ADESSA is proud to have been part of a highly successful elearning event, hosted by the Cape Winelands Education District of the Western Cape Education Department at the new Somerset High school in Worcester.
Nineteen ADESSA members exhibited their products and services; each one was given a classroom in which to display, demonstrate and present a variety of technology tools for education. About 200 principals, teachers and education department officials stayed till late to visit all the exhibits.
The SG of the Western Cape Education Department, Brian Schreuder, warmly thanked ADESSA and the exhibitors for the valuable contribution they are making to education in general and for contributing to the success of the elearning event.
Banners in front of classrooms, inviting attendees to see produts of Teach360 and Kolok.
This is yet another product from Macmillan to be seen at the Cape Winelands Education District elearning conference/expo on Saturday, 9 March 2019, in Worcester.
Having a lot of problems is, well, a problem. When it
comes to Maths however, teachers will tell you that you can never have too many
problems as practice makes perfect. Unfortunately, learners are often not
motivated to practice Maths, as often they feel they will never grasp the
concepts, or they don’t know where their knowledge gaps are. This leads to Maths
teachers having to spend time on intervention strategies, or for parents to pay
for expensive extra lessons which don’t necessarily provide the required
direction – sometimes all learners do is
solve problem after problem with the hope that they will eventually ‘get it’.
Enter Bettermarks®, a sharp online platform for Maths that employs very sophisticated technology in order for learners to access personalised learning. Bettermarks® takes adaptive learning to the next level – it is a truly personalised platform which is complimented by how easy it is to use by both teacher and learner.
What makes Bettermarks® stand out is that learners get
real time feedback at every stage, it gives specific feedback, and even gives the
option to access the textbook if necessary. This turns mistakes into learning
opportunities as it allows for errors in thinking to be diagnosed immediately,
and then remedied, before a crucial test or exam.
There are thousands of questions and the adaptive
technology checks the thousands of competencies needed across the curriculum to
flag any knowledge gaps, and then provides learners with further exercises to
practice and master topics. Real time feedback and self-monitoring helps
motivate learners and gives them confidence.
Teachers can access learners’ results and progress via reports and then apply hands-on intervention if necessary – or assign further exercises via the platform. The platform will keep recommending exercises to learners to fill knowledge gaps until the teacher is assured the problem has been solved, and the teacher can then close the gap on the platform’s back-end.
Teachers can use Bettermarks® in many different ways
to help them monitor learner progress and difficulties, and to assist them in
their progress. Features include the option of building worksheets from the question
banks and distributing them to all learners – or individual learners –
depending on the need. The questions can also be formulated into a test (which
prevents tips and textbook access and is password protected). The platform
marks all worksheets and tests automatically which saves the teacher a
significant amount of time.
One of the outstanding features is that Bettermarks® is
developed to test learners’ skills in answering a Maths problem – not just
multiple choice. Depending on the question, learners may have to divide blocks
into fractions, draw graphs, or indicate points on a number line, amongst many
other practical applications.
The teacher dashboard gives a teacher a one screen
overview of learners’ progress, and it also conveniently highlights areas in
which all learners are struggling, thereby making whole class intervention
strategies clear.
This easy-to-use platform is a class act and a true asset to the classroom. Learners pay only R150 per calendar year subscription and teacher access is free with every class set purchased. Request a demo today by emailing za.digitalsupport@macmillaneducation.co.za or calling 011 731 3359.
The time is drawing close for the Cape Winelands Education District’s elearning conference expo in Worcester (9 March 2019). Make sure that you visit the classroom of the Digital Education Group to view their superb training material.
Information Technology (Cape) is the importer and distributor of the award-winning InFocus Projectors and Mondopad meeting and education collaboration products in South Africa and will be showcasing the following classroom technologies during the Cape Winelands Education District conference/expo in Worcester on 9 March 2019:
InFocus IN114xa projector – XGA (1024 x 768) resolution – High 26000:1 contrast ratio – VGA & 2x HDMI inputs – 3800 ANSI lumens InFocus IN134 & IN136ST – XGA (1024 x 768) resolution – Standard zoom & short-throw lenses – High 28500:1 contrast ratio – VGA & 3x HDMI inputs – Unique TechStation to conceal & power wifi devices – 4000 ANSI lumens
InFocus Mondopad sample model Demonstrating: 55”- 86” Mondopad Core/ Launch & Ultra: – Interactive 4K touch display – Android, Whiteboard, Browser & casting Model dependent: – Up to i7 Windows 10PC – Office 2016 – 4k camera, – Mondopad Collaboration Software Suite Micker Pro – 3-in-1 Microphone-amp-speaker – Hand-held & portable – Classroom group and outdoor use
Waanneer jy die Kaapse Wynland Onderwys Distrik se e-leer konferensie op 9 Maart 2019 bywoon, maak gerus ‘n draai by die kamer van Macmillan, waar jy meer van Kliek kan leer.
KLIEK is ’n splinternuwe gemengdeleer leermiddel nou
beskikbaar vir gebruik in die Afrikaans Eerste Addisionele taal klaskamer. Die
opwindende kursus is ontwerp om ’n liefde vir Afrikaans by leerders aan te
wakker.
Afrikaans
word op ’n nuwe en vars manier aangebied deur digitale leerwerk, aktiwiteite en
toetse – alles ondersteun deur ’n oorvleulende werkboek.
KLIEK stel die onderwyser in staat om die klaskamer
te omskep in ’n lewendige, gemengde leerarea. Die onderwyser besluit wanneer en
hoe om die tegnologie binne en buite die klaskamer te gebruik.
Die kursus
bied die volgende kenmerke en voordele vir leerders en onderwysers:
• Alle
onderwerpe in die werkboek word ondersteun en aangevul met interaktiewe
oefeninge, speletjies, animasie en toetse.
