New project fund for
COMPUTER AND ICT upgrade
Introduction 1. ICT and schools learning programs:
Schools used to be fairly low technology places. Everything was paper based and equipment was mainly the blackboard, chalk and a rather battered set of old textbooks.
But with computers and electronic equipment appearing over the last thirty years or so, and forward thinking Training Centre’s like ourselves can see the advantages and benefits to the learners and need to become major users of ICT.
Schools used to be fairly low technology places. Everything was paper based and equipment was mainly the blackboard, chalk and a rather battered set of old textbooks.
But with computers and electronic equipment appearing over the last thirty years or so, and forward thinking Training Centre’s like ourselves can see the advantages and benefits to the learners and need to become major users of ICT.
Here is a short description why learners need to be taught ICT and how it will impact our Training centre.
Quality Management Systems 2. School administration:
With hundreds of learners passing through our Training Centre the electronic records need to be kept for continual upgrading and assessment of every learner irrespective of age or where he is now placed in life.
The records are kept in a database called a Management Information System.
With hundreds of learners passing through our Training Centre the electronic records need to be kept for continual upgrading and assessment of every learner irrespective of age or where he is now placed in life.
The records are kept in a database called a Management Information System.
Details stored are likely to include:
Learner’s name Home contact details and emergency contacts Date of birth Medical information such as allergies, serious illnesses Work history Courses attending, or attended and pass rate. Life skills completed. Life orientation completed Rehabilitation recordings and evaluations. |
Office staff and often teachers can access information about the learner by logging into the Management Information System.
3. School administration: registration
We would like to now move over to electronic registration.
Data from the MIS can be used in the registration system e.g. student name, form. This saves having to re-enter the data twice and cuts down the risk of errors, for example if a learner changes their name or moves forms.
The registration system might run from the teacher's computer, it might be on a special device used especially for registers.
Some schools are using specialist registration systems which require learners to swipe a small plastic card through a reader.
A few schools have introduced biometric registration which uses either the learners' fingerprint or a retinal scan.
The registration system can tell office staff which learners are at the centre, at which lessons or practical workshop they are attending or if they are absent. Some systems can be set up to send a text or make a phone call to parents to tell them that their child is not at school.
The registration system can be used to analyze attendance perhaps by year group, form or by individual students. It can help to identify patterns of absence and perhaps flag up potential problems.
We would like to now move over to electronic registration.
Data from the MIS can be used in the registration system e.g. student name, form. This saves having to re-enter the data twice and cuts down the risk of errors, for example if a learner changes their name or moves forms.
The registration system might run from the teacher's computer, it might be on a special device used especially for registers.
Some schools are using specialist registration systems which require learners to swipe a small plastic card through a reader.
A few schools have introduced biometric registration which uses either the learners' fingerprint or a retinal scan.
The registration system can tell office staff which learners are at the centre, at which lessons or practical workshop they are attending or if they are absent. Some systems can be set up to send a text or make a phone call to parents to tell them that their child is not at school.
The registration system can be used to analyze attendance perhaps by year group, form or by individual students. It can help to identify patterns of absence and perhaps flag up potential problems.
Challenge 4. In the classroom - whiteboards
The old blackboard and chalk is long gone from modern schools and in their place you are more likely to see an interactive whiteboard.
Interactive whiteboards can connect to any digital source such as a computer. The computer can be used to show a lesson or to connect to a web site Learners can interact with the screen by using a special pen or their hands. |
However, many teachers do not use interactive whiteboards to their full capabilities and after a while they are very often used as an expensive 'projector screen'.
Challenge 5. In the classroom - projectors
Most classrooms now have a digital projector. They are commonly mounted onto the ceiling but they can also be free standing and placed on a trolley or desk.
Most classrooms now have a digital projector. They are commonly mounted onto the ceiling but they can also be free standing and placed on a trolley or desk.
The projector takes a digital feed from the computer or device to which it is connected and then projects it on to a wall, projector screen, or whiteboard.
