Interview with Karen Walstra
Topic: Online Education in South Africa
8 April 2013, Centurion, Gauteng

Online education systems, tools and methods are revolutionary in the spectrum of global education. This is all good and well, but it is important to consider how these tools and methods fit into the context of education in our own country, South Africa. I was fortunate to have Karen Walstra, from Karen Walstra Consulting, join me for a discussion on this topic.

Karen Walstra is an Educational Consultant and an expert in the field. She has vast knowledge and experience in educational technology.

Our first topic of discussion concerned the problems associated with teaching via textbooks in South African schools. Karen expressed that textbooks has a role to play in South African schools where technology is currently unavailable, however, the forwardness of education in our country lies in online teaching methods. My question – Will the eBook replace the textbook?

Staying current through the Wikipedia

The main concern with textbooks being that information gets outdated so quickly, the electronically editable eBook is definitely a solution.

Teachers can edit content and send it to the eBook publisher for consideration. A new eBook can be published and retrieved through a click of a download button. This works on the same principle as the Wiki method, employed by the ever successful online encyclopaedia, Wikipedia.com. A wiki is a website which allows its users to add, modify, or delete its content in a controlled manner. The result: A global knowledge body that contributes to the knowledge management and information updates of a source. This is important because the bottom line is, sadly, that outdated information equates to false information.

Modifiable for better comprehension

Karen expressed how the content in eBooks can be modified to suite the specific requirements of a given school, subject or even an individual classroom.

Teachers and learners can add notes to their eBooks electronically. This is truly helpful for comprehension purposes. Teachers can use explanations via examples that the specific demographic of his or her learners would be familiar with. Consider for a moment just exactly how beneficial this is for learners studying in a culturally diverse country like ours. Learners can also make their own notes electronically for their own study purposes.

The learner's tablet

Karen addresses the many possibilities to be explored and decisions to be made in regards to technological tool, such as tablets for the children. There are questions about budgeting, maintenance, ownership etc. I agree with Karen in that, ideally, the tablet should be the property of the student. Electronic educational materials taken home to be shared could end up “extending education into the further community”.

It is common in South Africa that people show an unjustified fear of technology as well as perceptions about technology that is not necessarily true, such as, “These new gadgets are so expensive and it is so complicated!.” Not true!

In a recent article, 'Invasion of the Low-Cost Tablets' by Jared Newman listed new tablets on the market that are selling for as little as $89 and $99. That is, converted into Rands, R814 and R905. With the South African Department of Basic Education being granted the largest budget out of all departments again this year, maybe the latter should seriously be considered.

A final word

eBooks via tablets solve a whole list of current problems in our classrooms. It keeps information updated and current and welcomes teacher participation in this process. It accommodates specific educational needs present in any given classroom. It encourages information sharing and interactive learning. It also solves the problem of absenteeism, which is a big concern in our country; children can study from home through their tablets and access their teachers and fellow class mates.

In part two of our discussion with Karen Walsta we will be addressing online learning technologies for our teachers. Keep an eye out for this next video blog, to be published next week.

Sound Idea Digital specialises in Learning Management Systems and eLearning developments | soundidealearningmanagement.co.za
Carla van Straten is a Writer for Sound Idea Digital | Carla@soundidea.co.za