Technology for Education Project sees new growth

2022 has been a welcome reprieve from the challenges of the past two years, so that with the easing of restrictions and learners back in school we have been able to expand our Technology for Teaching Project to include Plettenberg Bay Secondary School.

First implemented in Kwanokuthula Primary School in 2019 with fantastic results, the project aims to provide learners at Plettenberg Bay Secondary School with the same opportunities to improve their performance in Mathematics, Language and Physical Science.

Both schools received hardware from the WCED (Western Cape Education Department) but needed the CAPS aligned OPTIMI (previously CAMI) software for learners and teachers to use the hardware. It was also identified that once the software was installed, employment of a computer lab assistant would be necessary to ensure optimal maintenance. The Bitou 10 Foundation contributes to the assistants’ monthly renumeration and covers the registration fees for the OPTIMI Software.

The software enables lessons to be transferred from classroom to computer lab, where learners’ progress will be monitored, and reports issued. Learners will also have access to the computer lab after school hours for project research purposes and extra lessons. In addition, teachers have access to the computers after school for administration and lesson preparation purposes.

On Thursday, April 28th, OPTIMI trainers, Divan Liebenberg and Monica Ratcliff uploaded the OPTIMI software at Plettenberg Bay Secondary School and conducted a training session for Kwanokuthula Primary and Plettenberg Bay Secondary School teachers and computer lab assistants.

As part of this initiative, OPTIMI has also offered to assist two special needs learners at Kwanokuthula Primary School who have been gifted with laptops by the Sabrina Love Foundation, together with the pro-bono installation of the software. These two learners have difficulty with fine motor coordination and are unable to manipulate a handheld mouse. Thank you to the team at OPTIMI for their kind support.

As with Kwanokuthula Primary School, this project is bound to create a shift in teaching and learning at Plettenberg Bay Secondary School and we look forward to seeing positive outcomes for both teachers and learners.