purposeful education in hyperactive times
TRANSCRIPT
Purposeful education in
hyperactive timesBy Phuti Ragophala(Online Educator)
http://itandiksproject.blogspot.com
Introduction
I emerge from a very destitute family background: very rural, poverty, less
skilled parents and very slimy chance of attaining a successful life
The only tool that I was encourage to use to fight poverty was education
I started my primary school under the tree
Then in the shop
In the dilapidated farmers house, drinking water with animals, using nearby
shrubs to relieve ourselves
Then moved in to a real school building for my high school education
Then online teaching and learning as my career to date
I never knew how the real school building look like until my high school time
The route I walked as a
child until a teacher
Under the tree
Dilapidated farmers house
Standardised classrooms
Local shop
On line/cloud teaching
and learning
The world yesterday:
More respect to educators
Real role models: policemen, nurses, teachers and soldiers
Empathetic heart from community members and business people
The notion of “My child is your child” It takes the whole community to raise
up a child”
Education that was more on values and basic elements
of education
Children were motivated by education in order to fight poverty
Very less inequalities with regard rich or poor families(very narrow gap)
The school was the only tool to fight poverty, attain good life and be
respected person in community
Education that was / is based on four elements and values
Education was based on the following basic elements:
Literacy: how to speak, read, write
Numeracy: counting
Work experience: practical skills: crafting, sewing, baking, cocking, etc
Social service: ploughing for other people
The following aspects were incorporated in the elements of purposeful education:
Determination
Discipline and respect
Goal orientated: e.g when I grow up I want to become…………… to build my parents a very big house
Hard work
Based on the above mentioned facts:
It was possible and its still possible ,to keep in possession of your own career
because it’s a real possession in the changes fortune of time.
It was possible and its still is ,to be what you want to be even in hard times as
long as you don’t loose focus of what you want
Example: My going to school made me who I am today because of education
that was more on those four elements coupled with the basic values of life
To me education served the purpose : I am know a responsible educated leader.
From that day the desire to use education to change the lives of needy
people got so entrenched in me in such that my teaching and learning
career beard good fruit.
The desire to use practical projects to unlock and inspire learners future
careers and connect their natural talents with opportunities through
education became more and more entrenched in me hence the following
projects in school:
Projects I used for learners to realise the purpose of education:
My teachings are based more on problem solving
We can become better human beings only if our education is purposeful
Practical projects (PBL)
Farming: Through skills acquired from FTFA we started Greening projects to
supply the community, instil farming skills to learners, fight poverty. Main aim :To
re assure community that they can produce their own food without relying on
hand-outs from municipality ,to inspire future farmers & maintain peace
Maintain peace and justice, No poverty and good health and well being
Addressed UNESCO Sustainable Development Goal Number 1 and 16
IKS in medicine: Through skills acquired from FTFA and UNILIM I and my
colleques learnt on how to use green herbs to make ointments and e we
transferred the skills to learners to unlock their critical and creative skills :
Harvesting, mixing, cooking, packaging and labelling and sell to augment school
funds, gain knowledge and to inspire their career choice
Quality education, good health and well being, reducing inequality in education
Addressing UNESCO SDG’s number 3 and 4
Accomplishing my Young Scientist dream
Stephen
Mafokoane <[email protected]> to me
Greetings Ma'am
Apr 30 (4 days ago)
My name is Stephen Mafokoane, I am not quite sure that you remember me, I was in the 2011 group.
Right now I am in my first year at Pearson Institute, doing Biotechnology/Pharmacy.
Basically, you made me to choose this lane, you made me to have love for herbs and medicine. So I want to return to the community, and only you can help me with that.
I am thinking of using The Grade 7 Theory lesson on sectors of economy. The one about how products are made fron raw materials until packed.
My aim right now is to produce those medicines again, and help kids. With you not being at Pula-Madibogo anymore, some kids might struggle with the head sores, fungi etc. So ma'am, I cannot start this without you, you have the methods, you have more knowledge on this. And this is your project, I could not just hijack it.
All I need is your help, confirmation and blessings. Stay blessed.
Regards
Some of the community projects that I use in my teachings
for learners to realise the purpose of education
http://bit.lyBNEducation
Teaching with technology :Through the skills from the then MASTEC
,Microsoft ,School Net and COZA CARES once every Friday(FRIDAY TECHNOLOGY) I take
learners in our mini media lab to use the tools to augment their learning. Some time
they skype with schools outside the country about collaborative projects like reading,
national symbols etc. The main aim being to create global citizens who will be able to
compete globally with their peers.#Teachersmatter
Check this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QnjoaQqfqI
Purposeful education in hyperactive times
Even in hyper active times we can still have purposeful
education
One can still find silence in a world full of noise
The key factors that make purposeful education possible:
empathy, determination, goal orientated, passion and hard
work
And of course not forgetting the four elements of education;
Literacy
Numeracy
Social services
Work experience
Educational facilities improved as compared to yesterday
No more school in dilapidated farmers house
No more school in the shop
No more school under the tree
Times are changing but the essence of purposeful education should
remain being the underlying value
Better buildings
Cloud teaching and learning
Recommendations and way forward
There is much to be harvested from the world of yesterday:
We can still have purposeful education in this hyper active times only if we
are focused and goal orientated
Respect towards educators
Reminding teachers that teaching is not for self actualisation
Compulsory education to youth
More vocational schools than academic
Team work amongst all the relevant stake holder in education
Incorporating teaching and learning with UN SDGs
Conclusion
“The moment we become comfortable with suffering and challenges, we lose our humanity”
Phuti Ragophala
We can still harvest good ideas from the past by going back to basics.
THANK YOU