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On: 2013-10-17 09:16:34
Antje Hering changed content of section hhz5is2ib681tyktm6 to
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The Designers in this particular AwareNet group have designed a number of posters from the blogs that the grade 9 students have done in Class. some of these blogs include 'My Digital Life', or 'My Opinions and 'My Futures'. These posters are up in the attached files section of this Project :)
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On: 2013-10-17 09:16:15
Antje Hering changed content of section hhz5is2ib681tyktm6 to
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The Designers in this particular AwareNet group have designed a number of posters from the blogs that the grade 9 students have done in Class. some of these blogs include 'My Digital Life', or 'My Opinions and 'My Futures'. These posters are up in the attached files section of this Project :)
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On: 2013-10-16 16:35:04
Amber Davies changed content of section 0mgjeg2gta2t2bnch1 to
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Our role in the Awarenet classes run by Terri Penney
of the Village Scribe association was chiefly concerned with assisting the
children in the general use of the software and on occasion conducting a lesson
for the class.
The lesson we arranged was based on the problems we had identified in our previous
sessions with the class. It had been noted that the students tend to struggle
particularly with tense and more complicated vocabulary, which while
challenging is of a level they should be able to match at age 15.
The Awarenet software gives the students an
opportunity to practice their English in a fun and interactive way, while
gaining valuable computer literacy skills. However, while the lessons often
exercise the English skills of the learner, it is often challenging
for the teacher (in this case Terri Penney) to address all the spelling and
grammatical errors for every student in every lesson.
The presence of
our group therefore played a pivotal role in addressing these issues, which in
turn suggests that a student volunteer program would be significantly valuable,
particularly if instituted on a large scale, so as to reach all the schools in the Eastern Cape area.
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On: 2013-10-16 16:18:34
Antje Hering changed content of section gg8u4xgxywfgs7kxac to
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“The kids call us ma’am which is so funny” laughs Antje Hering
and Rieke Heitmueller, both students who recently finished their schooling in
Germany, before deciding on a path of volunteering as a fruitful avenue.
Settling on South Africa as their preferred choice of
destination, Hering and Heitmueller were allocated into the Awarenet project in
the Joza community, and have since been assisting head Awarenet coordinator
Terri-Lynn Penny with digital education lessons at Awarenet schools in area.
The plight students have with regards to both the language
barrier and their digital inability during Awarenet classes was one duly noted
by the volunteers. “Some of them [students], you have to work with very
patiently” says Hering. Hering explains
that students’ misapprehension during lessons would consequently just repeat
the question in their answers space.
Awarenet does attempt to address problems regarding the lack
of English literacy and digital skills of their students, however, poor internet
reception within the Joza community remains an issue which hinders student
progress. “Some computers don’t always connect to Awarenet” states Rieke, “we
try it, it doesn’t work, so then we don’t have a session” she explains.
Voluntary assistance, locally or internationally, is thus enthusiastically
welcomed by the Awarenet organisation and Antje and Rieke’s helping hands is
one offer which has thus far proven to be both helpful to Awarenet and self-
fulfilling for the girls. “Our relationship with the students is good. Last
week they all just wanted us to take their photos” remarks Antje.
When asked about the most substantial difference noted when
coming to South Africa, Antje pointed to the poverty divide between the poor
and rich classes in the Eastern Cape as an evidential difference in comparison
to her home country. “In Germany we don’t have that. The people who don’t work
in Germany get money from government so the poverty in Germany is not as extreme as here in South Africa".
In a developing South
Africa, Non- governmental programmes such as Awarenet are essential in bridging
the gaps in our countries development. To lend a hand and depart a skill has
the ability to bring change into someone’s life and make a difference in the
society we live in.
