The Cofimvaba Technology for Rural Education Development (TECH4RED) project is a joint initiative between the South African Department of Science and Technology (DST), the Department of Basic Education (DBE) and the Eastern Cape Department of Education (ECDOE) and is aimed at contributing to the improvement of rural education through technology-led innovation. The Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR) also joined as a key partner in the initiative in 2013. The aim of TECH4RED is to contribute to the improvement of rural education through technology-led innovation in South Africa. ICT4RED is a research project which focuses on the ICT aspects of TECH4RED. It aims to investigate how the application and deployment of tablets and other supporting infrastructure at schools in the Cofimvaba district of the Eastern Cape Province can assist to develop a framework, which can be replicated and scaled to other provinces and across the rural education system. This is the story of the initiative in pictures so far.

2. Arthur Mfebe Senior Secondary School was chosen as
a pilot site. A base study of the Cofimvaba School
District was undertaken in early 2012.

3. In August 2012, the learners and teachers were introduced to the Dr Math service as well as
the QuizMax solution (practice Maths and Science tests and exam papers for grades 10 -12)
and the Siyavula Maths and Science textbooks, all available via MXit. Cell C provided free
SIM cards and airtime to all learners at the school, since access to MXit is free over the Cell C
network.

4. All the teachers at the school were provided with 7-inch tablets, under the innovative CSIR
Meraka “EARN AS YOU LEARN” model, where each teacher had to agree to attend each
training course and do their homework, in order to “earn” their tablets.

5. Safe storage and charging stations were installed at the school, as well as a wifi network
and a content server. Learners and teachers are able to access the content via their
tablets.

6. The Cofimvaba project was
officially launched by Minister
Hanekom of the Department of
Science and Technology and
Deputy Minister Surty of the
Department of Basic Education
in December 2012.

7. The school was provided with 2xMobiKits, which each held 10 tablets. These tablets were
given to their matric learners, who shared them and took it in turns to take home to help
with their studies. The teachers are actively using the tablets in the classroom – as
textbooks, research tools, browsers, video cameras, multimedia tools, audio recorders,
etc.

8. Teachers at Arthur Mfebe continued their training and were eventually provided with 10inch Samsung tablets, after a decision was made to provide teachers with larger tablets.
Their 7-inch tablets were made available to learners at the school.

9. In June 2013, ALL the teachers fulfilled the
requirements as set out, and graduated from
training. The tablets were officially “earned”
and became their personal properties.

10. In May 2013, the project team visited the additional 11 schools
that were earmarked for Phase 2 of the project. Children were
given an opportunity to experience the tablets for the first time.

11. Teachers at the new schools were also given the opportunity to play with the tablets. The
visit to the schools was undertaken as part of the communication and change management
processes that are inherent in the project.

12. On 18 July 2013, matric learners at Arthur Mfebe, the first pilot school, were each
given their own tablet. Parents were present at the celebration. The rest of the
learners were promised tablets once the storage and charging facility at the school had
been adequately prepared and secured.

13. On 19 and 20 July 2013, 144 teachers at an additional 11 schools all received tablets,
also under the “EARN AS YOU LEARN” model. Over the next 9 months they will go
through comprehensive teacher training at their schools, as part of the preparation for
tablet rollouts to each school.

14. After the feedback from the first pilot school, the “EARN AS YOU LEARN” system was
formalised into a badge system, where badges are used to accredit micro-skills as they
develop. Teachers need to complete 13 COMPULSORY badges to earn their tablets
over a 10 module course. Small incentives are linked to badge attainment, at both a
personal and school basis. The first badge was the ICT4RED badge, where they earned
covers for their tablets. Schools receive additional technology equipment once their
teachers have received a minimum number of badges.

15. ICT4RED
Christmas in July for Cofimvaba teachers – but
lots of hard work ahead for them and the CSIR
Meraka extended team! These teachers have
just earned their ICT4RED badges.

16. A successful visit by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee
on Science and Technology was undertaken to Cofimvaba and
Arthur Mfebe in July 2013. Members were exposed to the
project and to various teaching techniques being used to
teach mathematics supported by tablets (Jigsaw methodology
and creating videos).

17. The rest of the grade 10 and 11 Arthur Mfebe learners were each provided with their own
tablet in August 2013. This is the largest tablet rollout thus far – 300 tablets!

18. Professional Teacher
Development was in full
swing by August 2013 (2
weeks after receiving their
tablets), where the
teachers began focusing
on various teaching
strategies and
comfortably and
competently using their
tablets to support their
teaching.
JIGSAW

19. MIND-MAPPING
JIGSAW
MOBIQUETTE
Some of the learning artefacts that are being produced by teachers as they
complete the various professional teacher development modules!

20. The little school that could! Celebrations at Zamuxolo Junior Secondary School,
which became the first school to earn a projector via the EARN AS YOU LEARN
system, despite being one of the most disadvantaged schools in the project.

21. Additional schools soon earned their projectors as
well, under the watchful eyes of our on-the-ground
partners and champions from the District Office,
Sindiswa Sibawu and Roy Kattukkanal.

22. Young, eager and excited learners are helping their
teachers develop ICT policies for their schools.

23. Indications of how technology is both an enabler of opportunity and erases
barriers of age – the devices are being used by young……

24. ROLE PLAY
….. and old!

25. Learning how to use various digital resources
on tablets in the classroom – all about ebooks,
videos, podcasts, simulations and animations,
using the Learning Station concept.
LEARNING STATIONS

26. A tablet “fun day” was held on a Saturday in November 2013, in order to provide the
opportunity for teachers to earn technology badges and to celebrate the success of the
project so far. Although attendance was optional, more than 160 teachers and officials
arrived to enthusiastically participate!

27. All teachers were set up with email
addresses, could download apps,
could attend social media
workshops and could give input to
evaluation questionnaires. There
were also prizes given to top
teachers. The day was so successful
that it was the top trending topic in
South Africa on Twitter!

28. In January 2014, some of our ICT4RED team members started visiting the 15 new schools
where the project will be expanded to. This was to view the schools, interact with
educators and start communicating about the project and what was going to happen.

29. At the same time another ICT4RED team visited the current schools to check on school
numbers and to do badge assessments. Some of these schools will soon earn tablets and
internet connectivity for their schools.

30. Modules 7 & 8 enabled the teachers to learn about new
techniques, such as field trips as learning strategies.

31. Different interpretations of “feet off
the ground” in the scavenger hunt!

32. Teachers are becoming increasingly
comfortable with the technology!

33. No problems with the
touch interface…

34. Or typing..

35. Comfortable in the paper and digital worlds – using
both interchangeably.

36. Just fully engaged learning!

37. They are being exposed to new methods of teaching, discussing,
questioning and debating as they experience the various teaching
strategies and then go back to their classrooms to try them out for
themselves.

38. The project is seeing increasing use of the learning
strategies that the educators are being exposed to,
being repeated in the classroom!

39. Some of the amazing learning artefacts that
are being developed by the ICT4RED
teachers as they employ new pedagogies.
Gallery Walk
Role Play
Scavenger hunt
Field trip

40. We’re looking forward to what our ICT4RED educators are going to produce after
the module on game-based learning! This is one of our Angry Birds champions,
who is also one of the oldest educators, yet one of our star performers!

41. This project is about FUN…

42. OPPORTUNITY…

43. LEARNING…

44. CHALLENGE…

45. EXPLORATION…

46. TEAMWORK…

47. CREATIVITY…

48. EMPOWERMENT…

49. MOVING OUT OF COMFORT ZONES…

50. And HARD WORK!

51. It’s about giving our
children the future they
deserve.