Comments for Mark Horner http://www.markhorner.net A blog about mixing technology, education, openness, and experience in South Africa. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= Comment on Why should the best schools share? by Micah6 http://www.markhorner.net/2011/06/05/why-should-the-best-schools-share/comment-page-1/#comment-6178 Micah6 Mon, 23 Jan 2012 14:25:00 +0000 http://www.markhorner.net/?p=809#comment-6178 Thanks for this very informative blog. The reality is that the quality of teaching in South Africa for the majority of students is sub-standard. I am increasingly aware of this as I see potentially bright kids move along a declining academic trajectory over their high school years. I am a firm believer that a lot of the problem is not their dire home circumstances but poor teaching which consistently builds upon poor foundations. Eventually the academic building in the mind of kids starts falling down in a heap of ruins. As I have thought of extra lessons upon extra lessons to "fix" the problems, all we really give these learners is the equivalent of "poly filler" rather than breaking down the building and starting again. In response I am challenged to address the source of the problem: teachers! I am challenged to see the teachers in a poor school I am involved in becoming 1) computer literate and 2) getting better equipped with the wealth of free online tutoring/learning programmes. But of course there are infrastructural issues such as getting computers, paying for ADSL lines etc. If these funding challenges are overcome this may be a solution if teachers are poised to embrace change.  Thanks for this very informative blog. The reality is that the quality of teaching in South Africa for the majority of students is sub-standard. I am increasingly aware of this as I see potentially bright kids move along a declining academic trajectory over their high school years. I am a firm believer that a lot of the problem is not their dire home circumstances but poor teaching which consistently builds upon poor foundations. Eventually the academic building in the mind of kids starts falling down in a heap of ruins. As I have thought of extra lessons upon extra lessons to “fix” the problems, all we really give these learners is the equivalent of “poly filler” rather than breaking down the building and starting again. In response I am challenged to address the source of the problem: teachers! I am challenged to see the teachers in a poor school I am involved in becoming 1) computer literate and 2) getting better equipped with the wealth of free online tutoring/learning programmes. But of course there are infrastructural issues such as getting computers, paying for ADSL lines etc. If these funding challenges are overcome this may be a solution if teachers are poised to embrace change. 

]]> Comment on What happened to the last 5 months! by OER in the mainstream – South Africa takes a leap into OER policy – http://www.markhorner.net/2011/12/05/what-happened-to-the-last-5-months/comment-page-1/#comment-6177 OER in the mainstream – South Africa takes a leap into OER policy – Fri, 20 Jan 2012 12:01:46 +0000 http://www.markhorner.net/?p=884#comment-6177 [...] Shuttleworth Foundation Fellow and the brain behind Siyavula and Free High School Science Textbooks blogged in late 2011 in a state of justified excitement: ‘Openly-licensed, Siyavula textbooks are being printed [...] [...] Shuttleworth Foundation Fellow and the brain behind Siyavula and Free High School Science Textbooks blogged in late 2011 in a state of justified excitement: ‘Openly-licensed, Siyavula textbooks are being printed [...]

]]> Comment on What happened to the last 5 months! by JM Orione http://www.markhorner.net/2011/12/05/what-happened-to-the-last-5-months/comment-page-1/#comment-6176 JM Orione Thu, 08 Dec 2011 20:24:00 +0000 http://www.markhorner.net/?p=884#comment-6176 Congratulation, Mark and Siyavula ! You did it.  Jean-Marc Orione, French High School Physics-Chemistry Teacher (JHB) Congratulation, Mark and Siyavula !

You did it. 

Jean-Marc Orione, French High School Physics-Chemistry Teacher (JHB)

]]> Comment on What happened to the last 5 months! by Joy Rosario http://www.markhorner.net/2011/12/05/what-happened-to-the-last-5-months/comment-page-1/#comment-6175 Joy Rosario Thu, 08 Dec 2011 10:45:00 +0000 http://www.markhorner.net/?p=884#comment-6175 What an exciting initiative, well done Mark and the team What an exciting initiative, well done Mark and the team

]]> Comment on What happened to the last 5 months! by 2011 review « Helen Turvey http://www.markhorner.net/2011/12/05/what-happened-to-the-last-5-months/comment-page-1/#comment-6174 2011 review « Helen Turvey Wed, 07 Dec 2011 13:44:40 +0000 http://www.markhorner.net/?p=884#comment-6174 [...] Horner Full report back and [...] [...] Horner Full report back and [...]

