What is M-Ubuntu?
South African Teachers rave over Mobile Phones for US exchange project
Staff of Parkview Primary with Principal, Mr Waldy Kastoor (front center) show off the mobile phones they worked with in preparation for the 2012 Mobile Learning project.
Atlantis, SOUTH AFRICA, 12 December, 2011
“This was a very
practical experience that enabled us to see clearly the possibilities of
mobile phones for our school next year,” beamed Mr Waldy Kastoor,
principal of Parkview Primary School where volunteers conducted an
M-Ubuntu training module with the staff.
The school is in the
process of preparing for a project that will allow for a cross-cultural
exchange between a Grade 6 class in Flint, Michigan and their South
African counterparts. The preparation included exchanging ideas in learningand the finalization of an Instructional plan, all conducted via Skype sessions that started in October this year.
The training with the
mobile phones aimed at preparing the teachers to coach the South African
Grade 6 learners in 2012 on how to use the phones to collect video-,
audio- and image data for their projects.
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M-Ubuntu Volunteers make Difference for Math Instruction
November, 2011
After two months working with students at one of Learning Academy Worldwide's projects in Mafikeng, SOUTH AFRICA, Mr Jonathan Karlsson (Math Teacher) and young volunteer, Mr Jonas Hammerskog, have made significant progress in assisting with improving literacy.
Since their arrival in South Africa August, they helped around 200 Grade 12 students to prepare for their final High School exam, providing training in the use of Mobile Phones for exam preparation and supplementary Math lessons for students who needed assistamce. In collaboration with national project assistant, Mr Thabang Mogale, they prepare and plan to implement literacy projects at Mogakolodi-Masibi Comprehensive School in Mafikeng.
The school's library is also being revamped by the team and they have already seen an increase in student use of the library.
During November they are preparing with the teacher team for 2012, finding curriculum-related content to store on the mobile phones and planning a research strategy for the new academic year to determine the difference that the library and technology make for literacy and numeracy levels.
School Library Before
School Library After
"We are very pleased to have these young men in our country and at our
school," said, school principal, Mr Langa. "They work hard and are very
practical", he continued, referring to how different the library at the
school looks. The team will be in South Africa till end of July 2012.
Jonas Hammerskog (Sweden) and Thabang Mogale (South Africa)
Jonathan Karlsson (Sweden)
Story: Learning Academy Worldwide
info@learningacademyworldwide.com
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South African University first to use M-Ubuntu-idea for improved literacy
DURBAN, South Africa, 5 August, 2011
The M-Ubuntu project in South Africa extended its reach to the country's east coast with a 3-day conference in Mobile Learning at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) held from 27-29 July 2011. DUT is the first Higher Education institution in the country that deliberately searched out the idea of mobile learning from the M-Ubuntu project.
Dr Sylvia Zulu (2nd from left) captures an image with young lecturer, Ms Seedat, observing during the conference on the Durban University of Technology campus.
The University's Department of Media, Language and Communication, hosted the conference after lengthy deliberations since March this year led by Dr Sylvia Zulu, Dr Kenneth Netshiombo, Executive Dean: Faculty of Arts & Design (left) and Dr Graham Stewart (Deputy Dean: Faculty of Arts & Design (right).
M-Ubuntu project team leaders, Lucy Haagen from Duke University in the USA and Theophilus van Rensburg Lindzter from Learning Academy Worldwide, the Swedish-based learning organization, led the conference with M-Ubuntu team leader, Thabang Mogale. Lecturers at the conference acquired an overview of Mobile Learning, started and showcased a project using mobile phones and planned for implementation.
The mobile phones, donated by Sprint, USA will be used to help students master aspects of English language competencies in three programs: English and Communication, Journalism and Language Practice and Translation & Interpreting Practice.
Director of DUT's International Education and Partnerships, Dr Lavern Samuels welcomed and supported the initiative, which could become a catalyst to extend the learning experience for students.
Theophilus van Rensburg Lindzter (Learning Academy Worldwide, SWEDEN) and Dr Lavern Samuels (Director of DUT's International Education and Partnership) show two of the 45 phones on loan to the University for the Mobile Learning project.
More Pictures from the Conference
Story: LEARNING ACADEMY WORDWIDE, Washington DC, 4th August, 2011
Matric Class receive mobile phones for Matric Exam preparation
May, 2011, Disaneng, NORTH WEST PROVINCE, South Africa
The Matric class (Grade 12s) of Mogakolodi-Masibi Senior Secondary School near Mafikeng in the North-West Province in South Africa received a class set of phones donated by the US-based mobile service provider, SPRINT, to help in the preparation for Matric Exams in Maths and English.
A National Test, the Matric Exam is viewed as a vital hurdle for young people to overcome in order to continue studies at Higher Education institutions in the country. In 2010, around 67% of student who wrote the Matric Exam passed and although this benchmark does not tell the true story of the educational dilemma in South Africa, a great deal of emphasis is placed on the value of a high Matric Exam pass-rate.
