Schools, classes and individuals are once again invited to compete in another exciting and educational SA Maths Challenge due to take place on the 26 to 27 September. The challenge, which is free to all learners from Grade  R right through to grade 12, enables anybody to take part in real time maths challenges powered by the Mathletics platform. Here they can put their best mental arithmetic skills against other students from around the world. Not only will the top performers go into the selection process to become Ambassadors of the World Education Games 2012, but with Standard Bank as a main sponsor there are lots of other exciting prizes up for grabs for the top performers in each category.

The challenge is run in conjunction with 3P Learning, the founders of World Maths Day, and encourages learners from all over the country to practice hard to break the South African record for the largest online maths competition in the country. Rob Masefield, SA General Manager for 3P Learning says that in line with the goals of our education departments, this challenge is an ideal way for teachers to inspire students by letting them do something different with Maths.

“The competition is very popular as it encourages students of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to have a go at maths in a fun, interactive and accessible way and at a level which is suited to their varying ability levels. They can improve the speed and accuracy of their maths in a fun interactive manner.  Best of all participation in the competition is free – all students need is internet access,” says Masefield.

Schools will need to register before 25 September. There are two distinct stages. Each day starts at 8 am and runs until 11pm that night. There is a free practice session for learners from 21 to 25 September allowing them the opportunity to hone their skills before the big event. Learners and teachers can go to www.samathschallenge.co.za to register and take part.

The first day, is a Curriculum Maths Challenge where students are set a special challenge curriculum course,. “This tests the students’ knowledge of Maths concepts, “says Masefield. The second day is where the fun really starts and here students can compete in a live maths challenge. In sets of 60 seconds they play mental arithmetic with other students across South Africa. “Not only does this test their concept knowledge but also their speed,” says Masefield.

Masefield confirms that students already licensed for Mathletics or Spellodrome need not register and can automatically participate in the challenge by signing in to www.samathschallenge.co.za and using their existing user name and password.

In the 2010 South African competition 50 000 students were eligible to compete and it is anticipated that the response this year will be even greater. “So come on, learners, register and get practicing!” encourages Masefield.

“High School Maths is important because it is the most widely used subject in the world. Doing maths helps the mind to reason and organise complicated situations or problems into clear, simple, and logical steps. High paying jobs often demand someone who can take complicated situations and simplify them to the level that everyone can understand. By doing well at maths, you’re giving yourself a competitive edge that you’ll need to land a really cool job.”

These are the words of the creators of MathPRO, a unique, South African-based educational software program that focuses on mathematics from grades 8 – 12.

MathPRO is the latest program to hit the shelves from educational software developer EvaluNet. Two license options are available for two different target markets. “We created MathPRO to be used by an individual learner in a home setting. For example, a learner who is wanting to improve his or her maths results can purchase a single-user licence, install it on their computer at home, and away they go. For schools, we have a networkable version that can be used in the school computer centre or on interactive whiteboards in classrooms,” says Melanie Gow, lead content developer at EvaluNet. “The primary goal of MathPRO is to improve mathematics results, and we designed it in such a way that caters for struggling learners, as well as learners that are already achieving good marks.”

The content in MathPRO was authored by seven highly-qualified maths teachers from private and state schools, and MathPRO complies fully with the current South African National Curriculum Statement. The program focuses on learning, revision, consolidation and self-assessment of the maths curriculum and learners are able to work comfortably at their own pace.

Rob Goslett, an ex-matric learner from Edgemead High School who used the beta version of MathPRO in 2009 said: “I hate maths, but MathPRO got me through it. Enough said”. Comments from learners currently using MathPRO include: “It is really cool! I never understood maths like I do now” and “I like MathPRO and it is helping me to understand my work”.

Currently MathPRO is being used by The Settlers’ High School in Cape Town and Ladysmith High School in Ladysmith, KZN.

The home version was released in February and retails for R385 per grade. The school version was released in April this year and retails at R4,500 for a 12-month subscription for grades 8 – 12.

