Lim teachers make global mark at Microsoft event

LIMPOPO – FOUR teachers from South Africa joined 300 Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Experts and student ambassadors from around the world at Microsoft’s E2 Global Educator Exchange event. The event took place from April 29 to May 1 in Redmond, Washington (US) at Microsoft’s headquarters.

Two of the four teachers from Polokwane were selected from among the most innovative in the world to attend the event, collaborate, create and share experiences with their peers on how to integrate technology and education in ways that improve learning outcomes and equip students for the world of work. Awarded Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert status in 2014, teachers Mabore Lekalakala and Mokhudu Machaba were selected due to their ability to employ technology effectively within the classroom in order to help learners develop all-important 21st century skills.

These learners demonstrated excellence in creating and leading transformational learning environments.

Machaba, a teacher from Ngwanamago Primary School and Lekalakala, a teacher at Toronto Primary School’s learning activity allows learners not only to practise created content, but to construct their own contextualised games, songs, flashcards, PowerPoint presentations, while learning and reinforcing concepts in mathematics and other subjects.

By practising and constructing the games, learners’ 21st century and workplace skills grow, including social skills, project based learning, creativity, critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, communication, computer literacy and self-direction.

“Our MIE Experts worldwide are transforming the learning environment in truly pioneering ways, and the E2 Global Educator Exchange event gives them the chance to share these experiences among their peers and work together to solve the challenges faced,” said Anthony Salcito, vice president, Worldwide Education, Microsoft Corp.

“Hosting E2 at our campus in Redmond means we can hear their innovative ideas and bring them back into Microsoft, ensuring we support this transformation and work together to adapt learning to equip students for tomorrow’s workforce.”

As part of the event, MIE Experts participated in the Global Educator challenge, where they were divided into groups with peers from different parts of the world to design a project around the use of Microsoft technologies within the specific theme of Bravery, Courage, and Leadership.

The E2 Global Educator Exchange event is part of the Microsoft in Education initiative that offers a range of professional development programmes to bridge the gap between technology skills and innovative teaching.

These programmes reach beyond traditional software training to provide a scaffold that supports teachers and school leaders of all skill levels on their learning journey.

Through these programmes, Microsoft trained more than 10 million teachers and reached more than 200 million learners since 2003 worldwide.