Email Updates RSS
Search
Producing Learning Resources for Information Technology Programs with Limited Resources

South African Education in Crisis and Recovery

By IGI Global on Jul 11, 2013
Contributed by Kristen Stauffer, Discipline Manager

MindsetMindset is a South-African based award-winning not-for-profit organization set up in 2002 to provide educational solutions for formal education and health.

IGI Global recently learned more about this company and its educational mission from author Jenny Lamont, who is a Content Manager for Classroom Resources at Mindset Network and the author of the case-study, “The Production of Learning Resources for the Study of Information Technology with Limited Project Management Capacity”, a chapter within Cases on Educational Technology Planning, Design, and Implementation: A Project Management Perspective a new title released this June and edited by Angela D. Benson (University of Alabama, USA), Joi L. Moore (University of Missouri, USA), and Shahron Williams van Rooij (George Mason University, USA).

Ms. Lamont shared the mission of Mindset with us, as well as its goal in a recent educational information technology implementation project within South Africa:

IGI Global: Tell us a little about the mission and vision behind Mindset, and the context of working in South African education.

Jenny Lamont: Mindset’s vision is to empower communities through education by pioneering a network of thriving relationships to create centres of learning across Africa. Our mission is to function as a sustainable non-profit organisation aimed at the personal, social, cultural and economic development of all people in Africa through the creating, sourcing and delivery on a mass scale of quality and contextually relevant material through appropriate media. Mindset Network develops, produces and distributes educational media through one of its divisions, Mindset Learn.

The South African education environment poses enormous challenges for student and educators, many of which are long-standing effects of Apartheid. The persistent problems range from low levels of educator skills, to inadequate school facilities, misuse of budgets, poor school management, poor student performance and lack of motivation.

How did the project to plan, design, and produce learning resources for grade 12 Information Technology – the focus of your chapter – come about?

Mindset Network successfully completed a project to plan, design and produce learning resources for grade 10 and 11 Information Technology. The funder, Uniforum SA, was pleased with the result and requested Mindset to do the same for grade 12 Information Technology. Uniforum SA’s motivation to produce valuable learning resources for the study of Information technology stems from a number of concerns and challenges, primarily the low levels of technological capacity in South Africa compared to predicted demand, and the dwindling numbers of students enrolling for the subject both at school and university level.

In your chapter, you reference some citations and evidence that points to “a crisis in education” in South Africa. What were some of the biggest challenges you felt you faced in implementing this educational technology program? Are there challenges that remain?

In 2012 the World Economic Forum determined that South Africa’s education system ranked 133rd out of 142 countries in the world. There are many reasons for this dismal achievement level, all related to the critical state of South Africa’s education system. Some of the crisis areas have been outlined in recent times by Martin Prew of the Centre for Education Policy Development (CEPD), Nic Spaull of the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa, and Sean Muller of the University of Cape Town, although there are increasing numbers of commentators raising concerns.

Mindset Learn’s approach is to offer learning support in critical subjects (Mathematics, Physical Sciences and technology-related subject, amongst other) to as many learners as possible. Educators can also use Mindset’s learning resources, either as teaching aids or as support to their own understanding and ability in the very subjects they teach.

The specific challenges we experienced during implementation of the education technology program can be categorised in two groups – internal capacity and external context. There is no doubt that the project team was under-resourced, as explained in the chapter; simple project management approaches were utilized to meet delivery outputs and deadlines, but it is almost certain that additional capacity (numbers, time, budget and skills) would have reduced the strain on the team. It is not clear whether the restrained capacity had a negative impact on the quality of the end products, although the final evaluation by the internal team and the sponsor were positive.

What were some of the aspects of working on this project that you enjoyed most?

Personally, this was a unique challenge for me because I had never managed a project across so many different units or sub-teams, with such a large total of team members. In addition, we developed content, produced video, interactive multimedia and print learning resources and packaged and distributed it all in hard copy format. Given that there is a dearth of learning support material for the subject of Information Technology at the senior high school level, other than text books, it was also exciting and challenging to work in new media and provide resources suited to teachers as well as learners, many of whom do not have adequate access to the hardware, software or Internet access they need to teach or master the subject.

One of the significant aspects of this project was its reach, correct?

Yes; not only did the project develop and produce comprehensive learning resources for the entire IT curriculum, but it was distributed to all schools offering the subject, free of charge and under a creative commons licence. In an environment where: a. There are very few and limited text books and b. Educators and learners, especially from disadvantaged schools, need as much additional input and support as possible and c. Interest in technology is very low and predictions for national success in critical and rapidly-changing technology fields are disheartening – the project was highly innovative and had the potential to stimulate learning and interest in a dramatic way.


