I started teaching technology this year after teaching electronics, mathematics, science, industrial technology, radio and TV theory for three and a half years and NVC workshop practice for half a year a the College Of Cape Town.

I have attended one of your workshops recently and was quite impressed. “Alamaskas.”

It might be possible that the perception with teachers is related to their lack of exposure to what is really happening in industry. Perhaps this could be rectified by creating opportunities for exposure. When I walk into any factory, I see a multitude of technological structures and processes and systems and controls staring back at me from every angle.

I spent ten years in a trade and twelve years selling engineering equipment to industry, ranging from small businesses to large corporates and so have quite a good understanding of what learners need to be able to do to be employable.

Train the teachers and expose them to industry and there may be a completely different concept of the value of the subject.

A thought came to mind concerning the perception that was mentioned previously concerning the number of learners that would benifit from technolgy. They don’t all have to become engineers or factory workers but the type of thinking that has an insight into the processes that result in a piece of paper and a pen landing on their desk and being forwarded through to its final destination may make a difference in at least a few ways.

The bottom line is teacher attitudes so I’m glad your company is here for us.

Thank you

Steven

Essentially it should not be a debate about if, how, when and where technology (as in ICT) should be a discipline in its own right or how it can be integrated into the mainstream curriculum, but how, when and where it can make learning happen in a more effective way.

There are so many great tools about and we are getting completely lost in them. So for me it is just a question of opening ourselves (and of course our learners) up to lifelong learning in any way and if ICT can make it happen more effectively, then we must use it!