Projectors enable students to see what is being displayed on the teacher's computer. Using specialist software, teachers can also project images from students' computers in the classroom. Document cameras Some schools have a document camera. |
This is more flexible than a standard projector because solid objects can be placed beneath it.
The video camera can take a moving image and show it either through the interactive whiteboard or the digital projector
This is very useful for showing the whole class, an item. Perhaps a historic arrowhead in a history class or a butterfly in a biology class, or the fibres, grains and rings in timber.
The video camera can take a moving image and show it either through the interactive whiteboard or the digital projector
This is very useful for showing the whole class, an item. Perhaps a historic arrowhead in a history class or a butterfly in a biology class, or the fibres, grains and rings in timber.
Challenge 6. Computer rooms
The computer is widely used to teach many subjects as well as ICT itself.
Each learner may have their own laptop, notebook, or laptop for personal use. But in order to teach a whole class, a set of computers are often arranged together into one classroom. All the class can then take part in the lesson, or be separated into groups on different levels. |
A computer network connects them all together, along with access to shared drives, files servers, printers and the internet.
Of course for a lesson to take place, each computer has access to the right software application perhaps a photo editing suite, a sound editing application or an office suite.
Each student has their own network account so they log on using their username and password.
Work is stored on the school file server.
Of course for a lesson to take place, each computer has access to the right software application perhaps a photo editing suite, a sound editing application or an office suite.
Each student has their own network account so they log on using their username and password.
Work is stored on the school file server.
Challenge 7. Virtual learning environment
A virtual learning environment or VLE is an online education platform. It is used as an extension of normal school lessons.
A VLE contains many tools to help students learn their subjects.
A virtual learning environment or VLE is an online education platform. It is used as an extension of normal school lessons.
A VLE contains many tools to help students learn their subjects.
For example:
1 The teacher can place lesson material on the VLE in the form of electronic files. The learners will then download and open the file to complete the task. 2 Learners can upload their homework to the VLE for teachers to mark. 3 The VLE can contain quizzes and tests for the learners to use 4 Some tests can be marked electronically with the teacher being able to see the results immediately 5 Learners can share work, so they can work together on a project 6 Electronic messages can be sent by teachers and learners to each other 7 Social media such as Forums and Wikis can be set up 8 Learners can access the VLE from home or dormitories by logging in to the system. This allows them to do their homework, or complete their projects from home or dorms in their free time. If they miss a lesson they can still access their work, and catch up. |
The disadvantage of VLE’s is that for a non technical teacher they can sometimes appear be complicated to use. This can put some teachers off using them although many schools now require teachers to place work for their learners on the school VLE.
If the VLE is run 'in house' then it usually needs to be maintained and regularly backed up. This adds to the costs of running the VLE and some schools might not have network staff or a teacher who is willing to undertake this extra work.
Another problem with VLEs is that if the internet or network is down, then the VLE cannot be accessed
If the VLE is run 'in house' then it usually needs to be maintained and regularly backed up. This adds to the costs of running the VLE and some schools might not have network staff or a teacher who is willing to undertake this extra work.
Another problem with VLEs is that if the internet or network is down, then the VLE cannot be accessed
Challenge 8. Distance learning and collaboration
There are situations where it is not practical for a learner or ex student to attend the Training Centre.
For example, in our Forest Industry, learners living and working in remote areas or mills or on farms in the Country are hundreds of miles from the Training Centre. But they must still have the opportunity to upgrade and qualify even on recognized prior learning.
The solution is 'distance learning'. Until recently, lessons and material was sent by post and email, which the teacher and student could not confer or talk together.
Now, video links are being introduced so that the student can see the lesson as it happens. They can ask questions and interact with their co learners by Skype, email and instant messaging.
In the UK and Australia, distance learning is widely used as well, for both children and adults alike. For example, they can attend a 'webinar' or a 'webcast', which is a real-time video stream of a lecture over the internet.
There are situations where it is not practical for a learner or ex student to attend the Training Centre.
For example, in our Forest Industry, learners living and working in remote areas or mills or on farms in the Country are hundreds of miles from the Training Centre. But they must still have the opportunity to upgrade and qualify even on recognized prior learning.
