GARDEN OF POSSIBILITIES
One of our big possibilities for developing a growing awareness of the needs within deaf education is to strengthen the capacity of young people to serve, like supporting our school’s garden project. Last year we had young people from a local singing group who came as part of their youth development programme, to tend to our garden.
A MEMORABLE TURNING POINT
Wisehub journal - october 2015
THE POSSIBILITIES OF MOBILE PHONES FOR DEAF EDUCATION IN SOUTH AFRICA “A thought, even a possibility, can shatter and transform us.” Friedrich Nietzsche
W
hat amazing and radical transformation would then be possible if the realm in odettesWift,director:deaffederationofsouthafrica
which we exercise our thoughts and explore prospects presents us with,
literally, ENDLESS possibilities? I know without a doubt that it would be a transformation of Deaf education unlike anything we have seen to date and would set a far higher bar in terms of quality of teaching and learning. The legacy of apartheid and audist attitudes to Deaf education have left deep, festering wounds in schools for the Deaf in South Africa. In 21 years ofdemocracy little meaningful healing has taken place and Deaf learners are largely subjected to inferior education. This limits potential for meaningful employment and access to life-long learning opportunities. A significant transformation is needed and I believe that the use of Mobile Phones holds some of the promise for radical change. In 2015 South African Sign Language was introduced as a subject in schools for the Deaf. It is well documented that children who have a solid first language will be
Mobile phones, however, hold tremendous potential
more successful in learning a second language. Thus
for ubiquitous access to both recording and viewing
the introduction of SASL as a
devices and possibly even simple editing.
subject, so that Deaf learners can
At KwaVulindlebe School where, with the
analyse and understand their L1 completely and transfer language knowledge to learning to read and write English is a great step forward. However, SASL is very technology intensive and without adequate access to recording and viewing devices and editing software, the subject stands to become another good idea that didn’t work.
support of Learning Academy Worldwide, we
have
achieved
a
100%
mobile
saturation rate, early indications are that mobile phones will provide a very effective salve to the festering wound. Learners are engaged, interested and in awe of their own signing. The teachers need more support and guidance to venture past what is “possible” in their minds but without a doubt, the potential uses are infinite! And once we are able
Even in schools where there are one or two video
to explore these possibilities in more depth, I know
recorders, learners will never have access to “play”
that the healing balm will be liberally applied to these
with their language and be able to self-evaluate.
young minds and transformation will be inevitable.
10
A D R E A M A G A R D E N
A garden for students by students
S P I N AC H
lindle ood in kwavu healthiest f
be
Working hard is part of the ecology of Kwavulindlebe - it is the only route to a meaningful harvest.
e
b e l d n i l Kwavu
Ecology Growing a Generation
Principal, Mrs Nomathemba Ndlovu, create an ecology at the school where both the physical- and the personal garden is nurtured to help the next generation grow into citizens that can meaningfully participate in life and learning.
Parents Committed
A good number of the parents of the children at Kwavulindlebe bring their children to school and then stay there the entire day. It is expensive and far to travel. Instead of making a double trip, they stay at school. Their skills are incorporated in the life of the school during the day.
Students Real Laboratory
The nutritional needs at the school are real and they are evident. In fact, it is a reality in many schools where malnutrition takes its toll on learning. Kwavulindlebe Primary School’s garden, therefore, meets this need. Moreover, students participate in the planting, growing and nurturing the vegetable garden. Consequently, the harvest is their harvest. At the same time it provides a real laboratory for studies in ecology and science.
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP
CHALLENGES AND NEEDS
The school started participating in programmes of Learning Academy Worldwide in 2014 and since then have attended the annual Wisehub Summits held in Bloemfontein, Cape Town and Durban . During its annual gathering, called, WISEHUB, we connect with other schools, leaders, private sector and specialists to address crucial knowledge- and skills gaps within Professional Character and Competence Development, Deaf Education, Mathematics and Science, Health and Education and Projectsbased learning. Through a series of vibrant and innovative pedagogical structures that include a series of informal dining and networking opportunities, interactive and thought-provoking sessions, relevant and inspiring keynote addresses, robust panel discussions, need-based breakout sessions and strategic planning workshops, the gathering enables us to share good practices and build national and international partnerships.
CONTACT info@kwavu.co.za +27-(0) 31-4000-394 www.kwavu.co.za
29 Apolo Street Havenside, CHATSWORTH South Africa, 4030