“Since I have received this award, it becomes my responsibility to assist other educators to use technology in the classroom.” And it’s precisely this enthusiasm that lead Cape Town based English teacher, Gafieza Ismail, from Spine Road High School in Mitchells Plain, to clinch the National Teaching Award for Excellence in Technology-Enhanced Teaching and Learning. The 16th National Teaching Awards were presented by the Department of Basic Education the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand last week.

Ismail introduced technology into the classroom in order to enhance her teaching of English home-language as a subject and explained that she “wanted to expose learners to a broader learning environment, and show them the universal aspects of it.”

With the advancement of digital technology, which has taken over most aspects of our lives, Ismail demonstrated to learners how the subject can be related to the real world.

She said the digital-age provides many positive teaching methods, further stating that “when it comes to technology, teachers are opening their minds to it – the possibilities are endless.”

Many educators, Ismail notes, are opening the classroom up to include the use of technology.

Ismail introduced technology into her classroom by opening a classroom online blog. This provided academically challenged learners with access to Ismael at all times.

She would upload onto this blog, content material and study material, which is inclusive of video lessons, video lessons on which she would embed questions, and recordings of lessons.

Ismail also included in her use of technology annotation through various programmes.

“They are going to be the global citizens of tomorrow, so I would train them in those things as well,” she stated.

In educating learners on the use of technology Ismail provided more holistic learning. She is, therefore, in the process of developing a programme that will be used to educate other educators on the use of technology in the classroom.

Though many may feel that the arduous task of teaching consumes large amounts of time and energy and therefore does not allow for extra attention to be given to alternate teaching methods, Ismail attests that her undertaking has only been possible with the assistance of the Almighty.

Voc (Thakira Desai)