UNICEF South Africa’s Post

Exciting developments in South Africa are definitely going in the right direction.

Imagine a future where every young mind in Botswana has the tools and knowledge to innovate and lead. We are thrilled to introduce STEM Week: Empowering Botswana's Future, a groundbreaking initiative designed to equip our youth with vital STEAM skills. This project includes: Hands-On Learning: Engaging students in practical activities like coding, robotics, and AI. Inclusive Education: Ensuring learners from marginalized communities access quality STEAM education. Community Engagement: Hosting interschool competitions and collaborative projects. Expert Guidance: Mentors provide valuable insights and support. Support Needed: We invite you to support this impactful project and help empower Botswana's future innovators. Your support can make a significant difference. For more details, visit our project page below. Are you ready to be a part of this transformative journey and make a lasting impact on Botswana's youth? #STEMWeek #EmpowerBotswana #FutureInnovators #STEAMEducation #CodingBotswana #Robotics

Exciting News for South African Education The introduction of robotics and coding as new subjects in South African schools marks a pivotal moment in our educational landscape. Having spent the past two years teaching Ed Tech and Robotics to Grades 0 to 7 with Resolute Education , I have seen firsthand the profound impact these subjects can have on our students and their future workforce readiness. Impact on Students 1. Enhanced Problem-Solving Skills: Robotics and coding challenge students to think critically and solve complex problems. This not only improves their cognitive abilities but also fosters creativity and innovation. 2. Early Exposure to STEM: Introducing these subjects at a young age cultivates a strong foundation in STEM, preparing students for future careers in technology and engineering. 3. Engagement and Motivation: These hands-on, interactive subjects capture students' interest, making learning fun and engaging. This increases motivation and enthusiasm for school. Impact on Schools 1. Modernized Curriculum: Incorporating robotics and coding brings the curriculum up to date with global educational standards, ensuring our students are competitive on the international stage. 2. Teacher Development: This shift necessitates ongoing professional development for teachers, equipping them with the skills to teach these innovative subjects effectively. 3. Resource Allocation: Schools will need to invest in the necessary resources, such as robotics kits and computer labs, to support these new subjects, fostering a more technologically advanced learning environment. Impact on Workforce 1. Future-Ready Skills: Students equipped with coding and robotics skills are better prepared for the evolving job market, where such skills are increasingly in demand. 2. Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Early exposure to these disciplines encourages a mindset of innovation and entrepreneurship, essential for driving economic growth and development. 3. Bridging the Digital Divide: By making these subjects accessible to all students, regardless of background, we take a significant step towards bridging the digital divide and promoting equality in education and employment opportunities. The addition of robotics and coding to the South African school curriculum is a transformative development that promises to empower our students and strengthen our nation's future. I am thrilled to be part of this journey and to witness the incredible growth and potential of our young learners. For more details, check out the full article here: [New subjects added for schools in South Africa] https://lnkd.in/e3PTekyM #EdTech #Robotics #Coding #Education #SouthAfrica #STEM #FutureOfWork #Innovation

Exciting Revolution in South Africa’s Education! 🚀 We are excited to announce that the Department of Basic Education has added coding and robotics as a new subject for Grades R to 9! By integrating coding and robotics into the education system, we are not just teaching our children how to use technology, but empowering them to create it. This subject encourages problem-solving, critical thinking, and creativity, laying a solid foundation for future innovators and leaders in the tech industry. This new curriculum will open up a world of possibilities, fostering a generation that is not just tech-savvy but also capable of driving technological advancement. Share your thoughts and join the conversation on how we can make the most of these educational innovations.  Embrace this new era of education with us, and let's inspire our young minds to reach for the stars! 🌟 #ICanInnovat #EducationRevolutio #FutureInnovators #CodingInSchools #RoboticsInEducation #NewEraInLearning #EmpowerTheFuture

Computational thinking, coding and robotics skills are really beneficial in developing problem-solving, critical and creative thinking, so including it into our South African schooling system, formally, is truly exciting. Explore my blog: Unplugged Coding in South Africa: A Foundation for the Future https://lnkd.in/dix4suC4