]]> Comment on What happened to the last 5 months! by Patrick Dixon http://www.markhorner.net/2011/12/05/what-happened-to-the-last-5-months/comment-page-1/#comment-6173 Patrick Dixon Mon, 05 Dec 2011 20:17:00 +0000 http://www.markhorner.net/?p=884#comment-6173 Mark, I have been following Siyavula and all you have been doing since we met last year in Cape Town. I stand utterly in awe of your achievements - what you have all done, and continue to do, is both extra-ordinary, in the literal sense of the word, and truly outstanding! You have all created an amazing example for the whole world, and a set of resources that will be used for decades to come throughout the world. Countless people will benefit from your work, and from the open model that you have put into real action. Congratulations to you all! Kind Regards Patrick Dixon    Mark,

I have been following Siyavula and all you have been doing since we met last year in Cape Town.

I stand utterly in awe of your achievements – what you have all done, and continue to do, is both extra-ordinary, in the literal sense of the word, and truly outstanding! You have all created an amazing example for the whole world, and a set of resources that will be used for decades to come throughout the world. Countless people will benefit from your work, and from the open model that you have put into real action.

Congratulations to you all!

Kind Regards

Patrick Dixon

  

]]> Comment on What happened to the last 5 months! by Stefano http://www.markhorner.net/2011/12/05/what-happened-to-the-last-5-months/comment-page-1/#comment-6172 Stefano Mon, 05 Dec 2011 19:45:00 +0000 http://www.markhorner.net/?p=884#comment-6172 I'd like to chat to you about LearnerAids. Please contact me at stefano@gallotta.co.za I’d like to chat to you about LearnerAids. Please contact me at stefano@gallotta.co.za

]]> Comment on Why should the best schools share? by SinghR http://www.markhorner.net/2011/06/05/why-should-the-best-schools-share/comment-page-1/#comment-6168 SinghR Mon, 29 Aug 2011 22:30:00 +0000 http://www.markhorner.net/?p=809#comment-6168 You make compelling arguments. However, despite many schools having lofty mission statements, suspicion and selfishness still abound. Sad but true. Some mindsets wouldn't mind 'their stuff' becoming outdated and obsolete instead of sharing. I've trawled 100s of sites of privileged SA schools websites - resources for sharing are virtually non-existent!  You make compelling arguments. However, despite many schools having lofty mission statements, suspicion and selfishness still abound. Sad but true. Some mindsets wouldn’t mind ‘their stuff’ becoming outdated and obsolete instead of sharing. I’ve trawled 100s of sites of privileged SA schools websites – resources for sharing are virtually non-existent! 

]]> Comment on Follow Up on Mbilwi Secondary School by Munyai Phuluso Casey http://www.markhorner.net/2009/11/30/follow-up-on-mbilwi-secondary-school/comment-page-1/#comment-6165 Munyai Phuluso Casey Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:33:00 +0000 http://www.markhorner.net/?p=191#comment-6165 mbilwi my mbilwi wow...it all started there mbilwi my mbilwi wow…it all started there

]]> Comment on Follow Up on Mbilwi Secondary School by munyai phuluso casey http://www.markhorner.net/2009/11/30/follow-up-on-mbilwi-secondary-school/comment-page-1/#comment-6164 munyai phuluso casey Wed, 03 Aug 2011 11:29:00 +0000 http://www.markhorner.net/?p=191#comment-6164 oh yes tendani truly it was all about dedication and commitment of the staff and the students...PHULUSO MUNYAI, class of 2009 oh yes tendani truly it was all about dedication and commitment of the staff and the students…PHULUSO MUNYAI, class of 2009

]]>