Louise Clarke andKim Jackson, of St Cyprian’s in Cape Town, and Lyneth Crighton, of BresciaHouse in Johannesburg, won their respective categories at Microsoft’s Partnersin Learning Middle East and Africa Forum. They will now compete against morethan 500 teachers from around the world at the Partners in Learning GlobalForum in Washington DC in November.
Clarke andJackson won the Collaboration category for a project that got grade 4 learnerscreating their own stories using Windows Movie Maker. Crighton won the CuttingEdge Use of Technology award for a project that saw grade 10 learners usingsocial media tools to discuss and analyse ‘Cry, The Beloved Country.’
Microsoft Partnersin Learning runs a series of Innovative Teacher events across the region thatrecognises teachers who creatively and effectively use technology in theircurriculum to help improve the way students learn. More than 200teachers and educational professionals from 25 countries that had been chosento participate following national forums, attended the Middle East AfricaInnovative Education Forum in Jordan, and the winners were decided by aninternational jury comprising 27 education experts.
Another local teacher, Natalie Meerholz of Holy Rosary inEdenvale, was placed fourth in the Extending Learning beyond the Classroomcategory for a project which encourages the school and surrounding community toaddress the issue of e-waste.
A Lesotho teacher, Malatela Monaheng from Mazenod PrimarySchool, was named runner-up in the Innovation in Challenging Contexts categoryfor creating a road safety educational programmein several media formats thatwas distributed to neighbouring schools.
“These amazing teachers are transforming education byusing technology to engage their students and to enhance the effectiveness oftheir teaching,” said James Bernard, Microsoft’s World Wide Director forPartners in Learning.
“In South Africa, there is a real need to prioritiseeducation to create a skilled and well-trained workforce,” says Microsoft SouthAfrica’s Citizenship Lead Vis Naidoo. “This is essential for economic growth ina countrywhere a huge percent of the population are under 25. Equipping youngpeople with the right tools, opportunities, knowledge and infrastructure willenable them to create a more bright and hopeful future.”
Clarke and Jackson say they got their grade four learnersto learn without realising it by using Windows Movie Maker: “Our project usedNorton Juster’s ‘The Phantom Tollbooth’ to predict what adventures the maincharacter would have in ‘The Lands Beyond’. The learners then used WindowsMovie Maker to produce movies using artwork they had drawn and narrate whatthey imagine would take place when these two stories would collide.”
Clarke and Jackson feel there is something to be saidabout personalised learning. “We found that technology makes it possible togive children who might not do well in a traditional classroom the opportunityto excel. This project enhanced the children’s creativity and helped them workas a team, as each girl had to play their part to create the movie story.”
Crighton’s grade ten learners analysed the movie ‘Cry thebeloved Country’ by using Web 2.0 collaborative tools, including a wiki andonline discussion forum to stimulate independent thinking and participation. “Thegirls loved creating a pod-cast to capture their views and also developed aword cloud with the help of staff experts across a range of learning areas,”she said.
“Quality education is a social imperative. It is the keyto economic opportunity, not only for individuals, but for their communities,”said Naidoo. “Technology is the best way to equip students for success in acompetitive world, and we believe that by sharing the experiences of teachersaround the world, we will improve the way we educate and learn.”
About Microsoft Partners in Learning
The Microsoft Partners in Learning programis a 10-year, nearly $500 million commitment by Microsoft to transformeducation systems around the world. Announced in 2003, the Partners in Learningprogram helps governments envision a new future for education in theircountries; provides leadership and change management information to schoolleaders; works to strengthen teachers’ capacity to use technology effectivelyin the classroom; and provides greater access to technology for teachers andstudents. Microsoft believes in expanding the power of education throughpersonalized learning.
Microsoft SA Press release
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