Integrating ICT in the curriculum |05 August 2015

Some twenty curriculum developers are attending a three-day workshop on ‘Applying ICT as a tool for learning’.

The training, which opened yesterday, has been organised by the Ministry of Education and Microsoft Indian Ocean.

Megan Rademeyer, the programmes manager at SchoolNet South Africa - a non-governmental organisation -- is the workshop facilitator.

The aim of the workshop is to provide curriculum and assessment developers, as well as education officers with the necessary skills to understand the pedagogical and theoretical basis for integrating ICT (Information Communications Technology) in the curriculum.

Delegates will learn how to match specific curriculum and assessment standards to particular applications and tools, and understand how these standards are supported by these applications.

Additionally they will be able to evaluate and select ICT instructional resources and predict potential learning outcomes based on the initial evaluation of such elements as validity, purpose, scope, cost considerations, licenses and copyright issues, classroom dynamics, group structure, pedagogical approaches and models.

The workshop facilitator, who has extensive experience in developing and reviewing educational materials, has also produced content for the www.learn.co.uk website and Mindset Network (www.mindset.co.za).

SchoolNet South Africa is a non-governmental organisation that focuses on empowering teachers to use ICT effectively in education.

In this role, Mrs Rademeyer oversees the Partners in Learning teacher training and materials development for Microsoft South Africa. 

“Looking at your ICT policy, it looks like Seychelles is really leading the way in including ICT in the curriculum. I hope that during the three days we will be able to see how to take the policy and translate it in the classroom,” noted Mrs Rademeyer.

Rosalind Denys, director systems support IT services section at the Ministry of Education, said:

 “Applying ICT as a tool for learning in curriculum areas enables all students to have the opportunity to become competent, discriminating, creative and productive users of ICT, and to better achieve curriculum outcomes. They develop the knowledge and skills to select and use ICT to inquire, develop new understandings, create, and communicate with others in order to participate effectively in society.”

According to Ms Denys, the knowledge and skills acquired in ICT enable learners to use information and communication technologies in social and economic applications, systems analysis, problem solving, logical thinking and information management and communication.

“Integration of ICT with other subjects enhances learners’ language, research and creativity skills while the different skills acquired in ICT can also be transferred to other subjects,” she noted.