You can find out more by visiting www.mathpro.co.za.

As younger generations become increasingly comfortable with technology, teachers are challenged to integrate these familiar mediums into their lesson plans to engage school learners and keep their attention and interest. Here are some creative approaches to using technology in the classroom and bridging this gap.

Xbox Kinect helps teach English
In an experimental program, a Zulu-language primary school in KwaZulu Natal was given an Xbox game console and the Kinect add-on, which allows games to be played using physical gestures rather than traditional controllers. Teachers had found learners very hesitant to speak English in class, but were surprised to see that the children who were engaged in the game lost their shyness and happily called instructions to their classmates in English. The game made the children relax and forget about the stresses they usually felt when asked to speak up in class.

Interactive whiteboards absorb learners
A world ahead of traditional chalkboards or classroom projectors, interactive whiteboards are interactive displays that let both teachers and learners interact with data on a screen and allow for a wide range of material (including videos and websites) to be displayed to the class. When Montagu Drive Primary School in the Western Cape introduced this technology, teachers found that learners were much more receptive to the lessons that included audio-visual content. Rather than focusing on computer labs, the school decided to bring technology directly into the classroom. Learners became more confident in participating in lessons and found their horizons were expanded, since they were introduced to material on the internet from all over the world.

Integrated tech teaches business savvy
Perhaps the most potent way to use technology is to integrate a wide variety of tools and media to make the best of each one. Warren Sparrow, a teacher at Rondebosch Boys Preparatory School, devised an innovative curriculum to get his learners to create a board game, learning about technology and entrepreneurship concurrently. The learners used cellphones, video editing programs and layout software to create the elements of the board game. They also needed to use online mind mapping tools, blogs and wikis to document their knowledge. Sparrow found that the learners were very engaged and interested in the project and had fun using the technology to solve problems and share learning.

To learn more about online learning, visit www.getsmarter.co.za to see what range of online courses are on offer.

I recently called a major software distributor to ask for site licences for our school. As an independent school we do not qualify for the same discount granted to state schools (another topic for another time!) and so I wanted to know what costs we would incur to license seven computers in the school with the same software. I was told that they would not consider an education site licence for under 17 computers and that I would have to buy the licence at that cost no matter how many computers I had at school. When I asked the company representative how I could keep the cost down given that we are not going to have 17 computers that need that particular software for some time in our small school, he was completely unsympathetic and told me that this was a non-negotiable fee.

As a result of this experience, I have migrated our school to Libre Office and we are using this very successfully. As the interface is familiar to most, the vast majority of teachers and admin staff were able to move seamlessly into the reality of an open-source office suite. As it is free I was also able to give every member of staff a copy of the software for their personal use.

When queries did arise, the online help was valuable and solutions were often found as staff engaged in trouble-shooting together. This hands-on experience has resulted in teachers being more willing to enage with the software and learning that they cannot “break” the software! As good as Libre Office is, we have continued to use Microsoft’s latest edition of Publisher as the Libre Office equivalent is simply not at the same level.

Therein lies the essence of a school using Open Source – common sense! When an open source equivalent exists which is easy to use and effective, why pay for a proprietary option? However when a commercial product exists which is simply better, then a school should use it!

We need to be teaching (and modelling) the value of evaluating software as well as teaching our pupils the value of the open-source values of sharing, collaborating, critiqueing and learning together.

Our school has embarked on the journey into Google Apps for Education and I simply cannot imagine why any school would choose to pay for all that Google Apps offers for free! There is a learning curve for some but that would also apply for any new proprietary software which might be introduced.

I simply do not buy the argument that open source software is only suitable for the geek-types. Most distributors of open source software today are at pains to point out the user-friendliness of their product and many try very hard to clone the user-interface of well-known commercial software to enable an easy switch for the end-user. I also cannot abide the argument that open source software is unstable and prone to breaking down. My personal experience at home and school as well as the experience of millions of others tells a different story. Of course there will be software, both commercial and open source, which has reliability issues but then the choice to continue using that software lies in the hands of the consumer.