Mogakolodi-Masibi Senior Secondary School reported results much higher than the national average when the class of 2010 posted a 94% pass rate. This, principal, Mr Langa, suggested "still does not tell me whether our pass rate was one of quality, so I am aiming higher".
He hopes that the collaboration with the Swedish-based organization Learning Academy Worldwide will help deepen the quality of learning at the school and improve teacher competence and character.
© Learning Academy Worldwide News 2011
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M-Ubuntu project answers literacy questions for the Superintendent General of the North-West Province Department of Education
May, 2011, Golf View, Mafikeng
The Superintendent General (SG) of the North-West Province's Department of Education, Mr Charles Raseala, acquired insight into the work of the M-Ubuntu project at two schools in the North-West province.
The principals of the two schools, Mr Mabidika Langa (Mogakolodi-Masibi Senior Secondary School) and Mr Sydney Teme (Ramosadi Primary School), and Project Manager, Mr Thabang Mogale, spoke about the difference the project's made in their literacy-improvement efforts. Learning Academy Worldwide director, Mr Theophilus van Rensburg Lindzter, added by providing an account of the work in the region since 2008.
Learning Academy Worldwide Director, Theophilus van Rensburg Lindzter and Superintendent General of the North West Province Department of Education, MR Charles Raseala, in conversation
"You have answered between 60% and 70% of the questions we have had in this province related to e-learning," Mr Raseala commented after the brief conference in Mafikeng on 1 May.
Mr Raseala is responsible for the management of the instruction of 785 000 learners in the province. His big concern is for the 30 000 Matriculants (Grade 12s) for whom he considers M-Ubuntu could start making a difference for high-stakes exams at the end of each academic year.
The brief conference introduced Mobile Learning to the SG by using the phones for an actual pre-reading strategy lesson for Grade 12 students. Mr Raseala beamed when working with the device himself and saw the potential for learning in the province and in the country.
Mr Sydney Teme (left), Mr Thabang Mogale (center) and Mr Langa (far right) expressed their confidence in the M-Ubuntu projects in schools in Mafikeng.
There are now serious discussions about expanding the M-Ubuntu project to the whole province and also address the need for professional development. The conference also heard that, in this regard, the two principals were offered entry to the Global Masters Program offered by the University of Michigan in order to support the sustainability of technology-assisted learning initiatives in South Africa.
© Learning Academy Worldwide News 2011
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Rural High School Teachers in M-Ubuntu project in Mafikeng put content on Mobile phones for Matric exams
Mogakolodi-Masibi Senior Secondary School teachers have provided a detailed list of content in Mathematics and English for Grade 12 students to be loaded on mobile phones to help raise the quality of the pass-rate for the 2011 exam. Head of the English- and Math Departments, Ms G. Mokgotho and Mr Masebe met with Project leader, Thabang Mogale and Tech assistants, Mr Charlton Adonis and Desmond van Rensburg to determine exactly what material to put on the phones.
The mobile phones are equipped with a storage card where curriculum-related content in various forms (video, audio, text, image) are stored for use by the students to supplement the learning that takes place in the class.
The Grade 12 students from Mogakolodi-Masibi Senior Secondary School will use these phones for their learning and preparation for their final high school exam at the end of 2011. Learning Academy Worldwide will hand over the phones to the school in the middle of May this year.
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M-Ubuntu volunteer training creates service opportunities for South African Youth - two more join
15 April 2011, Cape Town South AfricaA new breed of young people who wishes to serve schools in South Africa have found an opportunity in the VITAL initiative offered by Learning Academy Worldwide. Since September 2010 VITAL have trained six young post-matric (Grade 12s) students to help teachers in over-sized classrooms, organize holiday programs, find and load curriculum related content on the mobile devices and prepare technology-resources for use in the classroom. The team of volunteers includes two Swedish young students from Stockholm.
The training includes an introduction to mobile learning, developing communication skills, improving understanding of how students learn and developing reading skills in young learners. Volunteers have thus far worked in 2 schools in Mafikeng, North West Province and 2 schools in the Cape Town region.
The most recent additions to the team, Gary Kleinveldt and Jason Knipe, both from Cape Town, will head to Mafikeng on the 9th May to commence their on-site work under the leadership of volunteer Project Leader, Thabang Mogale.
The program continues till the end of the academic year where one assignment focuses on improving the results of the quality of Matric success (final national exam for all Grade 12s) of the Mogakolodi-Masibi Senior Secondary School just outside of Mafikeng.
Volunteers in Mobile Learning Project Maximizes use of Recycled PDAs
22 March, 2011, Mafikeng SOUTH AFRICA
Volunteers for the M-Ubuntu project used recycled PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) donated by DATADYNE
in Washington DC to improve writing and reading skills for a Grade 7
class at Magokolodi Senior Secondary School in Mafikeng, South Africa.
