News

The power of cellphones in the classroom

30 July 2010

A South African education company has figured out a way to allow children to access electronic books (e-books) even when they do not have access to desktop computers.

In South Africa, the government is still unable to ensure that the 12- million-odd pupils in public schools get all the textbooks they need. Only 14,8% of households, and only 33% of schools, have computers that are used for teaching and learning.

However, a University of SA survey of Gauteng high school pupils showing 75,4% access the internet via cellphones, suggests the ability to open a textbook using a device many pupils have opens up great possibilities.

Star Schools, which provides extra tuition to 37000 children nationally, and 22000 by distance tuition, is to launch this technology nationally through its technology division, My Star, next month . The system will also allow children to pay only for the parts of the e-books they need .

Maths teacher Guy Hees, who moderated Star Schools’ maths e-book, says while the new technology has not yet been widely used, or stood the test of a matric exam, he expects it to be “œhugely effective”. Children like modern technology that is “œaccessible 24/7″ , he says. “œThey can hugely benefit from this “¦ at this stage, there are universities in the US, but not schools, that are using this type of technology,” says Prof Hees, who taught in a Los Angeles district five years ago.

English teacher Karen Ehlers, who has used the Grade 11 English First Additional Language e-book , says her pupils have welcomed it . “œThey love it. They are excited and they want to come to class”¦. It’s not chalk and talk any more, they want interactivity.”

Read the full article at Business Day.