Education

Launched on May 30^th in Windhoek (Namibia) at the 8th eLearning Africa conference, the report offers new insight into the complex uses of technology in African education. “I was particularly encouraged by the failures in eLearning that were so openly shared,” stated the Namibian Minister for ICT, Joel Kaapanda, during the presentation, “and the attention given this year to local digital content and the integration of indigenous African languages.”

Providing a unique snapshot of ICT developments across the continent, the “The eLearning Africa Report 2013” goes beyond statistics and gives a voice to hundreds of Africans involved in eLearning practice at grassroots level. Its aim is to reflect “the stories, views and experiences of African practitioners and their contribution to the broader African eLearning narrative.”

These experiences offer valuable insights. Whilst, for example, 40% of respondents said they create local content, only 16% create it in indigenous African languages. And while social media and mobility are becoming more popular, accessing online resources and supporting classroom learning are the most common uses of technology.

“The report confirms that mobility in learning and teaching is indeed on the rise in education and skills development in Africa but it has not yet eclipsed traditional ways of education delivery,” says Shafika Isaacs, editor of the study. “Addressing the challenges in education continues to be a critical priority as we deliberate the post-2015 development agenda.”

A free copy of the report, available in French and English, can be requested online.

eLearning Africa 2013 in Windhoek will see the launch of a new video strand. We will be hosting a series of sessions aimed at unlocking the secrets of professional film and video for all those involved in learning at any level.

The main driver for the recent boom in video has come from our learners.  Watch a young person searching the internet and they are drawn to moving images.  Give them a video-enabled mobile phone and they make their own movies. Offer them a text- or a video-based lesson, and see which one they choose.

As educators we need to harness the power of video and learn some of the tricks of the trade from  professionals in TV, film and education. The video sessions at eLearning Africa 2013 are aimed squarely at providing this.

On Wednesday May 29^th there will be a full day pre-conference workshop on creating educational video. This will be a hands-on practical exercise, taking participants through the various stages of producing a learning video. The session will be led by Eric Hamilton from the USA, Toochukwu Okafor from Nigeria, Simon Katabazi from Uganda, and Joseph Carilus Ogwel from Kenya. All those attending will get the chance to produce their own learning video during the day. The workshop will also cover the use of mobile phones to produce and share video content.

Due to anticipated demand booking is essential for the workshop and can be done here.

On Friday 31^st May, we will be holding the eLearning Africa Video Masterclass. Through a mixture of film clips and discussion, international TV executive Adam Salkeld will reveal some of the techniques that great film-makers use to add impact to their work. The Masterclass will take a critical look at camerawork, editing, storytelling, the use of sound, and how directors combine them to create compelling work on screen. If you feel that you would like to add some style and polish to your educational videos then come along and join the Masterclass: it is open to all.

eLearning Africa 2013 is also pleased to announce that we will be holding Video Clinics at the conference.  Adam Salkeld will be available to answer your questions about video and view your work, offering tips on how you can give it more impact. The Video Clinics will be free to all eLearning Africa delegates. The time and place of the Clinics will be advertised at the conference.

"It's a big issue and there'll be a bare-knuckle fight," says Harold Elletson, who will chair the debate alongside Honourable Silvia Makgone, Deputy Minister of Education, Namibia. According to Dr Elletson, "Some people think that the focus on innovation and technology has just persuaded governments and consumers to invest in equipment that soon becomes redundant. They say that the priority should be to support projects that are sustainable. Other people argue that innovation is vital to Africa's competitiveness and future economic growth. They say that it should be at the heart of the education system."

The eLearning Africa Debate has become the highlight of the eLearning Africa conference, an annual gathering of experts and decision-makers from all over Africa and beyond. Traditionally one of the liveliest and best attended events at the conference, this year's debate is likely to stir up real controversy.

"It's an issue which affects everyone and on which everyone has an opinion," says Dr Elletson. "The debate is an opportunity for conference participants to say what they think about one of the most important issues for the future of education in Africa."

The motion for debate, which will be put to a vote, is "This house believes that sustainability is more important than innovation for education in Africa". The debate will be held at the Safari Conference Centre in Windhoek, Namibia. All conference participants are welcome to attend and to take part in what promises to be a tense and exciting climax to a fascinating conference.

Information on the debate can be found at http://www.elearning-africa.com/programme_debate.php, and the full conference programme can be found at http://www.elearning-africa.com/programme_table.php%20.

Notes for editors

eLearning Africa, 8th International Conference on ICT for Development, Education and Training

May 29 - 31, 2013

Safari Conference Centre, Windhoek, Namibia

Organisers: ICWE GmbH (www.icwe.net), Government of the Republic of Namibia

Contact

ICWE GmbH, Ms Rebecca Stromeyer

info@elearning-africa.com, www.eLearning-africa.com, Tel.: +49 (0)30 310 18 18-0

IICE gives academicians and professionals from various educational fields with cross-disciplinary interests the opportunity to bridge the knowledge gap, promote research esteem and the evolution of pedagogy. The IICE 2013 invites research papers that encompass conceptual analysis, design implementation and performance evaluation. All the accepted papers will appear in the proceedings and modified version of selected papers will be published in special issues peer reviewed journals.