During the latter part of 2010, Datadyne offered the devices to Learning Academy Worldwide for use in the mobile learning initiative aimed at improving literacy in under-resourced schools.
It is clear that mobile devices are useful in engaging students in class and it improves learner participation within structured and well-planned lessons.
Volunteer Project Leader, Thabang Mogale, explained that they not only demonstrated the potential use of the handheld devices, but they also gave students the opportunity to identify for themselves ways they considered these could be used these for learning.
He spoke extensively about how amazed he was when working with the students. Click on picture to the left to listen.
Collaborative- and cooperative learning experiences with students blending technology with conventional tools were clearly evident in Grade 7 at Mogakolodi Senior Secondary School in Mafikeng, South Africa.
Volunteer,
Charlton Adonis, demonstrates the use of the PDAs to Grade 7 learners
at Mogakolodi Senior Secondary School in Mafikeng.
Genadendal High School Matriculants use Mobile Phones for English Quiz
11th March, 2011, Genadendal, SOUTH AFRICA
Grade 12 students of Emil Weder Senior Secondary School in Genadendal, who is enrolled in the English First Additional Language course, used mobile phones to complete a quiz related to their literature module based on the Harper Lee classic, To Kill A Mockingbird.
A bold initiative of Mrs Anthea Adonis, Head of Department of English at the school, she agreed to employ the use of the Wifi-enabled devices sponsored by SPRINT from the USA in an effort to improve familiarity with the book so that learners are prepared for the approaching exam.
Volunteers in technology and literacy (VITAL), Nicole Österberg and Melinda De Lange, prepared the devices for the quiz and provided coaching to help the students become familiar with the phones. The volunteers are recent graduates from high schools in Sweden and are part of a team of 5 young people nationally who give of their time in support of literacy improvement initiatives in South Africa.
Each of the students had a phone to complete the quiz that was based on an online assessment tool which the volunteers downloaded and transferred onto the devices. Completed quizzes are then sent to the laptop in class via Bluetooth for adjudication by the teacher. Ideally, and for the benefit of receiving instant feedback, a wireless network at the school could have allowed the students to complete the exercise online. That is a next step, it is believed.
Emil Weder's English Department is the newest addition to the M-Ubuntu project in South Africa and it's deep roots in the town, Genadendal, is likely to not only provide additional interest in the possibilities of mobile learning for the school but also cast more light on the town.
District in South African Department of Education enlists Mobile Learning initiative for 10 schools
"We are very excited, and have now seen first hand what mobile learning can achieve with dedicated and committed educators," said Mrs Mmanthlakeng Mogapi from the Human Resource Development team of the department. She and six colleagues spent two days at the Mobile Learning conference in Mafikeng earlier.
She and her team had been deliberating with Learning Academy Worldwide, the Swedish-based learning organization, since late 2009 and completed the Introduction to Mobile Learning training program in 2010 with the Academy.
Mrs Mmanthlakeng (far right) and part of her team participated in the classes where mobile phones were used at Ramosadi Primary School in Mafikeng.
Volunteers in Technology and Literacy work hard at 3 South African Schools
February, 2011, Mafikeng, SOUTH AFRICA
F.L.T.R. Melinda De Lange (Sweden), Desmond van Rensburg (South Africa), Thomas Ridder (Germany), Nicole Österberg (Sweden) and Charlton Adonis (South Africa)
Picture: Emmy Lindzter
With help from friends of M-Ubuntu, the literacy improvement initiative started 2011 with a big team of volunteers who will now assist teachers in schools to employ mobile technology in their classes. The M-Ubuntu model seek to team up young European and American young high school graduates who will volunteer 9 months of their time, with South African young tech- and learning enthusiasts to bring needed support to technology-assisted learning in the country's schools..
One of M-Ubuntu's first schools, the Volunteers worked with Grade 6 and Grade 7 learners under extremely warm weather conditions.
This is
the first Senior Secondary School (High School) of the M-Ubuntu project
in the Mafikeng area of the North West province in South Africa.
Being M-Ubuntu's first primary school in the Western Cape region, St. Peters Academy hosted the volunteers for projects in the language and natural science classes. The volunteers conducted a mobile learning project in the Afrikaans language.
Mafikeng hosts 2011 Mobile Learning Conference
February, 2010
The M-Ubuntu project conducted its first Mobile Learning Conference at the Mogakolodi-Masibi Senior Secondary School in in the North West Province in South Africa.
Around forty delegates attended the 2-day conference that included visits to Ramosadi Primary School and Mogakolodi-Masibi Senior Secondary School to see volunteers demonstrate the use of mobile phones in Grade 7 classes. The host principal, Mr Mabidika Langa expressed his gratitude at the opportunity to introduce his school to delegates as he welcomed them to the conference.