The solution is 'distance learning'. Until recently, lessons and material was sent by post and email, which the teacher and student could not confer or talk together.
Now, video links are being introduced so that the student can see the lesson as it happens. They can ask questions and interact with their co learners by Skype, email and instant messaging.
In the UK and Australia, distance learning is widely used as well, for both children and adults alike. For example, they can attend a 'webinar' or a 'webcast', which is a real-time video stream of a lecture over the internet.
You go to the webinar web site and log in. As well as the video lecture, a typical webinar offers
Combined slide presentation and video feed from lecture room. Document downloads and returns completed. Instant chat for questions, and answers, directly with teacher. Can be viewed at a later stage as a recording, for assessment purposes. Can see who is logged in. |
Challenge 9. Online exams
The traditional exam is a very laborious intensive and slow to marking procedure.
Learners are normally given a paper based exam papers with the questions, which they then answer with pen and pencil. For external exams such as metric these papers are then sent away to be marked by an examiner.
There are numerous problems with paper-based exams:
They can be slow to mark by hand
The learners writing might be hard to read
Even though there is mark schemes each teacher will mark slightly differently from another
Printing and storing the exam papers is costly and takes up space in the school.
The traditional exam is a very laborious intensive and slow to marking procedure.
Learners are normally given a paper based exam papers with the questions, which they then answer with pen and pencil. For external exams such as metric these papers are then sent away to be marked by an examiner.
There are numerous problems with paper-based exams:
They can be slow to mark by hand
The learners writing might be hard to read
Even though there is mark schemes each teacher will mark slightly differently from another
Printing and storing the exam papers is costly and takes up space in the school.
Outside of education there is a move to online computer tests. For example, the UK driving test is now a computer based multiple choice tests.
Within education the uptake of computer based testing is slow. Some courses such as the SAQA Unit Standards can be done using a computer but we are still a way off allowing learners to take their final practical assessments electronically. However, some technical schools in Europe and America are more forward thinking and have allowed our exchange learners to take all examinations online using our current computers. |
Online computer tests
Each question is presented on screen along with a set of possible answers (multi-choice). The learner then selects their answer, either by mouse or touch screen.
The advantage of taking an exam this way is that it is very fast to mark and it does not involve a lot of paper which may get lost or damaged.
The disadvantage is that it cannot yet to date deal with drawings very easily or with long essay type answers. But for simple tests, it is very quick and easy to set up and mark.
The strong point here is that it allows the teacher the benefit to be able to have more time to deal with the emotional, and rehabilitation, mannerisms unobserved by the learner, and plans the next forward motivation for the learner.
In conclusion: in order to achieve the above objective, install the support staff, administration, and modify the lecture buildings to suit, we need to raise approximately R 560 Thousand rand; this includes the purchase of the above specified hardware and software, to cater for 120 learners as our current systems, are old and out of date. And find monthly supporters and donations to cover the running costs.
If you wish to give a gift or get involved (Click Here)
Compilation by: Mr. Peter Jensen. Head ICT teacher.
Each question is presented on screen along with a set of possible answers (multi-choice). The learner then selects their answer, either by mouse or touch screen.
The advantage of taking an exam this way is that it is very fast to mark and it does not involve a lot of paper which may get lost or damaged.
The disadvantage is that it cannot yet to date deal with drawings very easily or with long essay type answers. But for simple tests, it is very quick and easy to set up and mark.
The strong point here is that it allows the teacher the benefit to be able to have more time to deal with the emotional, and rehabilitation, mannerisms unobserved by the learner, and plans the next forward motivation for the learner.
In conclusion: in order to achieve the above objective, install the support staff, administration, and modify the lecture buildings to suit, we need to raise approximately R 560 Thousand rand; this includes the purchase of the above specified hardware and software, to cater for 120 learners as our current systems, are old and out of date. And find monthly supporters and donations to cover the running costs.
If you wish to give a gift or get involved (Click Here)
Compilation by: Mr. Peter Jensen. Head ICT teacher.