• Terugvoering
op verkeerde antwoorde verskyn onmiddellik en leerders leer uit hulle foute.
• Leerders
word beloon met toekennings vir deelname en goeie vordering. Hierdie benadering
maak voorsiening vir ‘n generasie wat dadelik resultate en terugvoering wil hê.
• Hierdie
program maak ook voorsiening vir selfgedrewe leer- en probleemoplossing. Die
leerder kan dus moeilike konsepte op hy/sy eie tyd bemeester.
• Tegnologie
is tweede natuur by Generasie-Z en wakker hulle entoesiasme aan, en daarom kan
dit tot voordeel van die leerder, asook Afrikaans as skoolvak aangewend word.
Elke
verbruiker registreer vir ’n twee jaar toegang tot die platform.
Lectorsa is another one of ADESSA’s esteemed members who will be at the Cape Winelands Education District elearning event next month.
They will showcase a tool that empowers students to master skills like extracting the main idea when reading, increasing vocabulary, arranging information in logical sequence, internalizing facts, analysing subject knowledge, forming a basis for argument and the interpretation of new knowledge.
Edit Microsystems will exhibit different assistive technologies and devices for learners during the elearning conference/expo in Worcester on 9 March 2019. A refreshable Braille device will be one of them.
People who are blind use Braille,
a tactile writing and reading system. Traditional Braille is written with
embossed or raised dots on paper. Today, technology enables blind persons
to read computer screens and electronic devices using refreshable braille
displays; electro-mechanical devices which translate on-screen text into
braille characters.
Albert Ruel; an advisor to the
Canadian council of the Blind; says “Braille frees your ears and your mouth in
a meeting or lecture. Braille also allows you to work faster, work
independently and listen and read at the same time.”
According to the Canadian Institute for the Blind’s website, those who use braille are more likely to be employed than those who rely on voice synthesizers for those very reasons.
In January 2013, Edit Microsystems
introduced the e-Braille Project through which refreshable Braille
devices, namely, the BrailleNote
Apex and BrailleNote Touch
are being deployed in 22 South African schools for blind and partially-sighted
learners in order to help improve literacy and increase the possibility of
further education and employment.
Blind learners from the Athlone
School for the Blind in Cape Town benefit from the e-Braille Project and have
access to refreshable braille devices, while those with low vision benefit from
using the Eye-Pal Solo
text reading device and magnification devices. With these technologies,
students can access and edit digital content as well as write and answer
assessment questions in braille, while silently typing on the touch screen or
touch keyboard using TouchBraille technology.
As part of this project, Kyle Williams,
a Junior e-Braille Project Manager at Edit Microsystems and former learner at
Athlone school, offered training and support to the learners and teachers
whilst stationed at the school three days a week for four years.
Talking Stories is an innovative South African reading programme that reflects real life situations in South Africa, affirming the sense of identity and dignity of every young reader. This product will be showcased by Macmillan Education on 9 March 2019 at the Cape Winelands elearning conference/expo.
• Talking Stories can be used
on a computer or interactive whiteboard, in the classroom, in the computer lab,
on a tablet or on a cell phone.
• 64 graded storybooks for levels 1
to 3 across a variety of genres in English, isiXhosa, Afrikaans and isiZulu.
• Stories are graded for Beginner,
Core, Intermediate and Advanced within each level.
• Authentic South African stories
with colourful illustrations to stimulate learners’ interests.
Interactive activities
• Every story comes with three fun
interactive activities that draw on the content of the story.
• The activities are aligned with
the language curriculum.
• The activities are designed to
give the struggling learner a sense of completion of a task, while at the same
time providing extension for the most able learner.
• The activities feature
‘drag-and-drop’ answering and supported typing of the text.
• Animated feedback encourages
learners, giving them a sense of achievement.
Worksheets
Printable worksheets related to each
story are available for extra practice, homework, classroom activities or
assessment.
Talking Stories is easy to use
• Child-friendly design with easy
navigation.
• All instructions are sound-based.
• Children listen to a story while
following it on the screen, and can listen to the same page again if necessary.
• In the lower level each word is
highlighted as the child reads it.
• Children are able to listen to the
story in their home language first, to build understanding, and then switch to
the language of learning and teaching.
Licences
A Single User Licence consists of 64 graded storybooks for levels 1
to 3 in one language for one user.
A Network Licence consists of 64 graded storybooks for levels 1 to 3
in one language for an entire school.
For more information, contact Macmillan Education:
Stimulus Maksima will showcase their product to improve reading at the forthcoming Cape Winelands Education District conference/expo (9 March 2019). In the meantime they’ve contributed some food for thought about the success factors that will lead to reading improvement.
Every school can be successful in empowering every learner to obtain the adequate reading skills required to complete every school year, feeling confident, hopeful and inspired to fulfil their dreams and passion in life.
Based on our experience over the past twenty-three years, we identified effective
change and project management as
essential for the successful implementation of an effective reading strategy
and reading improvement system at schools. Effective reading strategies require
ownership and overall awareness involving all educators, school management and
parents.
Together with overall awareness as well as
passionate and motivated role players, sustainable success is guaranteed by the following technical aspects:
A dedicated computer centre
containing state of the art hardware and software.
Dedicated school principals and educators with a passion for achieving success.
A structured timetable ensuring
that learners will get the necessary exposure required.
A robust and user-friendly high
technology Reading Improvement System that can supply accurate information when
and in the format required.
The focus of the Digital Education Group is on skills development and knowledge for all. They have a range of training tools that will be shown during the Cape Winelands Education District elearning conference/expo on Saturday, 9 March 2019.