The M-Ubuntu project's host organization, Learning Academy Worldwide also awarded 3 certificates of merit for Management and Support to Mrs. Mmanthalkeng Mogapi, Mr Sydney Teme and Mr Thomas Ridder.
"We can now see how the phones are used in real settings to improve learning," said Mrs Mmanthlakeng Mogapi from the Gauteng Department of Education's Johannesburg South district. Her district will roll out the M-Ubuntu initiative in 10 schools this year.
Thomas Ridder, assigned in South Africa with the German Development Volunteer Service, Weltwärts, presented the results of the Mobile Learning project at Pula Difate Primary School highlighting the positive impact on learner participation as a direct result. The project was conducted with Grade 7 learners in 2010.
School principal, Jane Tsharane, who represented her school in Pretoria at the conference, were pleased at the news that Makgatho Primary School in Atteridgeville became the 12th school to host the M-Ubuntu initiative. The school will receive teacher development training and tech support in Mobile Learning and will be granted a mobile learning lab for improved literacy.
Photos: Thabang Mogale
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M-Ubuntu Volunteers from Sweden and South Africa will serve schools with support in Mobile Learning
January, 2011
Four young volunteers from Sweden and South Africa teamed up in Cape Town to assist with the implementation of Mobile Learning initiatives in M-Ubuntu schools in the country. Engaged in the first initiative of its kind called VITAL (Volunteers in Technology and Literacy), the team will be supporting teachers as assistants with over-sized classes, loading curriculum-related content on the mobile phones, planning projects with teachers and developing their own life skills in preparation for further studies and work.
Each of the volunteers are at transitional stages in their development, either in preparation for higher education, completing high school education or final studies of an existing higher education program.
After their initial training in Cape Town, they will serve at two schools in the Cape region and then head out to the North West Province where they will be working in two schools in the town of Mafikeng.
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Summer program for improved literacy could become model for South Africa
21 December, 2010, Mafikeng, SOUTH AFRICAThe South African summer school holidays started on the 10th December for most schools in South Africa. This year, M-Ubuntu was on hand to initiate with Mobile Learning Intern, Thabang Mogale, the first summer project to extend the M-Learning initiatives of Ramosadi Primary School in Mafikeng, in the North West province in South Africa.
Young fifth graders designed their own flag of dreams, modeled after the very popular Dream Flag Project. Inspiration for their designs came from watching and listening to video and audio clips, reading short poems and evaluating images that they accessed on mobile phones donated by SPRINT.
Now into the second week of the project, Thabang, with the help of 3 volunteers from the nearyby Mogakolodi Senior Secondary School, will award certificates for successfully completed projects before they are showcased at a special event.
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Young German Volunteer in South Africa Champions M-Ubuntu Project for Grade 7 learners
17 December, 2010
Thomas Ridder, assigned in South Africa with the German Development Volunteer Service, Weltwärts, guided his young South African learners to complete a 10-page digital book and a printed hardcopy, all compiled using Mobile Phones sponsored by the US Mobile giant, SPRINT.
"I am happy that the learners did so well," said Thomas in his REPORT as he contemplated with renewed enthusiasm about the possibilities for 2011. His enthusiasm and the learners' hard work combined to get the attention of PRETORIA NEWS, a local newspaper, who ran the story in their weekend edition of 11 December 2010.
The report raises insightful contemplations and questions about Mobile Learning's promise and potential when connecting project-based learning directly to the South African curriculum.
Thomas Ridder
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Grade 7 Learners Enthused about Mobile Learning Project
Students from Pula Difate Primary School together with Mr Thomas Ridder (at the back) and Mr Montle (far right with light blue shirt) are all smiles as they hold up their SPRINT phones.
Mamelodi, SOUTH AFRICA, 10 November, 2011
The Grade 7 learners from Pula Difate Primary School in Mamelodi, South Africa, were elated when their mobile phones arrived from the M-Ubuntu project office in Cape Town for the completion of their, These Are Our Memories, digital project.
Under the leadership of their teachers, Mr Montle, Ms Seswike and Mr Thomas Ridder (a volunteer of the German development volunteer service, Weltwärts,) the young learners have started working on the first draft of their poems. The learners plan to create a 10-page Digital and Printed version of their positive memories since they started at the school. The process they follow and the manner in whcih they organize themselves and the application of their reading and writing skills will be employed to serve as artifacts for assessment in the relevant learning areas.
"They are highly motivated and very enthusiastic," said Mr Ridder in a Skype conversation with the Washington DC-based project office of M-Ubuntu. Mr Ridder also engaged the learners in thinking through the rules for the use of the phones and he managed to get them to sign the agreement that they designed.
They have now become familiar with the use of the phones and have already used the Mobile Office software on the phones to enter the texts of their poems. Next week they are working on their 100-word story of their years at the school, drawing an image that represents the highlights at their experiences and producing a caption to a picture that they have taken with the phones.
