Technology supports PLCs in Free State
The workshop was the last in a series of five workshops on PLCs. This series of workshops serves as a pilot for the implementation of Activity 3.3 (on PLCs) in the ISPFTED. The series aims at equipping education officials with the knowledge and skills to support PLCs within schools. Officials were trained in the following aspects related to PLCs:
- Starting up PLCs
- Guiding activities in PLCs
- Sustaining PLCs
- Role of the facilitator
- Dealing with change and resistance
- Monitoring and evaluating PLCs
Most participants agreed that ICTs may assist in supporting and sustaining PLCs. Therefore a workshop on ICT was added to the the PLC learning trajectory in 2016. The training for this target group aims at exploring tools that can assist their roles in supporting PLCs.
The purpose of the workshop, that took place from 29/2 to 2/3 for the DTDC officials and 2 to 4/3 for the Curriculum officials, was to provide attendees with the opportunity to:
- Create awareness of the potential of ICT to support the role of leaders in PLCs
- Experience the value of collaborative tools first hand
- Critically discuss the potential benefits and pitfalls of each tool with reference to building supportive and sustainable PLCs
- Set norms for the use of ICT tools for collaboration
- Identify ways to address challenges such as lack of resources and internet access when using ICT for collaboration within PLC’s
As a fast variety of tools are available when using ICT for collaboration, the tools illustrated, used and critically discussed during the two day workshop, were divided into the following six categories:
1. Communication and messaging tools
2. Collaborative writing tools
3. Collaborative search and research tools
4. Data collections tools
5. Collaborative audio and/or visual creation tools
6. PLC management tools
For each tool being used during the workshop, the discussion and practical use was structured around the following:
- advantages and disadvantages of the tool
- What to be aware of when planning to use and using the tool within your PLC
- Supporting skills needed to use the tool effectively
The workshop concluded with an overview of the following issues:
- ICT and collaboration despite the challenges such as the potential lack of resources and internet access.
- Setting norms for using ICT tools for collaboration within my PLC
- Copyright
- Ways to supporting one’s own continuous learning beyond the workshop
“This gave me a lot of new ideas to interact with schools when I cannot visit them.” (H. Muller)
“This got me thinking.” (M. Mahura)
“We were learning a lot. I enjoyed Sway, it is easy to navigate your way through. This allows creativity much faster.” (P. Senatla)
Workshop participants went home with the challenge to select, integrate and report back on the use of one ICT tool in each of the categories. Attendees will submit their work either as a short video or a written assignment. Upon successful completion of this assignment, attendees will receive a Certificate of Completion.
The workshop was facilitated by Ideas Lab, UFS.
