Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Web and App 2enable teachers teach easy

I love both 2Enable Web and App. What stand out to me is that you can teach learners offline using 2Enable app.
First thing first, What is 2Enable?  You probably got lost in this conversation. It is a free digital curriculum, a management system that allow teachers to teach and learners to learn at ease and free.

This platform gives a Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement (Caps) aligned weekly lessons for teachers to follow.  Learners take live assessment and do revision on the work they didn't understand. 

These teachers will soon use 2Enable
2Enable houses all subjects offered in South Africa to all schools if they decide to register and become a hub to offer it. At the moment Mpumalanga Department of Education has identified nine schools to implement 2Enable.
Deon Van Vuuren and me during the 2Enable App
All my devices have a 2Enable app and I can log in on the web to access my classroom as a mentor and organisation administrator to a school of my choice which uses 2Enable. 
Do you have devices in your school? laptops, tablets, smartphone why not download the app or surf the web to get 2Enable or call me for a short presentation. 

Monday, May 23, 2016

Take Gogo Simelane's advice

In the middle of draught and cold winter days Gogo Simelane's community activism stands out at this school. She competes with everything that stand on her way to provide healthy diet to Sbukosethu Primary School's children in eMalahleni.
You don't need a certificate or an advanced diploma to tackle important issues that matter to your community, take Gogo's advice.  "I saw it as an opportunity to contribute positively to my communty" said Gogo Simelane passionately. I started with a small portion here and now the garden extends everyday.
The government feeds millions of children in both primary and secondary schools through a National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP). Gogo Simelane ensures that no kid goes  to school without food. She has voluntarly partnered with the government.
She appreciates every drop of water just to make sure her vegetables grow to the fullest for the children's food. She is a true community builder and a patriotic citizen that our country is looking forward to have.

Thursday, March 24, 2016

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.

Monday, January 4, 2016

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."

Monday, May 4, 2015

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