A school which only uses open source software is closing itself to some incredibly powerful and worthwhile software. Likewise a school which chooses to ignore the reality of open source is also preventing its pupils from discovering a world of software which has incredible value and is also keeping its pupils from learning about the core values of open source :

• the free exchange of ideas and knowledge
• the rewards of co-operative networks
• the understanding of social enterprise’s role in society

Many schools today employ an IT teacher whose job it is to keep the computer lab up and running and teach pupils the basics of computer use. I wonder how many of these IT teachers have a working knowledge of some of the basic open source software and how many understand the value of open source software. These same teachers are called upon to make purchasing decisions on software. Without a decent knowledge of open source, there is no way a fully-considered decision can be made. A process of weighing up the pros and cons of both commercial and open source alternatives needs to be made. Should the open source option be chosen, the money saved should be used in some area of need in the school. Not engaging in this process is financially irresponsible.

One last thought – certain open source operating systems are designed to work on older machines which teachers may have thought of throwing out. In a school where every cent is counted, surely this is a viable option to bring computers into classrooms? Imagine a Grade 1 classroom with three or four PCs using a Jolicloud or Edubuntu operating system replete with Web 2.0 applications and tools used to enhance the teaching in the classroom. Breathing new life into old machines is absolutely critical in a country where so many schools lack basic resources and certainly cannot justify the expense of new computers but also need to empower their pupils with computer skills.

It is time to stop taking sides and use a common sense approach to software in schools. This is not an argument for or against – it is simply a request to consider all options with an open mind!

There’s nothing like working really hard with a group of learners, only to have one of them submit an essay that is, to put it mildly, not their own original work. Fortunately, many tools exist that detect plagiarism in work. Here are some recommended applications:

• WCopyFind (free)
• PlagiarismDetect.Com (paid) – I’ve personally used this tool and find it to be very accurate.
• Viper ScanMyEssay (free)

Share your plagiarism stories in the comments box below …

A few days ago I was chatting to an IT administrator at a very prominent private school near Cape Town. The school in question has 4 beautiful computer labs and a very elaborate server setup. Even the tuckshop has a dedicated server to log and track transactions. So in the minds of computer nerds, this school setup is super cool.

As we chatted about education, it became very clear that the IT administrator is an advocate for open source software. The school uses Moodle for instance, and I’m sure they’ve dabbled in a number of other open source products. The IT administrator told me that open source solutions are the way of the future and that systems such as Moodle are replacing propriety software such as EvaluNet XT.

For those of you who don’t know, “open source” refers to free software where the code can be freely edited and customised. “Propriety” refers to software that you pay for, and which you cannot edit yourself.

Without giving the matter much thought, one would immediately and without question say that free software which can be edited and customised to suit your needs is a much better way to go than having to pay for software that cannot be edited or customised. And bear in mind, when I say “customised”, I am not referring to the content of the software (e.g. curriculum), but rather to the actual software code. The “inner workings” of the software.

But give the matter a bit more thought and you will begin to notice the very glaring pitfalls that open source software solutions pose, very specifically to schools …

1. Open source software is NEVER plug and play. It requires experience and a knowledge of servers, networks and connections to install and setup.

As a teacher, have you ever tried to install Moodle, WordPress, Drupal or Joomla? No? Well, do you know what Apache, PHP, C++, Java, Perl or Python are? I didn’t think so.

Let’s go back to the IT administrator I referred to above. I asked a simple question: “Do you have a teaching degree?”. He answered by telling me he has an engineering degree and experience with setting up of networks for prominent schools and businesses across the country. A more direct answer to my question would just have been “no”. With no teaching degree, this IT administrator punting open source solutions to the school management committee and governing body, has very little knowledge of what it means to be a teacher and the struggles and issues teachers face on a day-to-day basis WITHOUT the extra pressure of having to design and customise open source software.

