Report from global conference in Barcelona March 2014

REPORT FROM BARCELONA

Hi  Colleques

Phuti  Ragophala’s Short report about the  trip to Barcelona in Spain to present  IT project  after selected to be amongst the 250 Microsoft Expert Educator (out of more that 29,000 entries from  more that 150 countries.)

Date 9^th to 16^th March 2014

Microsoft came up with a programme whereby educators are encouraged to plan and design learning activities using project based learning approach  whereby curriculum is incorporated with the IT tools: (That is driving education using the IT tools more that a chalk and a chalkboard.) The activities were guided by a rubric that guide the educators  to indicate how the 21^st centaury skills like( communication ,creativity, problem solving, knowledge  and skills acquirement, collaboration and critical thinking)  were used during the lessons and activities  and how learners were assessed using information technology tools and the kind of  activities that learners designed  that will end up  solving a problem(learners as solution seekers)

My project called PLANTING SEED! CHANGING LIVES! proved to be amongst the best and made me  stood out as a visionary leader who is paving the way for her peers  and learners by using technological tools effectively for better learning and teaching. That’s what made me fly to Barcelona to represent South Africa in Microsoft  Global conference. From South Africa we were only two  accompanied by Microsoft SA and departmental representative nationally

Coming from a very small rural school ,Pula Madibogo primary, in Limpopo Mankweng circuit, ,competing internationally in IT projects, made me believe that  service that is accompanied by passion love and empathy  is priceless.

What  I learned from the conference is that learning has changed. The old methods of teaching and learning  used in the 19^th centaury  are longer used. We are in the 21^st centaury where learners learn by creating knowledge and not by absorbing it.

From the conference, I  earned my school a stage to conduct research on “how to fight poverty  using education” where 20 learners will lead the process of researching using the IT tools.   My country is grouped with USA, Mexico, El Salvador and China. The five  schools from the five countries will collaborate, communicate and share ideas about poverty in their respective environments. After  six months learners from each country will  report  to each other on skype, UTube,Power point, Movie maker or any other IT tool that can convey the message.  Learners  have started and they are  very excited to learn that they will be  interacting  with people from inside and outside their country  to acquire more learning and IT skills.

Secondly I have educators action plan where im expected  to  share the IT skills acquired from the conference  and assist 150 educators  to register in Partners in Learning Forum with Microsoft so that they are also able to drive teaching and leaning with Technology.

Challenges: Our school  have limited  IT resources  that cannot cater many  educators as such training is not possible now . We believe that one day a good Samaritan will come to our rescue and donate a lively computer laboratory building where every body will gain access for better education of our learners.

Im encouraged by Nikos Katzansakis , a Greek philosopher, who said: Ideal educators are those who use themselves as bridges and invite their students to cross. Then having facilitated their crossing, they joyfully collapse and encourage them to build bridges of their own”

Thank you

Phuti ragophala