Stellenbosch University
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SU education students take the lead in e-learning
Author: William Sezoe
Published: 06/05/2020

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With education students not being able to do their practical teaching blocks due to school closure caused by Covid-19, the education students at Stellenbosch University (SU) have recently released free activity packages to contribute to learners' education despite the current situation.

These packages are compiled by the Beyond Education program, an initiative of the Education Student Committee's (ESC) social impact portfolio. This project was launched in February 2020. Just before the national lockdown was implemented, the members of this program put together a concept to help learners who do not have access to internet or e-learning material.

According to Marcel Adams, founder of this program and member of the ESC, the group designed these activity packages for Grades R – 9 to provide curriculum-relevant activities that can help teachers who are unable to teach during the national lockdown period.

“We realised that teachers couldn't get through the first term's curriculum with the lockdown regulations in place. We also realised that not everyone has internet access, so we decided to lend a hand," explains Adams.

Adams says the packages include activities for the subjects Afrikaans, English and Mathematics. It has been put together in such a way that it can be shared via WhatsApp, since most people have access to this platform.

Linmari Matthee, a fourth-year student who is also part of the project, mentions that these packages have been requested as far as the Eastern Cape and Namibia.

“Being part of this initiative really warms my heart as I have experienced first-hand how grateful people (in Oudtshoorn) are for help. It also gives me a glimpse of what I might have to do as a novice teacher next year and I am thankful for that experience. I enjoy taking on this project with people who have the same goal in mind. It gives me hope for what the youth can still achieve," says Matthee.

According to Adams, they would also like to address social issues through the program by visiting schools and by bringing awareness to environmental conservation. By doing this they will be able to emphasise their part as future educators and leaders.

Adams mentions that many of their projects fell through because of Covid-19 and the national lockdown, but they are keeping busy with another initiative in the meantime. This one will specifically encourage matriculants in the form of a manual that will be filled with various tips and motivational messages.

“We were supposed to visit a school in the new term to address the class of 2020 and to motivate them for their final exams. Instead, we set up an electronic matric survival guide and sent these out in the same way we did with the activity packages," Adams explains.

Prof Michael Le Cordeur, Chair of the Department of Curriculum Studies at SU's Faculty of Education says forms of e-learning, such as the activity packages compiled by the Beyond Education group, could be the new normal.

“This country will never be the same again. Covid-19 asks for new solutions and ideas to be set in place. E-learning definitely forms part of the future, but as a country we are far from being prepared for it. The Department of Education, but also us as a university, still have plenty to do in order to close the gap," Le Cordeur says.

Anyone who would like to get involved or make a contribution to this project can contact Adams by email at 23240806@sun.ac.za .

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Original article source: Die Matie                                                                      ​Translated by Elise Groeneveld