The phones were donated by SPRINT, the US mobile phone giant and managed by the M-Ubuntu project, these devices are raising the levels of learner participation.
M-Learning and M-Health
Washington DC, November, 2010
The M-Ubuntu initiative have for the last months explored insights gained from the M-Health movement in an effort to find gaps for South African educational initiatives where mobile phones are used for improved literacy.
This year 7-grade students used mobile devices to determine the level of health-care provision in their local community in a semi-rural Ennerdale, just south of Johannesburg. As part of a project aimed at achieving credits toward their curriculum goals, they interviewed medical staff at a local clinic and inquired about the quality of access to health-care also interacting with people directly within the communities to determine their needs and views on the provision of health-care in their area.
Students observed with encouraging surprise how interested people were to answer their questions and they provided their feedback at both a the DML conference in Washington DC and to staff from the Digital Gameworks initiative in Michigan.
It is clear that more needs to be done to get learners to interact with health related data as part of their Mobile learning projects as it has potential for participatory learning - both keeping alertness in class high and encouraging action based on the data collected.
This week, M-Ubuntu will listen and observe and explore ways how that collaboration between Mhealth and M-learning can be strengthened as it attends the Mhealth Summit in Washington DC.
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South African Education Department enlists M-Ubuntu for real training in Mobile Learning
27 September 2010, Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA
District 11 of the Gauteng Department of Education, asked M-Ubuntu to introduce Mobile Learning to its staff at the end of September in preparation for a regional roll-out of the teacher training program for 2011.
At the end of the day, attendees beamed at the result of their own work - a video production of their answer to an important question related to education in the Gauteng Province.
This production, an artifact of their hard work, came after M-Ubuntu project coaches, Lucy Haagen and Theophilus van Rensburg Lindzter instructed delegates on the promise of mobile learning for schools in South Africa, informed them on the results of a pilot project completed at two schools in the country and coached them on how to use mobile phones for project-based learning.
"We are really inspired and promise you to take of this project and do the best that we can with it," said head of the District's Human Resource Management, Mrs Mmantlhakeng Mogapi.
M-Ubuntu Showcases at South African Conference
27-28 September, 2010, Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA
M-Ubuntu introduced M-learning to various audiences at conferences in Johannesburg, South Africa during the month of September.
At Eduweek, Lucy Haagen, M-Ubuntu project coach and Theophilus van Rensburg Lindzter, Director of Learning Academy Worldwide, hosted a full day conference showing participants how to use inexpensive, low- threshold mobile phone technologies to address South Africa’s literacy crisis.
After giving an overview of the challenges facing English teachers in South Africa, they engaged teachers, education administrators, university representatives and principals in hands-on activities with mobile phones. A video compilation of the group projects were shown at the end of the conference to illustrate how mobile phones can serve as tools for projects in schools.
PICTURES and VIDEO here.
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Teachers respond with enthusiasm at Potchefstroom University conference on Mobile Learning
17 September 2010, Potchefstroom, SOUTH AFRICATeachers from several high schools in the North Western province in South Africa attended a 2-day conference on how to use mobile phones to help their learners become more engaged during class time.
The M-Ubuntu team of international coaches, Lucy Haagen (Duke University) and Theophilus van Rensburg Lindzter (Learning Academy Worldwide) spent two days showing how projects can help teachers achieve the curriculum goals for high school students.
"I think if teachers are given the chance to reflect over that which is good, we might end up learning something from them," asserted Lucy Haagen. The recent civil servants strike in South Africa have affected teacher morale and delivery.
The teachers did a project themselves over the two-day conference where they positively reflected over their successes as teachers. They used mobile phones to record their reflections and took pictures that represented the positive ideas from their experiences. All their stories were compiled into a digital video presentation that was shown at the end of the conference.
"I can now see the potential for my students because I had a chance to sort of do it myself," said Mr Johannes Moleleke, social science teacher.
Scott Chiverton, English Language Fellow at North West University on assignment with the US Department of State and Lucy Haagen (Duke University) coached teachers on how to use the phones and on how to improve their writing skills in order to create their digital stories of teacher success.
REPORT and PICTURES: Learning Academy Worldwide, SWEDEN
M-Ubuntu project sustains momentum with Swedish-based learning organization plan
6 July, 2010
A new 3-year plan that extend the work of M-Ubuntu in South Africa have received the go ahead from Learning Academy Worldwide, the Swedish-based learning organization that funds and manages mobile learning initiatives in South Africa. Read Story here.
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South African School Leadership donate salaries to School
5 July 2010
Spectrum Primary School, the recipient of the DML Competition grant in 2009 have been promised a total of R13 000 from the M-Ubuntu Project Director (the School Principal), the Authorizing Officer (Deputy Principal) and the Financial Officer (School Senior Administrator). Mrs D. Taylor informed Learning Academy Worldwide that the leadership have donated their stipends to the school.