2. Normal teachers do not (and are not expected to) have knowledge of servers, networks, connections and all that other programming language the nerds talk about.

By making the school reliant on open source software, the IT administrator is essentially ruling out the option of having a normal teacher replace him if he ever decides to move to another school or retire. Coding, customising and managing of open source software is not a very simple thing and not something your average teacher has time to learn about. Someone with this kind of experience is going to cost. And this is money that average schools cannot afford to spend on a non-teaching staff member.

3. Open source software does not have dedicated support channels.

Open source generally attracts a large community of users and fans. However, what most people don’t realise is that there is no “support hotline” for open source software. Why? Because if the software is free, then no one is going to sit manning a technical support centre! Of course you can rely on support forums and chat rooms, but as a teacher, when you have a problem with the software you’re using, you want immediate help. Propriety software (software you pay for) always has dedicated support channels to help you whenever you need it. If something goes wrong, the company is obliged to assist you. With open source, if something goes wrong, you normally need to figure it out on your own or wait until a more experienced user is willing to help you.

Can you hear the warning bells going off here? As a teacher, wouldn’t you rather be teaching, marking, doing admin and then going home to be with your family, instead of having to sort out software issues in your computer centre?

Let’s continue …

4. Open source can be great for businesses, or schools with lots of money and lots of time to waste.

Let’s say your school is a Michaelhouse or Bishops of this world, then sure go ahead and try open source. If however, your school is an Edgemead High of this world (which is where I matriculated from), then for the love of education, please do not waste your time with open source!

Seriously, how many schools can actually boast that they have successfully setup and use an open source software solution to the REAL benefit of learners and teachers? A couple, I’m sure. However when it comes to the majority of schools, open source is just not a viable solution. A school is an institution of learning. Yes, many people say that schools should be run like businesses, and I agree. But, and this is a BIG BUT – I don’t believe that schools should be spending time or money trying to develop or customise open source solutions when excellent quality, easy to install and use, propriety software solutions are available that do NOT require technical know-how in order to use properly.

Many teachers struggle enough with learning how to use computers and integrate IT into the classroom, so why make them struggle more with open source software?

5. There is no on-site training available in open source solutions.

Have you ever heard of a Moodle Trainer coming to a school to show the teachers how to use the system? Or a Joomla Representative presenting a workshop on new features? No? Not surprising considering that such things do not exist in the world of open source. Sure, the Shuttleworth Foundation has invested in getting schools and teachers to use open source solutions, but they are a very long way off the mark. Most propriety software solutions have training options available for teachers and many even present free hands-on workshops. Why? Because you have paid for the software. But at least you’ll know how to use and implement it properly!

6. Open source is NOT free and is normally NEVER ‘finished’

Open source software solutions will do much better when the open source advocates start acknowledging that open source is not actually free. A lot of time and effort needs to be put in place in order to use open source software, and as I mentioned, you DO need to be a “techie” in order to know what is going on when something breaks or doesn’t work as it should. Many open source solutions are only half-finished products.

Don’t waste your teachers’ time. They deserve better. Invest in propriety solutions until such a time comes that South African schools are ready for ‘open source’.

My challenge … if you are a school that has successfully implemented an open source solution, write your story in the comments box below.

Until next time – Microsoft rules and open source sucks!

SEO experts Queryclick.com thinks Google is on the right track with plans to sell education software through its app store.

Always a company keen to look ahead for potential expansion, it’s been revealed that Google is planning to sell education software through its app store.

The industry for online learning products in the USA has been predicted to reach a value of as much as $5 billion in coming years, and recent reports that Google has been talking to educational software companies suggest the search king is eyeing a slice of the educational-pie.

