Wednesday, March 29, 2017
We Code, We Solve, We Collaborate and We are Creative
We Code, We Solve,
It didn’t rain as predicted on the 1st December 2016 paving a favourable weather condition for an uninterrupted Hour of Code event at Anglo American ICT Resource Centre, Landau.
We started with a full bang… when 50 children arrived at the centre to start their first journey of Basic Computer Science through participating in Coding. “Its nice to be here, … kumnandi ukuba la” recited Sibukosethu Primary School learners showing their state of readiness to code.
The Hour of Code is a global event where children are taught the basics of Computer Science through Coding around the world. Countries choose a week in December to participate in the Hour of Code. In South Africa, we chose the 1st to 9th December where more than 50 schools showed interest and participated in the Hour of Code. Mpumalanga ICT Club couldn’t miss the opportunity to involve schools in eMalahleni. We had learners from Sibukosethu Primary, Landau Primary and individual learners from Patriot High, Curro Bankenveld and Christian Academy.
“I observed the level of creativity, problem solving and collaboration skills among the learners, it was exciting to see such rare skills coming out easy from these children as they code from one level to another” said Mr. Jabu Mashia, one of the facilitator at the centre. Coding is for everyone, young and old. Among the children Kutlwano Legodi was the youngest girl in the Coding Class from Christian Academy, age 5 and in grade R.
We are hoping that these learners will grow the skill of Coding to assist them to choose STEM (science, Technology & Mathematics) careers in future. We are planning to involve all schools in Mpumalanga next year with help organisations who are willing to support this initiative. Emalahleni will buzz and trend #HourofCode next December.
Written by Nomusa Keninda- Mpumalanga ICT Club Founder, Managing and Leading Education with Digital Technology Student at University of Johannesburg and an Online Journalism Graduate from Wits.
Monday, November 21, 2016
She Can Code starts soon
Coding is an essential skills for everyone but Mpumalanga ICT CLUB will soon be starting a coding club called She Can Code targeting girls between the ages of 10-18.
We intend to stimulate young girls interest in IT and to get first basic IT skills. These girls will learn and acquire 21st century skills such as creativity, problem solving, systematic thinking and collaboration.
We encourage parents to think about their girls future and register them. This course is free of charge but the club will welcome any donation to make sure that girls get some refreshments during the course.
For more information contact
nomusakenindan@gmail.com
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Saturday, October 8, 2016
Our digital journey begins today
In fact, these teachers joined the Mpumalanga ICT Club to start their journey of disrupting their classes with technology. They chose a not very difficult path, a Microsoft Microsoft Educator Community platform is an easy as ABC path. "If you are ready I am also ready to host you everyday here" remarked Jabulani Mashia - Microsoft Education Trainer at the Centre. "Together with Sisi Nomusa, we will be hosting sessions in the afternoons, weekends and during school holidays. The ball is in your court and you must spread the good news" related Jabulani.
We took them step by step into the signing up process with the Microsoft Educator Community, they created their Microsoft account, sign up and immediately updated their profiles. For the first time they came across an online training. We took them through the organised courses for teachers and landed in The Teaching With Technology Basics.
"We should be doing this planning before delivering a lesson in the classroom" said Khosi. Shirley agreed with excitement when she was reading a lesson plan of a language teacher, who use a poem with pictures and a video clip of a storm to teach a language lesson.
These teachers also became members of the Vodacom Digital Classroom. It was an exciting moment when they navigated through the portal to see all the resources in these two portals. We couldn't waste time, we couldn't spoi the moment of becoming one family in a What's app group chat. The good news spread by as the teachers came from widespread schools in the district. Some from Steve Tshwete Municipality and eMakhazeni.
Gafesummit Spreading Smile In Every Classroom.
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| Mpumalanga Team attended the GAFESUMMIT 2016 |
I listened to every positive speakers that shared a platform with me, in the auditorium, in different sessions, between sessions.
Yes they "disrupted" my knowledge system with all the innovations they brought in the gafesummit. My first session was on coding with Googlecs-first.com, Gmath was fantastic work for Maths Teachers added together with TextHelp. Great for teachers that I will soon be hosting the TextHelp presentation soon at my Centre. All was disrupted by lunch hour where I met Mariam Asiedo from Ghana, I was further disrupted in my journey to technology for two days.
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| Mariam Asiedo and me during lunch hour at gafesummit |
Aha! I landed in a disrupted classroom call Google Classroom by Anthony Egbers from Dainfern College. He is my Google Education Group real friend. We usually meet in the GEG South Africa GEG South Africa+ Page, sharing amazing Google tools for education and now he is taking us in to a real journey of Google Classroom. "Isn't that great to spread a real smile face to face?" I was disrupted and developed at the same time. To be precise, we all belong to this classroom, no hassle, no risk, no mess just be in a disruptive and transformed classroom and feel the energy to spread the smile.
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