Yeshiva IT Strategy

1. Yeshiva IT Strategy

2. Concept & Vision

3. PUTTING THE LEARNER AND LEARNING AT THE CENTRE OF EDUCATION

4. What does this mean ? The learner and learning experience will be enriched through the greater use of technology which is currently available and intuitive to this generation The benefit of late adoption is that we are better informed and have learnt from other models

5. Objective • To develop a phased implementation of an appropriate ITC platform into the school which delivers on an • end-to-end transition • addresses the realities of all stakeholders : parents, learners and teachers • interventions that will prevent stagnation • instil a culture of “fun learning” for a different generation

6. End to End Model Life Skills for Professional Entry Change Management Learning for the Next Generation Self Directed Learning IT Implementation & Content

7. 5 year mission • If we were successful, learners would : • Have been exposed to content beyond their syllabus requirements through active engagement with “live” resources within the classroom environment • Be better equipped to research, assimilate and interpret information through collaborative initiatives seeking to enhance critical thinking capabilities • Have developed good foundation IT skills spanning beyond MS Office to include database management, material creation,…. • Have enjoyed a more collaborative and “real-time” experience through exposure to a secure social educational platform • Benefit though greater visibility into their performance facilitated through a Learner Management System which monitors progress and identifies exceptions

8. Governance Framework • IT Committee comprising Denese Bloch, Joseph Beer, Francois Barkhuizen, Shaun Swartz and more recently Nicky Newfield (chaired by Rayanne Jacobson) • Separate funding and accounting - transparency • Recommendations / proposals are made to governing bodies at the appropriate times

9. Foreseeable building blocks

10. Immediate timeline

11. Social “engine” • CANVAS will be introduced to connect teacher, learner and parent. • Each teacher and learner has their own e-mail address with accessibility to a range of products; content; progress reports etc • Downloading of lesson notes (via whiteboards) could be accessible to parents to support learning • If deployed properly, it could be a useful “connector” with parents to alleviate existing furstrations

12. Canvas

13. Social “engine” • CANVAS will be introduced to connect teacher, learner and parent. • Each teacher and learner has their own e-mail address with accessibility to a range of products; content; progress reports etc • Downloading of lesson notes (via whiteboards) could be accessible to parents to support learning • If deployed properly, it could be a useful “connector” with parents to alleviate existing furstrations

15. Comparatives • CANVAS will be introduced to connect teacher, learner and parent. • Each teacher and learner has their own e-mail address with accessibility to a range of products; content; progress reports etc • Downloading of lesson notes (via whiteboards) could be accessible to parents to support learning • If deployed properly, it could be a useful “connector” with parents to alleviate existing furstrations

16. Jewish Interactive • Deploy Jewish Interactive in a holistic manner for primary school Nicky NewfieldFounder and Director of Jewish Interactive,South Africa Nicky@jewishinteractive.net

17. The Jewish Interactive (JI) Curriculum JI has created a curriculum map to map subjects in Jewish Studies and map available digital resources according to each subject to : • Provides easy guide supplying content for teachers • Reduce preparation time • Provide digital support • Ensure successful integration of Jewish content in the blended learning class • Map ready by Jan 2013 • Available to Yeshiva free

18. So what does this all mean ? • By 2013, Yeshiva would have entered the IT age. • Parents can expect : • A computer in all primary and highschool classes • Teachers will have commenced training and start being accountable for integrating technology into the classroom so that learning is enriched through broader interactive resources spanning internet, education content material, on-line assessments. However, this is an evolving process so training and competence will develop over time • Enhanced collaboration with the school facilitated by CANVAS so that the parent can take more active responsibility • Better visibility into what the child is learning in the classroom so that homework could be enhanced • Principals driving this approach in an active and measurable way

19. Other considerations • Fund raising • A separate cost centre has already been opened with “seed capital” of R300k to kick-start this transition • Complete accountability for all income and expenditure going forward with half yearly reports • Recruitment of a suitable individual/(s) to support the school in this journey • Future focus of education choices (Singapore Maths) and Learning Management Systems (LMS) • Parent education and orientation

20. In conclusion…. • This initiative has nothing to do with replacing the teacher • It is about augmenting learning through leveraging what already exists and providing our children with a host of tools which would make learning more fun • In this way, they will harness 21st Century skills which are critical in this day and age • It is less about the actual device than it is about exposing knowledge • It will be done slowly and strategically so that we don’t waste money

21. Yeshiva IT Strategy