Google App Marketplace already has games and instruction tools for teachers but the online powerhouse is said to be in the process of luring new developers onboard, to help it broaden its offerings. This would allow outside developers to market their products to educational establishments and would be a new venture for the search engine, which already works with schools by providing teachers and students with free software.

Google is wise to continue looking for ways to remain relevant, said a spokesperson for SEO company Queryclick.com (http://uk.queryclick.com). “Google didn’t get where it is today by sitting back and letting new innovations roll over it. Time and time again we’ve seen the search giant snap up start ups or established players in markets that are set to heat up.

“What’s more, apps are where it’s at right now, largely thanks to Apple and the original iTunes model, so it seems sensible for Google to find ways to offer unique content and applications to users.”

If Google’s foray into educational apps is successful, it could provide the company with a substantial new revenue stream, but could also prove invaluable when it comes to netting new customers for the company. By giving Google products prominence at an education level, the Mountain View giants could build brand recognition at an early age and ensure it remains relevant for the next generation of internet users.

Speaking of the initiative, Google’s business development manager for education, Obadiah Greenberg, said: “If we can provide access to education apps to our 10 million users in thousands of schools, then that would be a win all around.”

Queryclick agreed with the view that Google could be making a tactical brand movement as well as a revenue driven one, explaining: “For Google, brand is incredibly important and, despite hanging on to the title as the biggest search engine, it can’t afford to sit back. Recent news that Facebook has overtaken the search giant as the most popular site for American users is sure to have the company searching for new opportunities, and the educational business could be the perfect opening.

By reaching out to young people and those with educational roles, Google will have the chance to access a huge variety of users and instil an invaluable sense of brand loyalty. And while Google makes a lot of money from PPC and online advertising, it could open up a new and very lucrative revenue stream with the help of educational developers.

In my opinion, teaching is one of the most demanding and difficult of all jobs. The internet is making things a little easier though. We’ve searched the web high and low to find some useful online applications and resources that integrate well into the school environment. If you’re a tech savvy teacher, you’ll most likely find some of these tools to be really useful.

Having said that, there are many online applications out there, but not all are completely suited for South African teachers. This list comprises the apps and resources that we feel our teachers could benefit from …

1. Book Glutton
   A great application for English teachers. It allows users to read books over the web and and annotate and discuss books in an online community forum.
2. SchoolRack
   Allows you to create a free classroom website or educational blog to communicate with your learners and parents outside of your classroom.
3. AVG
   Most teachers don’t realise just how dangerous and prevalent computer viruses are. AVG is a free, downloadable virus scanner for your laptop or personal computer.
4. BrainHoney
   Move over Moodle, there’s a new player buzzing around. Whether you just want to supplement class room instruction with online content or jump right into offering online courses or a complete virtual school, BrainHoney’s online solution is quick and cost effective.
5. ClassMarker
   The ClassMarker online testing website is a professional, easy to use, online quiz maker that marks your tests and quizzes for you.
6. CreateDebate
   An integrated and dynamic virtual learning environment that will stoke the discussion and participation in your classroom.
7. Curriki
   This wiki-based online application is used by teachers to share educational ideas and coursework. Great for teachers stumped on ideas for activities, this application has a stock of lesson plans, handouts and study guides.
8. Edmodo
   A secure social platform for teachers and students to micro-blog and share files, events, documents, assignments and grades.
9. Edublogs
   An academic micro-blogging platform created with WordPress-powered blogs. Teachers can include class publications and newsletters, online discussions, allowing student blogs and adding multimedia. This free application also suggests tips on how educators can integrate blogs into their coursework.
10. Engrade
    A free set of web-based tools for educators allowing them to manage their classes online while providing parents and students with 24/7 real-time online access.
11. DOC Cop
    Allows teachers to catch plagiarizing learners through software that cross-checks online and offline sources.
12. Footnote.com
    A history teacher’s dream app, with more than 60 million original historical documents to peruse through. Very useful for general world history.
13. Gmail
    Looking for a secure, free e-mail account? Gmail is your answer.
14. Periodic Table of the Elements
    This online periodic table of elements is great for science teachers. When you toggle through the elements, users can essential facts such as atomic number, symbol and weight.
15. Lesson Planner Advanced
    Created by teachers, this tool helps teachers deliver great lectures with digital resources. Throw away the pencil and paper, this online lesson plan grid serves as an amazing tool for teachers to create lesson plans in one place.
16. Mindomo
    One of the most effective ways to organise information and critically think is to visually draw out your thoughts. This web-based mind mapping software helps you do just that.
17. MyStudiyo
    A web app that serves as a portal for online tests and quizzes. Users simply have to add content to quiz templates and create a customized quiz for your audience.
18. Remember The Milk
    Organising your personal and professional life can be a daily struggle, but applications like “Remember the Milk” can ease your pain. This online list management application allows users to create many different lists, schedule tasks, sync lists to email and instant messaging and generate time estimates on projects.
19. SchoolTool
    A free online bookkeeping resource for school management. The application delivers organisation tools for grading, scheduling, attendance, learning assessment and report card generation.
20. SparkNotes
    Helps students learn and practice basic skills, write a paper, study for a test and achieve their academic goals. From summaries of classics like The Scarlet Letter and To Kill A Mockingbird, to Science guides, teachers can utilise this resource for supplementary learning.

