmails, Twitter, Facebook, Presentations for their own suggested companies or organizations.

Amongst the group of women who turned up for the course, were Mrs Sibongile Yende and Rose Nyathi  founders of pottery established by Women called Matimba Ceramics Cooperative. They shared their experiences with women during the training. This course will equip them with administrative skills, they will also share and get information from the Internet in their quest to establish their cooperatives like Matimba Ceramics.

I will be taking Intel She Will Connect to  the parents of Grade R - 3 at Maloma Primary School in KwaGuqa on the 8-9 April 2015. Parents would be able to assist their children when E-Learning takes place in their school.

 Centres who are interested in this initiative can contact me at nomusakenindan@gmail.com. Let's see how can we assist.

(This post was also published in the "Khoroni" newsletter for SAASTEC and Witbank News

Compiled by Nomusa Keninda,  Mpumalanga ICT Club Founder, Google Education Group Trainer for SchoolnetSA and a Senior Education Specialist -Computers in Education for Mpumalanga Department of Education

On your marks, Getting Started training on the way soon.

GEG PICNIC EVENT COMES TO EMALAHLENI

Geg Emalahleni will be hosting the GEG Picnic Event

 on the 10 December 2014 at Edward Matyeka School Hall from 10H00.

Teachers from eMalahleni who are interested in learning and sharing innovations in their classroom will get together to share their experiences. Presentation of GEGs Concept, Google events and Geg South Africa+ together with Schoolnet Ict in the Classroom Conference will be shared with teachers.

This is the significant event for teachers as they will be taking their holiday. They will be reflecting on how are they going to flip their 2015 classrooms.

We are looking forward to see them filling in the school hall at Edward Matyeka