"Participation Builds Unity"
"MADE IN AFRICA - FOR AFRICA"
"Participation Builds Unity"
"MADE IN AFRICA - FOR AFRICA"
A 'SPECIAL PROJECT' SERVING AFRICA
THE EDANAS EDUCATION PROJECT
**********************************
THE EDANAS EDUCATION PROJECT
1. Introduction
The solution to this problem lies squarely with education. Understanding of, and love for, science and technology starts at school level. Many teachers, however, simply do not have the background and training to teach these subjects meaningfully. The result is that learners soon lose interest in the subject matter and their pass rates show it. The consequence is that the learners, the teachers, the schools, the country and Africa lose.
The Edanas project addresses the problem and has been tested with very good results. It can make a material difference to the overall quality of technical education.
To overcome the lack of teacher orientation to science and technology, the (South African) Department of Education launched a teacher training program in 2006 to teach teachers the basics of technology so that they can present science and technology subjects with more authority and knowledge. The teacher upgrade program is being conducted by the Tshwane University of Technology (South Africa) and they are using extracts from EDANAS.
2. Background
The goal of the project was to develop aids to help teachers and learners visualize the abstract concepts of Information Technology and Computer Literacy.
The lessons use two techniques:
In mid-2004 he was again approached to stand in as substitute Computer Studies teacher. This time he introduced his classes to the animated lessons that were in the process of being developed. Although the new methodology and lessons were only partially completed and still very basic and rudimentary, the 2004 year-end results exceeded all expectations.
Over 50% of the learners achieved distinctions and not one failed.
We then knew that we had a success formula. To verify our approach, we submitted our Computer Studies lessons to the Department of National Education. The officials in charge of syllabus development evaluated the lessons, confirmed that we had a success formula and that there was nothing similar in the area of computer skills and literacy training.
3. Beneficiaries
We identified four main beneficiaries.
4. The Edanas Team
(South African) President Mbeki has over the past three years repeatedly stressed that science and technology are strategic priorities for the future of South Africa and Africa. The underlying reason is simply that Africa is rapidly falling behind in the technology race, whereas other emerging countries like Korea, Malaysia, Mexico and China are moving ahead at an astonishing pace.
The founder of Edanas has from time to time been asked to teach Computer Studies as stand-in teacher. The more he was exposed to teaching in the class room, the more he became aware of the general lack of understanding of many of the basic principles. It became clear that the traditional teaching approach was not suited to teach and learn abstract and conceptual principles. Project Edanas was conceived.
* Colourful animation brings the subject alive and makes it interesting and understandable.
* Association with everyday subjects helps learners understand the more complex and abstract principles of Computer Literacy in a simple and graphical manner.
The potential impact of these lessons in South Africa and the rest of Africa can be far-reaching. Nepad aims to connect 600 000 schools across Africa via satellite.
That translates into a potential learner audience of at least ten million children per year. So if we assume that only a limited percentage of those children enter the workforce with good computer literacy skills and knowledge, the productivity impact in the workplace can be massive.
* Learners will get a high-quality set of lessons to help them overcome the technology barrier, become computer literate and valuable future employees and entrepreneurs.
* Black Empowerment in South Africa and the rest of Africa will certainly benefit. The lessons will enable school children and adults to become computer literate in a way that is fun and easy to understand. The benefits are clearly evident.
* Teachers will receive a uniformly high standard and outline from which they can teach children and adults. The animated lessons are a vast improvement over what exists today and makes it much easier to teach these relatively complex and conceptual subjects.
* Africa is currently in the back of the computer literacy queue compared to most developing countries in the world. This project can help to turn the situation around.
The Edanas team currently consists of two retired computer professionals with over 75 years collective experience in most facets of the computer industry.
• Norman ROYDS started his working life as a Mainframe Engineer. He later became Director of Olivetti, Wang Global and Getronics. His own computer business, SA Computer Engineering Services, specialized in Networks and was later acquired by Olivetti. Since then he has been consulting on business development, brokering and teaching Computer Studies in his spare time. The Edanas methodology is Norman’s brain child and he has been working on the materials for the past two years.
• Emil BESTER started his working life with the CSIR and thereafter worked for IBM for thirty years in many different capacities, including senior management positions. Since 1995 he has been privately consulting and conducted training in the areas of sales, performance- and general management. He has been working on the Edanas materials for the past eighteen months.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
BACK TO
***********************************
THE FOUNDATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICA
***********************************
THE FOUNDATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICA We are actively involved with promoting the
However -
All our efforts are privately funded.
HOW THEN
THE FOUNDATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICA
***********************************
EE (Emil) BESTER
Edanas - Education though Animation and Association
eebester@iafrica.com
***********************************
SPECIAL PROJECTS
SERVING AFRICA
BACK TO
MAIN INDEX
FRONT PAGE
DISCLAIMER
accepts no responsibility for incorrect detail listed above!
Kindly notify us of any discrepancies!
DISCREPANCY
is a private, 'not-for-profit', non-membership, organisation actively serving Africa by promoting processes conducive to sustainable development
......throughout Africa - with the emphasis on sustainability!
This organisation is currently rated as one of the most proactive Sustainable Business Development Organisations in Africa!
Serving Africa since 1999.
AFRICAN RENEWAL PROGRAMME
We firmly believe that sustainable development is a process that must start from within - Africa needs to "partner" with herself first!
We also prefer the phrase: "Lets create wealth" rather than "Lets alleviate poverty"
Our initiatives include enabler 'showcasing'; networking opportunities; business opportunities; investment opportunities; promotion of special projects; dissemination of business information; joint venture initiatives and a range of value added services - all to serve
AFRICA!
CAN I
PARTICIPATE?
HOW THEN
CAN I SUPPORT
AFRICA?
is proud to be able to present you with SPECIAL PROJECTS AFRICA
***********************************
THE FDA SUPPORTS AND ENDORSES THE
CAMPAIGN
© Copyright 1999
Website search technology courtesy:
THE FOUNDATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AFRICA
The Hosting of this Website is Proudly Sponsored by:
FreeFind.com