Want to see your online app or resource reviewed here? Contact us.

This article was written by Melanie Gow.

Software is expensive. Schools have budgets. Educational software is also expensive. Schools buy educational software. Which means schools have budgets for educational software. And so they should. There are many excellent products out there, each adding their own flavour of value to varying aspects of the academic environment. But are these resources being fully maximised?

How many schools would spend R20,000 upgrading the cricket pitch and then not appoint a coach for the team? So why do schools spend R20,000 on software and then not appoint a coach or even a team? The groundsman takes care of the pitch, but does not necessarily coach the team, in the same way that the IT Administrator oversees the computer room, but does not necessarily drive the software. So who uses, implements and grows the use of this investment? I suggest forming a “Software” team …

“Kamp Staaldraad” took the country by storm and received heavy criticism. While I am not advocating such drastic measures, I am intending to make a point – invest in your investment and it will work harder for you.

“Kamp Staaldraad” was implemented as part of the Springbok’s training/team building. Aimed at maximising a Nations’ invest in their chosen team. The result – plus a few other strategies? A world class team.

“Kamp Komputer-Kamer” could achieve maximum use of a school’s investment the following way:

1. Appoint a team of teachers (perhaps a representative from each grade/learning area) to meet once a week in the computer room.
2. This forms part of their extra-mural activities. While the teachers are in the computer room, it is available for learners to do research, remedial or homework tasks.
3. The teachers use this time to familiarise themselves with the software available and plan ways to implement it into their teaching.
4. They coordinate and educate the other members of staff and delegate various tasks to assist with this. Sharing is caring, especially when all will benefit.

The result: Maximum use of resources, integration between IT and curriculum. Value and  not volume from your software.

So why wait? Choose a team and get cracking!

About Computers 4 Kids

Computers 4 Kids specialises in providing a unique ECDL Foundation endorsed Integrated ICT Curriculum, as well as all the backup, support and in-service training to ensure your ICT centre works for you!

Currently servicing hundreds of schools and hundreds of thousands of learners each day, we also provide a home school version as well as an entrepreneurs model where educators can offer ICT classes (or ‘extra lessons’) from their homes or small offices using our internationally renowned educational software. Computers 4 Kids prides itself in the fact that it is the only company worldwide (148 countries) to have a primary school product endorsed by the ECDL Foundation in Ireland.

The Computers 4 Kids programme is available internationally and in a number of languages – please visit our website or www.e-learner.mobi for further information.

Our contact details …

www.computers4kids.co.za
info@computers4kids.co.za

Tel: 021 712 7800
Fax: 021 712 2639