PC literacy training
Learnthings Africa & MTN
South Africa
9 - 14 October 2010
Background
MTN, a major cellular network, contracted Learnthings Africa to provide basic computer literacy training to students and teachers at 100 rural schools across South Africa, where MTN provided each school with a fully functional computer lab.
Each lab was equipped with around 30 desktop PC's and an Interactive whiteboard. I had to train teachers on how to integrate technology into their teaching methodologies.
I did basic training on MS Word, Encarta and Learnthings content to both teachers and students. I did facilitation at 12 of these schools in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North-West province and the Eastern Cape.
On this particular trip, we provided training to schools in the Eastern Cape. I was assigned to Elukhanyisweni High school, near Alice. Our team of trainers lodged for the training period at the Hogsback Arminel Hotel in Hogsback and commuted to our respective schools.
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The scenery of the community where Elukhanyisweni School is located
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About Learnthings Africa
Learnthings Africa specializes in providing training based on the integration of ICT and digital materials within the teaching and learning environment so that users can meaningfully utilize ICT in education and harness ICT technology to improve, enrich and expand education.
Some of the training programs include: Computer literacy, Introduction to digital resources, Integrating ICT into teaching and learning, creating digital content, Evaluation of digital resources, the interactive whiteboard.
My Duties included:
- Teaching rural primary and secondary school children and teachers basic computer literacy on Microsoft. (WORD, EXCEL, and POWERPOINT as well as ENCARTA).
- Facilitating Training of teachers regarding the integration of ICT’s into teaching and learning.
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| Nature scenery near Hogsback |
About the Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province. Landing place and home of the 1820 settlers, the central and eastern part of the province is the traditional home of the Xhosa people.
This region is the birthplace of many prominent South African politicians, such as Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu, Govan Mbeki, Raymond Mhlaba, Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe, Chris Hani, Thabo Mbeki, Steve Biko, Bantu Holomisa and Charles Coghlan (Wikipedia).
Road scenery - Eastern Cape
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| En route to the Eastern Cape |
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| En route to the Eastern Cape |
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| En route to the Eastern Cape |
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| African shop |
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| What about the other 0.1 %? |
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| Bridge we crossed |
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| Vodacom Cellular container shop - quite common in SA |
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| En route to the Eastern Cape |
East London
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| East-London |
About East London
East London is a city in the Eastern Cape Province, on the southeast coast of South Africa. The city lies on the Indian Ocean coast, largely between the Buffalo River and the Nahoon River, and hosts the country's only river port. East London today has a population of over 267,000 (Wikipedia).
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| East London City hall |
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| Rochelle & Susan, fellow trainers, stretching their legs |
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| Ice-cream on the beach - East-London |
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| With Susan in East-London |
East-London to Hogsback
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| Road scenery en route to Hogsback |
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| Funny road sign before entering a gravel road to Hogsback |
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| Old deserted church on a gravel road to Hogsback |
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| Nature scenery near Hogsback |
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| Nature scenery near Hogsback |
Hogsback
About Hogsback
Hogsback is a town in the Amathole Mountains in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. There are two theories as to how the village received its name. Some think it was named after Captain Hogg, Commander of Fort Michell, while others think that it is because one of the three peaks that overlook the village, resembles a Hog's Back.
The earliest known written reference to 'Hogsback' was found in the journal of the painter Thomas Baines, who passed the 'Hogs Back' while on his travels deeper inside South Africa in 1848. Besides the 'Hogsback', the highest peak in the area is the 1 954 m Gaika's Kop.
The area is known for indigenous forests, waterfalls and trout fishing. The large gardens in the surrounding area also include exotic plants from all parts of the Earth, and it is a popular destination and tourist attraction.
The Amatola Forest in the Hogsback area is often claimed as J. R. R. Tolkien's, who was born in South Africa, the inspiration for The Lord of the Rings, in particular for his fictional forest named Mirkwood.
Hogsback is located roughly 30 km from Alice. Overall, it is in the central-southern part of South Africa, in the centre of the Eastern Cape Province, and is roughly halfway between the town of Alice and the village of Cathcart (Wkipedia).
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| Hogsback |
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| Shop in the mist - Hogsback |
The Hogsback Arminel Hotel
The Arminel Hotel & Village, Hogsback, is nestled in the natural setting of the famous Hogsback mountains, with a tarred road leading up to the entrance.
Surrounded by some of the Eastern Cape’s most beautiful indigenous forests, snow-capped mountains, inspiring waterfalls, and colorful gardens.
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| Hogsback Arminel Hotel |
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Name of my cottage I stayed in the first couple of nights - Hogsback Arminel Hotel
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| Lavender - Hogsback Arminel Hotel - Hogsback |
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| View of the garden from the dining room |
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| The cottage I stayed in, Hogsback Arminel Hotel, Hogsback, Eastern-Cape |
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| Bedroom |
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| Dining & living area |
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| Hotel Cottage gardens |
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| Arminel Cottages |
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| Garden flower with dew drops |
Rural Eastern Cape
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| Road signs |
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| En route to the school, I was going to train at |
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| Near Alice |
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| Alice, Eastern Cape |
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The scenery of the community where Elukhanyisweni School is located
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| community house |
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| Baptist church across from the school |
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| Farmhouse nearby |
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| Rural homes |
The school: Elukhanyisweni High School
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| Elukhanyisweni school, Eastern-Cape, where I did PC literacy training |
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| Rural gate - Elukhanyisweni school, Eastern-Cape |
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| School sign |
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| Elukhanyisweni school, Eastern-Cape, where I did PC literacy training |
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| Elukhanyisweni school - Eastern-Cape |
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| Break time - Elukhanyisweni school |
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| Student training at Elukhanyisweni School - Eastern-Cape |
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Teacher training, Elukhanyisweni School - Eastern-Cape
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| Feeding scheme at the school |
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| Posing with the teachers I trained Elukhanyisweni School, Eastern-Cape |
Going Home
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| Rainbow in the Free State on our way back to Pretoria |
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