"We commend these three for their generosity to the school. It is an admirable example," said Learning Academy Worldwide director, Theo van Rensburg Lindzter from Washington DC.
The M-Ubuntu project concluded its first phase at the end of June this year. Bringing International expertise from US Universities, technological resources and teacher development programs and coaching from the UK-based M-learning giant, TRIBAL, M-Ubuntu effectively improved the chances of teachers to bring creativity to their literacy initiatives to Spectrum Primary School.
The collaboration with DiGameworks have proven particularly meaningful as it focused on the practical implementation of technology-supported learning alternatives. Additionally, the collaboration opened new possibilities for future initiatives in South Africa - a crucial component for sustainability of the M-Ubuntu concept.
Students from Spectrum Primary School visited the US during the month of May to showcase their experiences with mobile phones as tools for improved literacy. Accompanied by their teacher, Ms Lesego Raleholi, they spoke clearly about the difference new mobile technology is making to their learning experiences.
Accolades for their work came from the University of California, the spokesman for the US-based SPRINT NEXTEL's public policy issues and the UK-based TRIBAL's Jessica Wakelin.
Newsflash 13th May 2010
M-Ubuntu Students BLOG from Washington DC on their experiences
M-Ubuntu Students PRESENT at DML Competition Showcase
M-Ubuntu in Washington DC
Sthembiso Zuma, Kirsten Goliath, Leigh Mondell, Mrs Lesego Raleholi and Juzevan du Plessis smile at their arival in Washington DC despite their long journey from Johannesburg.
Washington DC, May 12th, 2010
Four students and their teacher, Ms Lesego Raleholi, arrived in Washington DC to attend the DML Showcase two-day conference in the capital of the USA.
During the first session of the conference, the learners introduced themselves to an appreciating audience and were welcomed by Cathy Davidson and David Theo Goldberg who heads up the Digital Media Competition.
On Thursday, the learners will present the outcomes, blessings and challenges of their participatory learning experience over the last year in their school, Spectrum Primary School, just south of Johannesburg in South Africa.
Report and pictures: Learning Academy Worldwide
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Global Mobile Learning Conference Connects Learners and Educators
19 February 2010
When South African 7th graders, Shandre Lee Davids and Kirsten Goliath went to school on Friday morning, they might have told an inquiring family member of a whirlwind day ahead.
During the course of the school day, under the guidance of their English Teacher, Ms Lesego Raleholi, and accompanied by 17 more of their classmates, they interacted with educators and learners from Beijing, two cities on the East-coast of the USA and two other South African schools in Mafikeng and Cape Town respectively.
Lucy Haagen, who is in Beijing had praise for how well the learners interacted with their peers and adults during the conference.
These .... (more)
Getting by with a little help from friends...
January, 2010The M-Ubuntu project in South Africa is home to another DML winner, DI Gameworks for two weeks until end of January 2010.
Jeff Kupperman, Beth Robertson and Shawn Baglin landed on 15 January 2010 to implement some of their creative approaches to learning in two schools in South Africa.
The collaboration between these two DML winners reflect the eagerness with which the two teams have sought to converge their efforts to achieve the best and most effective use of skills, support and resources.
According to Jeff Kupperman and his team on the ground, both learners and teachers have responded enthusiastically to every part of the project thus far. Read his comments here.
Learners at Spectrum Primary School, just south of Johannesburg started the year 2010 with very practical projects that not only got them engaged in the classroom, but also got them into the community as they gathered video-, audio- and text data to complete an interactive learning game.
Teachers reflect over M-Ubuntu projects
As teachers and learners embark on the 2nd half of the M-Ubuntu project, teachers reflected briefly over last year.
Ms Lesego Raleholi, Grade 6 English Teachers and Deputy Principal at Spectrum Primary School reported that she learnt quite a lot from using Mobile Phones for project-based learning. Her class completed the school's annual Magazine using the multiple functions of a mobile phone as a device to gather the image and text data.
"We had so much else to do at the end of the school year with exams, reports that needed to go to the Department and the planning for 2010 that it presented challenges in completing our M-Ubuntu project", she explained.
Other teachers, Jabu Hlubi, Lindi Ntuli and Robert Mafamba helped their Grade 7 class to write acrostic poems with their mobile phones and take a picture of an accompanying drawing after which they collated it into a presentation.
Teachers praised and welcomed the coaching provided by Project Coaches, Lucy Haagen and Theo van Rensburg Lindzter. "I am particularly glad that we also had opportunity to present to others what we were doing, like our time when we demonstrated the use of the mobile phones at the national conference on reading ..." Ms Raleholi explained.
The two project coaches assisted teachers with planning, implementing and evaluating of their projects. They also promoted the project with Universities in South Africa and met with possible sponsors for project sustainability. A new possibility of an additional school in the southern part of South Africa was also investigated.
