“Can I - TEACH South Africa ?”

I went through the project named TEACH South Africa by Runganayagie Nailini Reddy. The report is quite methodical and systematic.

 It starts with opening remarks which proves to be a precursor to whatever is going to be described and done further in the report.

The background is quite illustrative and informative.  It clearly states who the learners are, their accessibility to e-sources, and their language efficiency, proficiency and exposure.

The virtual setting that offers distance e-support is completely complementary to synchronous and asynchronous leaner-paced environment.

The project has both short term and long term goals. To prepare grade appropriate, thematically integrated, exemplary lesson plans to teach all English language skills accommodating technology-based resources seems to be a real tech-savvy visionary course goal.

The learner needs are many, but some of them are to be addressed. Thematic integration of the four language skills incorporating issues of grammar is an eternal challenge to almost all ESL teachers throughout the world.

The research problem was to determine the impact of the technology-related change implemented to enhance ongoing support to the teachers. This is what all the teachers, teaching in under resourced schools through tech-rich resources, exactly need at the moment.

In the form of possible solutions, the e-teacher planned to set up e-support structures that would interactively offer other teachers a microsystem of distance support that might include synchronous and a synchronous technology tools like e-mail, texting, Skype, internet classroom, websites, etc. 

The Planned Project Program enumerates task number, task description and measure of assessment.

The most appealing fact in this project is that the class is fully virtual, not confined to any brick and mortar building. In addition, the learning can happen anywhere and anytime.  

The researcher believes the learning process is more important than the final product although achieving the intended outcome of the project plan would be the measure of success. This absolutely true in the whole of academic universe.  The anticipated rewards certainly provide the motivation to find solutions for online learning and teaching challenges.

When this e-teacher narrates the resources, I am glad that there is a mention of Instructional Technology. The idea of Five Star Instruction Model is new to me. She has also listed web articles and technology tools to be used.

In Project Plan Timeline the e-teacher has indicated that this project can be a pilot to investigate the feasibility of distance support, and this can be interesting for any online teacher, learner or researcher. In Project Plan Timeline she has given all tasks to be completed in particular weeks, technology to be used and actions to be taken.

Final comments are wise and wisdomful .Over-enthusiasm can blur the researcher’s vision, and over-ambitiousness can delay the progress. However, every e-teacher should try, and perhaps fail, but not fail to try.

Cheers,

Jit Shalin