Mindset Network, a non-profit organisation aimed at uplifting society through education, has revealed plans for its new IT educational series on TV, which aims to make IT learning fun and practical.
The project targets Grade 10 learners who aspire to work in the IT field.
Mindset worked in association with the National Department of Education to develop the content, which will be on air from April 2005.
"This new series has been designed in complete support of the curriculum framework for learners," says Trudi van Wyk of the Curriculum Innovation Directorate at the Department of Education. "Learners who take IT as a further education training (FET) subject will need to cover four learning outcomes.
"Each learning outcome has been developed in such as way as to support and complement the other, and this philosophy has been carried through into the production of Mindset learner materials for this subject," says Van Wyk.
Students participating in the school FET curriculum and the Mindset IT programme will be taught skills relating to hardware and software systems, e-communication, social and ethical issues, programming and software development.
Mindset Network was started in 2002 to provide educational material to Africa through satellite technology. The organisation provides two educational channels - Mindset Learn and Mindset Health, which broadcast educational television programmes in SA.
The Mindset IT programme will be distributed through the Mindset Learn Channel, which is broadcast directly into schools with Mindset receiving equipment. The educational material includes video and Internet programmes with interactive quizzes, projects and ideas for classroom activities.
The project is sponsored by the .co.za domain administrator, Uniforum, which donated R3 million for the production of the series.
Uniforum SA director Tex van Deventer says he believes there is a need to ensure learners are properly equipped with IT skills that are needed in today`s business.
"Our industry relies on learners coming into the field with up to date and relevant knowledge. This programme is a great foundation for a career in the IT field," he says.
In order to receive the Mindset Network, receiving equipment must be installed; thereafter the service is free to the user. Programmes are curriculum-based and developed or sourced to address local needs. They are also supported with printed materials and Web-based information to assist the learner. The TV programmes can also be viewed at home on DSTV Channel 82.
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