Africa Networks (JYU) - Coding and Techno-Blended Stem Education Lessons From South Africa

Panacea for leaving no learner behind.

Event information

Event date
-
Registration period
-
Event type
Public lectures, seminars and round tables
Event language
English
Event payment
Free of charge
Event location category
Online
Zoom

About the speakers

Werner Olivier, is a mathematics professor and director of the Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre (GMMDC) at Nelson Mandela University, South Africa. With a background as a research mathematician and former National Chair in Maths Education, he advocates engaged scholarship and technology-integrated teaching and learning. Olivier led GMMDC to produce modern STEM teaching models, customized digital resources and tailored M-learning programs, addressing quality and equity challenges in secondary school STEM education. Notably, he pioneered GeoGebra initiatives and STEM projects, including a national MathArt project enhancing STEAM education in underprivileged schools.

Ryan le Roux is CEO of the Leva Foundation, a non-profit organisation oriented around skills and enterprise development. Through this vehicle, he has facilitated the launch of projects throughout Africa and Europe. Leva Foundation’s flagship project is Tangible Africa, which teaches software development skills to school aged learners. Ryan started his working career playing rugby in Europe, but since returning to South Africa in 2012, and obtaining an MBA from Henley Business School, has shifted his attention to connecting the dots between corporate business and the non-profit sector.

Title 1: Empowering Quality and Equity: A Techno-Blended STEM Educational Model for Underprivileged Learning Environments (Werner Olivier)

This presentation outlines the development and implementation of a tailored Techno-Blended Model (TBM) intended for the enhancement of STEM education in underprivileged South African schools. The TBM is meticulously crafted to address the distinctive challenges prevalent in disadvantaged educational settings. This innovative approach seamlessly integrates mobile learning solutions curated by the Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre at Mandela University. It leverages customized offline educational software applications to complement conventional STEM pedagogy in underprivileged classrooms, thereby offering cost-effective academic support during and beyond regular school hours. These curated learning resources are thoughtfully aligned with the national school curriculum, with the primary objective of enriching visual and self-guided learning experiences for students. Noteworthy components of the TBM encompass a multitude of interactive mathematics applets, purposefully designed for mobile devices, harnessing the capabilities of the open-source dynamic graphics software GeoGebra. Additionally, the TBM features the implementation of Gamma, a novel offline mobile plug-and-play device and software designed specifically for educational purposes. Gamma facilitates versatile access to instructional content and student support, catering to environments where educators may lack technological proficiency, and internet accessibility is restricted. Furthermore, the TBM introduces extracurricular STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education elements to foster greater equity among learners and cultivate their inclination towards STEM subjects in underprivileged schools. The model also advocates for trans-disciplinary learning, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving skills, achieved through hands-on STEAM activities, benefiting both South African students and teachers alike.

Title 2: Tangible Africa - Unplugged coding (Ryan le Roux)

The Tangible Africa project is an innovative response to bridging the digital divide within the African continent. Recognising the potential of children from marginalised communities to alleviate the global shortage of software developers, we designed a solution that empowers them to engage with coding concepts even in environments devoid of traditional technological resources. Our approach leverages cost-effective tools that can be deployed by non-programmer teachers or facilitators, offering an engaging and accessible experience in the form of a game. Tangible Africa has proved its impact across the South African landscape. Since its inception in 2019, the Tangible app has directly reached 120,000 learners through coding workshops spanning all nine provinces. Coding Ambassadors, equipped to lead workshops within their communities or local schools, facilitate "coding clubs" that operate after regular school hours. Presently, we've enlisted 150 paid coding ambassadors. Additionally, over 1000 coding kits have been distributed to schools and community NGOs, empowering educators to integrate coding seamlessly into their curricula. Our success extends beyond South Africa, as we've expanded to Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe in collaboration with various organisations and educational institutions. Furthermore, our program is set to launch in the UK, Ireland, and Germany in July 2023.

Further information

Kristóf Fenyvesi

Kristóf Fenyvesi

Senior Researcher

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