Technological Infrastructure and Use of ICT in Education in ... - ADEA

108 Working Group on Distance Education and Open Learning
11. ICT and Teacher Training
Box 13: School-
Net SA Educator’s
Network
in South Africa
SchoolNet South Africa has
developed a project to address
the need to provide
teacher training for the
use of ICT in teaching and
learning. In response to
this need, the Educator’s
Network was developed.
The Educator’s Network is
an educator development
programme available both
online and on CD-ROM. The
approach is based on the
following key principles for
educator development:
Ù Educational goals must be
primary to the project.
Ù There is no single best
practice or general recipe
for success.
Ù Educator development
must be needs-driven.
Ù There must be flexibility
in access, modes of delivery
and content, in order
to make learning possible
in a meaningful and equitable
way.
Ù Educators must receive
situated/experiential learning
support.
Ù Educators must reflect on
their practice while implementing
new ideas involving
the integration of ICT.
Ù Educators must reflect on
change as they learn and
plan strategies to implement
new ideas.
Ù Teaching practice, including
classroom organisation,
must change if ICT is to be
implemented effectively.
Ù Workshop leaders and
mediators must model desirable
educational practice
in training.
Ù Quality educator development
is a process and not
a product.
Ù The most effective approach
to skills development
is to have context,
use the just-in-time approach
and use the adult
learning style.
Ù Ongoing support cannot
be over-emphasized.
Based on these underlying
principles, the Educator’s
Network project makes
use of both face-to-face
and distance methods.
Distance methods make
up the bulk of delivery, and
the learner is supported
by a mentor throughout
the learning process. In
addition, a ‘community of
learners’ is developed by
encouraging teachers to
work together, to share
their work and ideas, and
so to support one another.
Six modules are currently
available. These are:
Ù Learning strategies for
ICT (questioning skills, the
outcomes-based approach,
thinking skills, classroom
management).