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Follow on Google News | Via Afrika’s VADEC to show how eLearning is transforming education at African EduWeek“The key to Via Afrika’s content development is that material – be it print or digital – must meet the needs of users while changing the way they learn" says Christina Watson, CEO Via Afrika, leading publisher and sponsor at African EduWeek
By: SABC Education African EduWeek She adds: “with over 65 years of experience in South Africa and other Southern African countries, our products meet the needs of learners from early childhood development to Grade 12, TVET (vocational) Via Afrika Digital Education Centres In 2014, the company embarked on the Via Afrika Digital Education Centres (VADEC) initiative. Christina explains: “we refurbished shipping containers and equipped them as digital education centres, supplying each with 15 first-tier Android tablet devices. These tablets are packed with the latest educational apps and electronic textbooks developed by Via Afrika. The pilot project has seen delivery of VADECs to a school in the Free State, one in Limpopo, and one in Mpumalanga.” Instead of merely handing over the technology, Via Afrika entered into long-term agreements with the schools to ensure that educators receive on-going training in order to maximize the educational returns of these tablets for learners. Corporate opportunity to contribute Following the success of the VADEC programme, the company decided to widen its reach says Christina: “many corporates are eager to put their CSI spend into assisting education, but a lack of reporting and accountability make it difficult to be sure that their investments are doing any good. Via Afrika is stepping into this gap to launch a venture that replicates the Via Afrika Digital Centres initiative through corporate sponsorship.” She adds: “our Digital Education Centres programme, which we do in partnership with the Department of Basic Education, offers a direct and clear system of monitoring in a way that very few other CSI initiatives can, because it is integrated with the school’s curriculum and assessment. We provide quarterly progress reports when terms’ results are made available. In addition, the Annual National Assessment (ANA) tests will provide independent assessment of the progress learners make after a Digital Education Centre is established at the school.” Teachers are my “energy drink” The Via Afrika CEO, who was last year named among Foreign Policy Magazine’s 100 Leading Global Thinkers of 2014, says being involved in the education sector is a constant source of inspiration: She says they see the upcoming SABC Education African EduWeek as “an ideal opportunity to share our developments in eLearning, and to learn about how education and technology can come together successfully to transform education. The broad range of visitors and exhibitors will provide a wealth of interaction possibilities that will lead to positive growth in education in Africa.” Click here to check out many more exciting videos about Via Afrika's projects and activities: https://www.youtube.com/ African EduWeek is expected to gather more than 3500 teachers and education professionals and some 120 local and international exhibitors at the Gallagher Convention Centre from 1-2 July. The event is organised by Spintelligent, leading Cape Town-based trade exhibition and conference organiser, and the African office of Clarion Events Ltd, based in the UK. Event dates and location: SABC Education African EduWeek: 1-2 July 2015 EduTheatres and workshop programme: 1-2 July 2015 Exhibition: 1-2 July 2015 E-Tech Africa: 1-2 July 2015 African EduWeek Industry Awards: 1 July Location: Gallagher Convention Centre, Midrand, South Africa Website: www.educationweek.co.za Twitter: https:// Media accreditation and interviews: Communications manager: Annemarie Roodbol Telephone: +27 21 700 3558 Mobile: +27 82 562 7844 Email: annemarie.roodbol@ End
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