At Ramosadi Primary School, the other site for the M-Ubuntu Project, learners completed a video on the Aids awareness day and produced a 15-page booklet on caring for the environment.
Teachers will present their projects during the first quarter of 2010 at the M-Ubuntu E-Learning conference.
Museum Visit stuns Curator
December 2009When M-Ubuntu Project Consutant, Lucy Haagen, persuaded Ramosadi Primary School management to allow the learners to visit the local museum, she had no idea just how big an event it was going to be.
The curator was surprised and shocked when she saw the 25 sixth graders, armed with mobile phones and a set of serious questions enter the Mafikeng Museum. Such a surprise was backgrounded against an inexplicable phenomena - schools in the area seldom visit the local museum and of course, never with mobile phones!
The visit was part of a practical demonstration that Mrs Haagen was eager to help the teachers experience when designing and implementing opportunities for learning. "I think it was the greatest thing for these 6th graders this year," said teachers, Mrs Dorothy Ratshefola.
A remarkable outcome from the field trip was the leadership that some of the, so called, "trouble makers" in the class demonstrated. The wild boys became the responsible custodians of the phones and they were often the ones who showed others how to use the devices.
North West University gives a listening ear to a M-Ubuntu Project on the march
November, 2009
One of South Africa's biggest Universities, North West University, hosted a briefing by the M-Ubuntu team at their Mafikeng Campus.
Intrigued and curious of the M-learning phenomena, Professor Thapelo Mamiala from the Faculty of Education said earlier that they "welcome (the) opportunity to have collaboration with M-Ubuntu". The University made every effort to keep to this intention when they accepted an invitation from the M-Ubuntu team to introduce the project and explore collaboratory possibilities.
Some 15 delegates from the University met with Lucy Haagen, Sydney Teme and Dorothy Ratshefola to explore three possibilities with the University: a possible student teacher internship collaboration, a science project and the provision of training for teachers in technology assisted learning.
There's been a stirring in the region since the M-Ubuntu team arrived at their Ramosadi Project site to coach teachers in the use of Mobile phones to increase meaningful learning participation in the school.
Photography and Uploading: Thabang Mogale
Stirrings in Mafikeng as Ramosadi Primary educators connect with Duke University Lecturer
29 October, 2009
A new siege is under way in Mafikeng as the M-Ubuntu team met with principal and teachers in the second round of training and coaching in the use of Mobile phones for projects and examinations.
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M-Ubuntu Project Teachers enthuse academics and teachers at national reading conference
19 October, 2009, Wits University, SOUTH AFRICA
Sydney Teme, principal of Ramosadi Primary School and Sam Nenngwekhulu, principal of Spectrum Primary School, lead their two teams at a vibrant workshop at South Africa's national conference on reading.
Earlier, Lucy Haagen, who accompanied the team and coordinated the session, coached Mr Teme's and Nenngwekhulu's teachers to demonstrate how they are using mobile phones to plan projects for their learners.
Dolly Ramathebane, a teacher at spectrum Primary school, described the experience as "like fireworks". She was part of a team of 6 teachers who addressed questions connected to safety of the use of the phones, it's usefulness in collecting data, the benefits for maintaining interest and the value it brings to group work.
The conference is the 4th of its kind aimed at assembling meaningful dialogue around policy and practice for the improvement of reading in South African schools. This year, M-Ubuntu was asked to present their innovative idea of using cellphones to meet literacy needs at the conference which was held at the University of Witwatersrand. M-Ubuntu also presented at the 2008 RASA conference.
Listen to Lucy Haagen and Sam Nenngwekhulu share their thoughts on the questions they were asked, who attended, the conference and how they involved the attendees.
M-Ubuntu project Schools benefit from Duke University literacy consultant
11 October, 2009, Johannesburg, SOUTH AFRICA
Lucy Haagen from Duke University in the USA is on-site at Spectrum Primary- and Ramosadi Primary School in South Africa. She arrived on the 9th October for a month-long stay in the country to provide upfront training for teachers in the use of mobile phones for projectsand preparation for school examinations and tests.
Teaches have been involved, prior to Mrs Haagen's visit, in training workshops to help them see the benefits and potential in using mobile phones in their classes. In fact, teachers have been using the phones in their classes to coach students in the use of the phones for projects.
The 4-week schedule includes a visit at both schools where teachers will be coached in project work, drafting lessons plans and preparing for a presentation at the Reading Association of South Africa national conference.
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Principal inspired by enthusiasm of the M-Ubuntu teachers
25th September 2009
As schools in South Africa closed for the Spring Break, Spectrum Primary School principal, Sam Nenngwekhulu, pondered over the hard work his teachers have invested in the inspiring M-Ubuntu Teachers Collaboratory project since its start in June this year - he smiles and he is excited at the prospects for his school, his community and ... his country.
