Using iPad to drastically improve results, school enrollment and attendance.

iPad in Education: iSchoolAfrica at Gugulesizwe Primary School

iSchoolAfrica is an education initiative developed by Apple’s local Value Added Distributor, Core Group, which reaches under resourced rural and township schools across South Africa. The overall objective of the initiative is to empower teachers and students by providing them with access to the world’s most advanced educational technology and classroom practices. The iSchoolAfrica iPad Learning Programme combines mobile iPad labs with training, support, integration, monitoring and evaluation to address key challenges faced by our teachers and students to create a sustainable impact on education. To enable the rollout of iPads into schools, iSchoolAfrica works in partnership with programme sponsors from both government and the private sector.

The Peermont School Support Programme (PSSP) is a programme that supports the creation of centers of educational excellence in public schools. PSSP is an iSchoolAfrica sponsor and commissioned the implementation of the iSchoolAfrica iPad Learning Programme into Gugulesizwe Primary School. iSchoolAfrica was selected by PSSP as it

provided a solution that not only o∂ ered ‘best of breed’ technology, but also a unique, supportive infrastructure that ensured systematic and sustainable impact on the students and teachers.

The iSchoolAfrica iPad Learning Programme was introduced to Gugulesizwe Primary School in 2011 and has had a remarkable impact. Improvements have been observed in academic results, attendance and engagement. Additionally, iPad has allowed the school access to a host of world-leading educational content and resources that were not available to them previously.

“We have a number of challenges in our public education system in South Africa. By introducing our youngsters to technology, and exposing them to creative process, we start to prepare them better for the 21st century workplace.”

- Cli∂ ord Elk, Convener, Peermont School Support Programme, iSchoolAfrica Sponsor

“I believe that these kids are looking beyond school now. They are beginning to dream, they are beginning to have aspirations. They are beginning to believe that anything is possible”.Cli∂ ord Elk, Convener, Peermont School Support Programme, iSchoolAfrica Sponsor

Gugulesizwe Primary School Snapshot:

In the Classroom

Engaging Content

• Situated in Daveyton Township• 560 learners • Grade R - Grade 7• iPads introduced in 2011• 5 mobile labs consisting of 10 iPads each• All learners have access to an iPad• Grade 6 maths ANA results have risen from

37% in 2012 to 54% in 2013• Grade 3 maths ANA results has seen an

overall improvement of 5% since 2011• In grade 4 and 5 english, the school came in

the top 10 schools in the Gauteng East District in 2013 for the fi rst time

With the PSSP sponsorship, iSchoolAfrica have introduced mobile iPad labs, which are easily wheeled from classroom to classroom and integrated into di∂ erent subjects. This means that a grade 3 class could use the lab for Maths and a grade 6 class could use it for English. The iPad labs are managed by a booking system and there is a timetable which details the classes and times iPads are being utilised.

The biggest challenge faced by Gugulesizwe Primary School in the past, was a lack of resources to deliver quality education for their students. The physical materials needed for a lesson were often in low supply or not available at all. This resulted in lessons that were dull and uninspiring. Materials had to be made by the teachers themselves which put additional pressure on their time and capacity. iPad addresses this by providing an endless supply of learning content on one device that is readily available and easily accessible to the teachers. Furthermore, iPad gives teachers the tools they need to create engaging learning material to result in in-depth learning and understanding.

“It has been amazing to work with the iPad. It is so simple to use, the kids adopt it intuitively. We have found very light downtime. Very little maintenance challenges” .

Cli∂ ord Elk, Convener, Peermont School Support Programme, iSchoolAfrica Sponsor

“I see iPad making an impact in the classroom. They really understand much better when you bring iPad into the classroom.”

Lindiwe Malewa, Teacher, Gugulesizwe Primary School

Gugulesizwe Primary School use iPads as concept re-enforcement tools. For example, the app Keynote is used regularly by teachers to create engaging presentations that demonstrate and explain concepts to students. Teachers also identify apps which reinforce what has been presented or taught and students are given the opportunity to use these apps. Additionally, students are expected to create their own engaging content to further enforce curriculum based concepts. Apps

like Popmath are used by the grade 3 students to improve their addition and subtraction skills and grade 6 & 7 students use Bookcreator to write and compile books that have rich content like images, videos and audio.

“I really love using technology. So the iPads brought a change, they brought life. It’s getting learners thinking outside the box.”

- Lindiwe Malewa, Teacher, Gugulesizwe Primary School

Improved Literacy and Numeracy

Increased enrollment and attendance

PSSP’s primary aim in bringing iPads into their schools was to improve overall academic results, with specifi c focus on literacy and numeracy. These are the 2 critical building blocks of a student’s education. Annual National Assessment (ANA) tests are set by the Department of Basic Education in order to assess and improve language and mathematics skills of students. Since the introduction of iPads at Gugulesizwe Primary School in 2011, the ANA results have improved.

The introduction of iPads has had a major impact in enhancing the reputation of the school for the teachers, parents and community members. As a result, from 2011 to 2014, Gugulesizwe Primary School has seen a 38% improvement in student enrollments. Absenteeism has also been an issue in the past, but using iPads has improved attendance by up to 45%. Students are more excited about learning, they are more focused and less likely to be absent from school when they know they are going to be using iPads.

iPads are utilised as a remediation tool prior to the tests and as a direct result of this, improvements have been observed in both maths and english. Grade 6 maths ANA results have risen from 37% in 2012, to 54% in 2013 and grade 3 maths ANA results has seen an overall improvement of 5% since 2011. In grade 4 and 5 english, the school came in the top 10 schools in the Gauteng East District in 2013 for the fi rst time.

“Results are improving as learning is now in real time. For example, in natural sciences, learners can see how a seed actually grows instantly in an app instead of having to wait for days to see changes in a planted seed.”

Lindiwe Malewa, Teacher, Gugulesizwe Primary School

“Since the introduction of the iPads we have noticed our numbers growing. Before we had such a problem with getting the learners to attend school. Our absenteeism rate has decreased tremendously, the learners now want to come to school in the hopes that they will get to work with the iPad.”

Thobile Mavundla, Principal, Gugulesizwe Primary School

“We can fundamentally change the landscape of this country. iPad in my view can be the game changer in our schools.”

Cli∂ ord Elk, Convener, Peermont School Support Programme, iSchoolAfrica Sponsor

Preparing for the 21st Century Workplace

The iSchoolAfrica iPad Learning Programme ensures that each and every learner at Gugulesizwe Primary School has access to the most advanced educational technology, resulting in more engaging learning and exposure to world class educational content previously unavailable to underprivileged schools. Each child at the school has the opportunity to engage with iPad, creating

a learning environment that is not only making learning fun but one that students want to be a part of. More importantly, the iSchoolAfrica iPad Learning Programme has shown an improvement in student results and critical thinking skills which will help prepare them for the 21st century workplace.

“Enrollments have improved from 345 learners to 560 learners from 2011 to 2014. The community has noticed the vast improvement in the level of education at Gugulesizwe and now we are the school that parents want their children to attend.”

Lindiwe Malewa, Teacher, Gugulesizwe Primary School

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