Final-year pupils in Mthatha and Nelson Mandela Bay are using technology to help teach others as part of the Incubator Schools Programme (ISP) Teacher Tutor Programme.
The initiative is run by Nelson Mandela University’s (NMU) Govan Mbeki Mathematics Development Centre (GMMDC) and is sponsored by the Capitec Foundation.
As such, 250 pupils learners from grade 10 to 12 will each receive a personal 7” Android tablet which comes pre-loaded with a GMMDC-developed app called TouchTutor®.
The app provides access to a large number of learning resources such as video lessons, PowerPoint presentations, previous exam papers, and multi-lingual support in eight indigenous languages.
In addition to the app, participants will also benefit from “student tutors” who provide mid-week tutoring sessions at their respective schools.
The tutors are all trained to use TouchTutor® and will be equipped with their own piece of technology, the Gamma Tutor. The miniature computer is designed to serve as a mobile teaching device and can be plugged directly into a projector, television, or digital screen.
“This new programme – and the new technology – is a way to empower teachers to deal with real challenges, with the assistance of very modern mobile teaching tools and resources, which have been researched and developed over the last 10 years,” said GMMDC director Prof Werner Olivier said.
Student tutor Frans Louw said: “I think the pupils learners will appreciate it a lot, having someone sit next to them, helping them to see where they’re stuck.
“It will also help us to grow as teachers, especially learning how to incorporate technology with teaching.”