His teachers have wasted no time in using what they have learnt during the workshops in the class - the children's excitement about the new possibilities that the use of mobile phones will bring to their projects was a natural consequence. The Grade 6 English teacher, Ms Lesego Raleholi's set the pace when she engaged her learners earlier this month. See video here.
After the recent workshop, Sam spoke briefly on video to Euclid Jacobs about his teachers.
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Teachers produce model project with Mobile phones at the M-Ubuntu Workshop in Johannesburg
24th August 2009, JOHANNESBURG
Twenty Educators gathered at Spectrum Primary School for a 2-day workshop on using Mobile phones for their planned projects for Grades 6-7 learners. Representatives from Ramosadi Primary School near Mafikeng also attended.
Teachers used the phones to gather information based on the theme, Women and Relationships, uploaded the videos, images and texts to a computer and had the compilation printed into a 20-page booklet. The booklet will serve as a model for teachers to use with their learners when they start with their proposed projects. See the book here.
Teachers were actively involved in mastering the skills on the phones, previously donated by SPRINT, USA, to capture and upload their work. Their enthusiasm is clearly noticeable in these short videos:
Video 1 - M-Ubuntu Workshop Part Video 2 - M-Ubuntu Workshop Part 2 Video 3 - Reflections
Video 4 - M-Ubuntu Teachers' Voices
Other links: Spectrum Pimary School Ramosadi Primary School
Teachers were thoroughly engaged during the workshop, always willing to learn and to teach. For more pictures click here.
USA Mobile Phone Giant provide Smart Phones for South African Schools
1 August, 2009
The US mobile phone giant, SPRINT, responded to M-Ubuntu's ReMobilized project - an initiative aimed at using recycled phones in under-resourced learning environments, by donating 100 recycled Smartphones to its US and South African Mobile Learning projects.
Providing South African and US projects with these Smartphones, SPRINT enabled under-resourced schools to access the best available coaching for teachers by educators from the US, Sweden and South Africa. That they provided this needed resource using the most innovative recycling initiatives in the mobile phone industry, proved that, especially in rural South African schools, the technology needed for improving functional literacy does not have to be expensive.
Staff and students were excited at the arrival of the phones at their school in South Africa. "Now we can get down to working with these phones and help our teachers see the potential for learning that these devices can help provide," said Principal of Spectrum Primary School, Mr Sam Nenngwekhulu.
Breaking News about big USA grant for 2 South African Primary Schools!!! Read here
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M-Ubuntu - just imagine...
The theme is cultural diversity and until now, 6th graders have written earnest but boring reports on South Africa's multicultural population. This year, Thembisile asks her teacher for permission to use her cellphone in the project. Soon a routine assignment takes on new life as teams of young ethnographers armed with mobile phones take to the field.
Each team focuses on a particular ethnic or racial group using mobile phones to find (gps), photograph (camera), and interview (voice recorder) representatives of that group. Returning to the classroom, they write photo captions, interview summaries and their own conclusions. Digital files are bluetoothed to their teacher, who in turn uploads and sends the files to a multimedia specialist at Duke who can formats their content into a YouTube video, which is then downloaded to class sets of mobile phones at both Spectrum and Ramosadi and uploaded to a storytelling.org space, an international repository of cross-cultural student videos.
300 km to the northwest in Mafikeng, Ramosadi learners and parent volunteers are tending the school's garden, which provides healthy produce to supplement a meagre government lunch program - and provide a 2nd nutritious meal to students from the poorest families. Principal Sydney Teme has a larger vision - he sees the garden as a environmental literacy lab - and microenterprise - generating enough income to employ out-of-work parents. A post to the M-Ubuntu blog puts him in touch with a teacher in Finland who offers to train his teachers in MOOP, open-source mobile phone software for nature study in primary schools. He also hears from a teacher in Harlem, NYC, founder of the Edible Garden, and soon his learners and those in the Harlem school have become M-Pals text messaging each other ideas on gardening, cooking and food culture. He also hears from the coordinator of an NGO developing Trade-Net, a mobile-phone network connecting sellers and buyers of agricultural products who invites Ramosadi to join a pilot. A third post yields inquiries from the director of the service learning project in North Carolina, seeking environmental projects for undergraduates interested in global civic engagement placements during the summer term (when South African schools are still in session)
These scenarios illustrate the power of M-Ubuntu to catalyze co-learning through peer networking, problem-based pedagogy, and digital content creation and sharing.
| ORIGINS OF THE M-LEARNING PROJECT IN TWO SOUTH AFRICAN PRIMARY SCHOOLS The Swedish-based learning organization, Learning Academy Worldwide, established a platform for distance learning in two regions in South Africa. Since September, 2007 the organization's provided teacher development opportunities aimed at supporting and providing creative strategies for improving reading skills among young learners. The M-Ubuntu idea is a direct outflow of dialogue with Lucy Haagen from Duke University on the viability of using mobile phones as a pedagogical tool alongside the existing teacher development program. The project is in its first phase. See the video |