Sudáfrica: Harnessing the power of technology in SA’s broken education system

Sudáfrica/Agosto de 2017/Fuente: It News Africa

Resumen: Si bien es erróneo comenzar a hablar de la tecnología como la bala de plata para la plétora de desafíos enfrentados por la educación sudafricana – particularmente cuando muchas escuelas carecen de servicios básicos como la electricidad – hay una esperanza creciente en el potencial de la tecnología para salvar muchos de los agujeros dentro de nuestro sistema comprometido. Así dice Alan Goldberg, Director de Educación de Digicape, un distribuidor Premium de Apple. Goldberg fue uno de los primeros entrenadores certificados de Apple en Sudáfrica y su mandato en Digicape es ayudar a las instituciones a ofrecer a los estudiantes una experiencia de aprendizaje más rica y personalizada mediante el uso de la tecnología de Apple.

While it’s misguided to start hailing technology as the silver bullet to the plethora of challenges faced by South African education – particularly when many schools lack basic amenities like electricity – there is growing hope in tech’s potential to bridge many of the holes within our compromised system.

So says Alan Goldberg, Director of Education at Digicape, an Apple Premium Reseller. Goldberg was one of the first certified Apple trainers in South Africa, and his mandate at Digicape is to assist institutions in offering learners a richer, more personalised learning experience through the use of Apple technology.

Despite South Africa having one of the highest budget allocations for education in the world (around 20% of total government expenditure), the South African education system is still chronically over-burdened and under-resourced. And it’s not just the case in South Africa, explains Goldberg: “All across the world governments are finding that their education systems lack infrastructure, and are not meeting the demands of these exponentially increasing populations.”

Technology is being sought to expand the educational curricula at all levels of schooling, and service larger classrooms. “However, without the guidance of a skilled educator, technology in itself is redundant. If an engaged teacher facilitates and guides the learning process, the full power of technology can be harnessed to truly transform the education experience.”

Goldberg refers to Dr Ruben Puentedura’s SAMR model, which is designed to help educators infuse technology into learning. ‘SAMR’ is an acronym of ‘Substitution’, ‘Augmentation’, ‘Modification’ and ‘Redefinition,’ four fundamental aspects of incorporating technology into education.

“The first two elements, ‘Substitution’ and ‘Augmentation’, focus on enhancing the learning process, while ‘Modification’ and ‘Redefinition’ are concerned with transformation. The model emphasises the need for a continuum of learning… through the use of technology, learning is no longer restricted to just the classroom – all locations become a space of learning, resulting in an immersive learning experience.”

And there’s no denying that transformation is desperately needed, given our local context. “If you set aside a host of other challenges for a moment – including the lack of amenities and misuse of resources – one of the core challenges identified is that many South African teachers do not have the basic pedagogic and content knowledge required to impart much-needed skills, due to a lack of investment in teacher training. This is where technology can bridge certain gaps,” explains Goldberg.

On a practical level, the concept of ‘connected classrooms’ allows a privileged school to connect with one in a rural area through an iPad, and share the learning experience.

In addition, given South Africa’s history and socio-economic context, the disparity in aptitude among students is vast. Goldberg sees technology as the great equaliser: “Technology allows for the learning process to be tailored by the educator to accommodate each student’s academic strengths and weaknesses, interests and motivations, and pace of learning.”

Most importantly, technology provides the child with greater agency, meaning they self-motivated students are able to process information for themselves, and seek their own solutions to problems.

Says Goldberg, “It is essential that effective programmes are put in place which facilitate student access and support teacher training. If teachers lack confidence when using technology, this will lead to resistance in its adoption. Many organisations, such as Digicape, offer teacher training programmes, so that educators can feel more confident utilising new technology and guiding students in its use.”

“In a nutshell, for the potential of technology in South Africa to be fully realised, the state and education system need to formally buy into its potential and invest in teacher training programmes. Adequate funding for its adoption and advancement in schools – starting with those whose students are primarily from previously disadvantaged backgrounds – needs to be allocated. It also requires effective safeguarding of devices, particularly in communities prone to crime.

“We, at Digicape, have a strong focus on education as we believe that it holds the key to levelling the playing field for students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, and across the full socio-economic spectrum, provided there is an equipped educator leading the learning process,” concludes Goldberg.

Fuente: http://www.itnewsafrica.com/2017/08/harnessing-the-power-of-technology-in-sas-broken-education-system/