The Education Show

Episode 2 \Wendy Horn| Teacher, Principal, Tech Crusader

On this episode we chat with the powerhouse that is Wendy Horn.
Wendy is passionate about Science and technology, and especially about empowering girls to become leaders in these fields. Seeing the struggle of both learners and educators in understanding and applying Science concepts galvanized her to reach out to more than learners but also to other educators. Now as well as teaching students, she talks to educators about science, how to teach it, how to engage earners, how to use technology, and how to make it hands-on, practical and relevant. So to achieve good results at the end of Grade 12, she recommends they focus on instilling a love and natural curiosity for science amongst the learners from Grade 8.
Her approach to learning is rigorous and practical, with demonstrations to ensure that abstract ideas are made visible and more accessible to the visual and kinesthetic learner, and videos and quirky science songs to engage the auditory learner. Her classroom is a challenging place – she wants to create problem solvers and doesn’t believe in “can’t do it”. She has embraced two  “game-changing” strategies: an e-learning strategy in teaching and learning and increasing the number of learners that obtain quality results in Mathematics and Physical Sciences on exiting school. Wendy sees the need to develop critical and analytical thinkers with good problem solving skills in the next generation, so they can collaborate across different cultural groupings in a world that’s shrinking with the use of social media platforms and the internet.
 
https://zibuza.net/

Episode 1 | Phuti Ragophala | Teacher, Go Getter, Passionate Teacher

On this first episode we chat to Phuti about her incredible passion and commitment to teaching.
Phuti grew up in difficult circumstances, but her parents saw leadership and teaching talents within her and encouraged her to try to become a teacher. She is now a teacher and Principal of her school, always keeping the idea of ‘service beyond self’ strongly in mind. Working in a semi-rural area, most of her learners are orphans, or from families where parents are poor or ill. Instead of turning children away if their parents are unable to pay for classes, she has managed to empower parents by employing them in the running of the school, giving their children opportunities they would not have otherwise had. The parents therefore also become invested in the school, and attendance is high.
Although her own education was very traditional (essentially using just blackboard and chalk), Phuti has undertaken a number of initiatives to widen the education available to her students. She has launched, with colleagues, a permaculture garden to grow vegetables and herbs for the benefit of the poor in the community. This helps students acquire the desire to become scientists, farmers and pharmacists when they see the application of what is grown in the garden. Phuti is also a Microsoft Innovative Expert Educator, pioneering the integration of technology in the classroom, and has received many awards from the government and other organisations in recognition of her achievements. With the prize funds, she would improve the facilities of her school, adding a sanitation block, library building, and more computers in the short term.
 
https://zibuza.net/