To read more about this case-study and educational technology project, or to read more about utilizing electronic tools in the delivery of education and training in both school and non-school settings, check out the title Cases on Educational Technology Planning, Design, and Implementation: A Project Management Perspective, edited by Angela D. Benson (University of Alabama, USA), Joi L. Moore (University of Missouri, USA), and Shahron Williams van Rooij (George Mason University, USA). To stay up to date with Mindset, visit http://www.mindset.co.za/.

Jenny Lamont (B.Sc., University of Kwazulu Natal, B.A. University of Johannesburg, Professional Graduate Diploma in Education [P.D.G.E.], University of South Africa) is a former teacher of Science and Biology at secondary school level. She has also worked as a workplace trainer, a training manager, and a skills development consultant. She currently works for Mindset Learn as the Content Manager responsible for Classroom Resources, ensuring the development and production of curriculum-aligned learning resources in video, interactive multimedia, print and online tutorial formats for subjects like Physical Sciences, Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy, and Computer Applications Technology. She lives and works in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Browse for more posts in:
EducationKnowledge ManagementDigital Divide & Developing CountriesDistance EducationInstructional DesignTechnologies in Higher EducationTechnologies in K-12 EducationUrban & Regional DevelopmentBooks & E-BooksChaptersInfoSci-CasesTeaching CasesIndiaNorth America

No comments Comments

Log in or sign up to comment.
Be the first to comment!

More from IGI Global

Apr 18, 2024 Uniting Nations with Multinational Electronic Health Records to Stop Lassa Fever's Pandemic Threat!
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a surge in Lassa fever cases in Nigeria, emphasizing the urgent need for containment measures.
IGI GlobalRead More
Medical, Healthcare, and Life SciencesHealthcare Information SystemsBooks & E-BooksResearch Trends
Apr 16, 2024 IGI Global Announces the 2024 Journal Reviewers Award Winners
IGI Global congratulates the winners of this year's Journal Reviewer Award
IGI GlobalRead More
JournalsAwards & RecognitionOpen Access
Apr 15, 2024 What Defines Authorship and Who Should Be Included in a Manuscript’s Byline?
For decades, academic publishing has been plagued with discrepancies surrounding authorship of scholarly research...
IGI GlobalRead More
Books & E-BooksAcquisitions
Apr 15, 2024 Doody’s Selects IGI Global Books for Special Topics List
Two IGI Global publications have been recognized by Doody's for their excellence and niche topic focus.
IGI GlobalRead More
Medical, Healthcare, and Life SciencesMedia and CommunicationsBooks & E-BooksAwards & Recognition
Apr 11, 2024 Technology is Making Disparities Worse
Digital Inclusion Week underscored the urgent need for a national digital equity plan in the US due to disparities in internet access and digital skills.
IGI GlobalRead More
Apr 8, 2024 Nearly 90% of IGI Global’s Frontlist Books Now Indexed in Scopus
The majority of IGI Global's books Frontlist is now indexed by Scopus. Learn what this prestigious recognition means for the publisher and the experts behind these books.
IGI GlobalRead More
Books & E-BooksAwards & RecognitionReviews & Indexing
Apr 4, 2024 Navigating Neglected Maintenance and Safety Risks of Flight Travel
A United Airlines Flight 837 bound for Tokyo from San Francisco could not take off due to a mechanical issue.
IGI GlobalRead More
Business and ManagementComputer Science and Information TechnologyScience & EngineeringHospitality, Travel & Tourism ManagementAerospace EngineeringBooks & E-BooksResearch Trends
Apr 3, 2024 Introducing the New IGI Book Topic Brochures
IGI Global is excited to introduce a new initiative to provide detailed insights into various fascinating subjects. Our brochures offer a comprehensive overview of timely publications covering the latest research topics...
IGI GlobalRead More
EducationBusiness and ManagementComputer Science and Information TechnologySocial Sciences and HumanitiesBooks & E-Books
Apr 3, 2024 Interview with a Global Guru in Education
Hear from Dr. Velliaris, who was voted as a Top 30 Global Guru in Education.
EducationBooks & E-BooksInterviewAuthor News
Mar 29, 2024 Cocoa Prices Skyrocket
Cocoa prices surging to $10,000 per metric ton challenge chocolate manufacturers and consumers, risking supply chain stability and higher retail prices...
IGI GlobalRead More
Business and ManagementEnvironmental, Agricultural, and Physical SciencesSustainable DevelopmentBooks & E-BooksResearch Trends
First Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10  ... Next Last