Unplugged, practical, conceptual, and accessible—these were the foundations of a profound moment in Early Childhood Development Education. Teaching coding and robotics to ECE facilitators, regardless of their: Age, Educational background, Language of instruction/comprehension, Skill level, and access to resources often seems like a daunting challenge. Yet, with preliminary observations and data, we've broken through all these barriers and achieved comprehension in our 2-day workshop! This achievement was made possible by our dedicated host organization, Sebofon NPC, with the incredible support of Standard Bank and the Department of Education in Kwa-Zulu Natal. With Toyota South Africa, and the University of Pretoria as observers. Kayla Willemse (PhD) for providing support, her expertise in Coding and Robotics and for her input. We're excited about the incredible work that will emerge from this initiative. Here's to a future of hope and service to our communities! Support Your School S.A. Barry Berkowitz Annisha Agwon STEM Education Cubroid STEM Education Cubroid #ECD #Coding #Robotics #EducationForAll #InclusiveLearning #EarlyChildhoodDevelopment #HopeInEducation #STEMEducation #TechForGood #InnovationInEducation #DigitalSkills #TeacherTraining #InclusiveEducation #FutureOfLearning #EmpowerEducators #LearningThroughPlay #EarlyLearning #TechInECE #CommunityImpact #CodingForKids #RoboticsEducation #EdTech #YouthEmpowerment #EducationRevolution #LearningWithoutLimits #EarlyChildhoodEducation #GlobalEducation #EducationalInnovation #CodingEducation

As a mom of two young children, I am thrilled about the Department of Basic Education's introduction of the Coding and Robotics curriculum in South Africa. This forward-thinking initiative promises to equip our children with essential skills for the future. The new curriculum emphasises: 🤖 Coding: Fostering skills like decomposition, pattern recognition, abstraction, algorithm design, and debugging. 🤖 Robotics: Encouraging inspiration, ideation, and implementation. 🤖 Digital Concepts: Building digital citizenship, awareness, and skills. These areas are integrated to develop solution development, problem-solving, logical and critical thinking, computational thinking, and, importantly, design thinking. As a fan of design thinking, I am especially delighted to see its emphasis in this curriculum. Design thinking is a powerful tool that fosters creativity and innovation, and it's fantastic to see our education system embracing this approach. This curriculum prepares our children for future careers in technology and equips them with the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that are valuable in any field. The focus on communication, collaboration, creativity, and perseverance is encouraging, ensuring a holistic development approach. Kudos to the DBE for this incredible step forward! 🚀 Let's empower our kids with the tools they need to thrive in an ever-evolving digital world. #Education #Coding #Robotics #DesignThinking #FutureSkills #SouthAfrica #DBE

📢 Exciting Announcement! 📢 Our research paper, "Exploring the impact of VoiceBots on Multimedia Programming Education Among Ghanaian University Students," is accepted for publication in the prestigious British Journal of Educational Technology British Educational Research Association (BERA) Our study, co-authored by my colleague Harry Barton Essel, investigates the impact of VoiceBots as a means to improve academic performance and students engagement in a context with high student-teacher ratio, where students may find it more difficult to access teaching staff for individual help and the overall quality of interaction between students and teaching staff might decrease. 🔍 Our research revealed that VoiceBots can serve as valuable learning assistants across various disciplines. 💡 These VoiceBots require zero coding, making them accessible for educational institutions with limited resources. 🚀 An innovative approach to enhance student engagement without the need for extensive technical expertise. The article is currently in production, and I am sharing this post to gauge interest in the topic, as posts like these can quickly get lost in the feed. I will share the link to the full paper here once it's available. In the meantime, feel free to reach out if you have any questions or would like more information. More research in Edtech in Africa is coming, since we just started a 3-year EU-Funded Capacity Building Program on educational innovation in higher education with a focus on entrepreneurial skills & employability. Erasmus University Rotterdam FOME (Future of Management Education) Alliance Dutch EdTech European Edtech Alliance EdTech West Africa EdTech East Africa Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University