E-Learning Fever During COVID-19 Lock-Down 2020_The Reality of ICT

                                               

Now that the country is under lock-down, schools have no choice but to go the e-learning way. Schools are closed because of the dreadful Corona virus that has shaken the world. As I see it, seems the 4th Industrial Revolution is being propelled to new heights courtesy of COVID-19 springboard. They say, “necessity is the mother of invention”. Schools have now realized that there is no other alternative to teaching remotely other than the e-learning strategy. ICTs are the new tune to dance to and the way to go.

          One might have noticed that several schools are making effective use of class/school WhatsApp groups whereby teachers are expected to give daily Lock-down homework to students or even lessons.  Podcasts, audios and subject time-tables of lessons are uploaded onto WhatsApp groups. Scanned pictures for illustrations as well... I have observed that even some children at ECD level are getting support through remote teaching. The teachers are sending parents worksheets and audios to enable them to assist their children.  Teachers now see the value of applications such as Google Classroom and Zoom whereby one can conduct a lesson on-line and give students some curriculum content catch-up activities.

A seasoned teacher prepares to deliver a Maths e-lesson for grade 7s.

ECD worksheet 

          









Teachers can still carry out their usual official meetings using applications such as Zoom, be they departmental of staff meetings. The advantage of using Zoom is that the video on-line meetings can accommodate a lot of people in a single meeting. Peer Learning Committee (PLCs) meetings can still be held by subject teachers at school level or cluster level to share ideas on teaching strategies now that e-learning can be de-skilling to some.  For one-on-one video conferences, Skype application is still popular despite competition from new entrants.

          By the time COVID-19 clears and we stealthily wriggle out of the ashes to check what is left for us after weeks or even months of inactivity and loss of income, there is no doubt that ICT will emerge as a welcome leftover with some glitter. Technology won't be the same again in schools. Even teachers who used to feel too old for technology will emerge from the corona disaster more confident in using ICT devices for teaching. Technology knows no age limit. The Department of Education has been trying its best to encourage schools to join the 4th industrial revolution which is being taken up seriously by some schools and reluctantly by others.  But no doubt the COVID-19 has become the catalyst that is now forcing teachers to comply with the expectations of the National Integrated ICT Policy White Paper (2016). They say, "Necessity is the mother of invention" no doubt about that.

Our hope is that, when everything has been said and done, teaching using technology will not regress when schools reopen after the lock-down vacation. The traditional chalk & talk strategy has been overtaken by events. It is high time we use blended teaching methodologies that create interactive learning activities for students and vast sources of information. Technology is the way to go. Let us embrace it because there is no turning back

Time-table indicating when to connect with students/teacher and the subject.

Google Classroom

a) Using Social Media to reach-out locked-out students. Please click the link below to play a video by Mr Joseph D. Rondozai explaining how their school is using Social Media to reach out to students at home.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1FF5XueOMx2Dz0aTtqwixMxx_lJ4dfuf5

b) Using Google Classroom during lockdown and beyond. Please click on the link below to access the video by Mr Rodgers Munjokodi (Life Science teacher).

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Wt6TXFl_LjgIVm-ARjU_9LvIPNC1Gho0

Links to Educational Resources Worth Sharing

Past Exam Papers

http://olivershouse.co.za/community-projects/educational-learning-centre/grade-12-past-exam-papers/

Link For eBooks

http://www.pdfdrive.net

VODACOM eSchool

https://www.vodacom.co.za/vodacom/services/vodacom-e-school

Other CAPS Aligned Resources

Maths, Grade 4: https://za.ixl.com/standards/maths/grade-4
English Language, Grade 4: https://za.ixl.com/ela/grade-4


Maths, Grade 3: https://za.ixl.com/standards/maths/grade-3
English Language: https://za.ixl.com/ela/grade-3

NB. You can choose other grades when you get to the website.

(Courtesy of ICT colleagues)