A few of the educators from across the country getting to know each other and receiving training on their newly sponsored Samsung devices.
click to enlargeThe exclusive training programme, sponsored by Samsung Electronics and facilitated through Enterprises University of Pretoria (Enterprises UP), is aimed at equipping educators with tools and techniques to effectively apply the use of smart technology in their classrooms. The programme is set to ignite a catalytic experience that will transform these educators into drivers of technological change in the country and beyond.
“Following an infrastructure and connectivity audit held between 2011 and 2016, which recommended to improve local infrastructure to connect schools with the internet, Samsung Electronics activated 30 Smart Schools across South Africa,” explains Ms Helen Mashilwane, Samsung Electronics Marketing Manager. “As a result, the lives of more than 50,000 learners and educators have been transformed across the country.”
The Smart Schools project provides education environments that utilise the most advanced IT and smart technology to help educators develop an interactive learning environment with its students. In order to assist educators with this critical role, the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Department of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education and Enterprises UP have developed an applied e-learning training programme.
“The programme was designed and is presented within the Living Lab for Innovative Teaching at UP (LLITUP) and incorporates the current developments in mobile teaching for 21st century educators within the Samsung Smart Schools environment,” adds course leader, Dr Ronél Callaghan.
The programme is presented as a hybrid short course – three days face-to-face training followed by two months online collaborative learning activities - and will be attended by 54 educators who teach at the schools by means of advanced technology in their classrooms.
“I hope that all educators had a wonderful time during the contact sessions,” says Mr Sung Yoon, Samsung Electronics South and Southern Africa President and Managing Director. “Technology is about embracing problems and finding effective and clean ways to fixing them. Together with the educators, we at Samsung are committed to effective smart e-learning which fuels opportunity and growth. I wish them well,” he says.
The Samsung e-Learning for the 21st Century Educator training programme will run until the end of August where the delegates who successfully complete the programme will be presented with certificates by the University of Pretoria. Plans are also underway to celebrate the educators’ achievements and in due course, details will be announced with regard to a graduation and awards ceremony. Samsung Electronics, in partnership with Enterprises UP, looks forward to the further roll out of this brand new e-learning experience, connecting educators and students to infinite learning possibilities.
