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Mobile Phones work wonders in South African classes
January 2009
Learners from Spectrum Primary School and Ramosadi Primary School in South Africa are engaging more in class and discipline problems are down as teachers, together with literacy coaches from Sweden, the UK and the USA, spin magic with mobile phones.
These schools are embracing a technology that is already part of everyday life in South Africa and spinning it into opportunities for creative learning alternatives. Projects with various themes ranging from health to environment to a plethora of social issues are identified in a simple and 
structured manner where video, audio and text data are collected using the multi-functions of the mobile phone. Learners then collate and present their work and present them as artifacts for their Portfolios, even creating technology-based games to meet their learning goals.
These low-threshold inexpensive devices are becoming a vital tool for many young learners at both primary schools and teachers and consultants are in agreement that these young minds are becoming increasingly engaged as they use these devices to learn more, produce more and participate more. In his visit to Spectrum Primary School last week, Dr Jeff Kupperman, Associate Professor of Education at Michigan University, praised the learners for their hard work.
Story: Theo VR Lindzter Pictures: Di Gameworks
Swedish students heading for USA
January 2010
Learning Academy Worldwide will be host to learners from Sweden and South Africa during the first week of March 2010.
The Literature-based initiative project aims at helping students sharpen their skills of dialogue and improve their writing in English based on the reading and discussion of a text, play and music.
"I can hardly wait," said grade 9 student from Stockholm, Louise Österberg.
Mobile Learning Workshop Inspires Teachers
Ennerdale, SOUTH AFRICA - 20 August 2009
Seventeen teachers from Spectrum Primary School and Ramosadi Primary School attended the Mobile Learning Workshop weekend of 15-16 August in Ennerdale south of Johannesburg.
Presented by Theo can Rensburg Lindzter, the teachers connected with Lucy Haagen in China and Dr Laura Billings from the National Paideia Center in North Carolina to interact around their Mobile Learning Project: Women and Relationships. Teachers collected data through interviews, took pictures and wrote a short paragraph based on an assigned instructional plan. See the teachers' book here.
The Workshop also aimed at giving teachers opportunity to acquire knowledge on project-based learning and the importance of tangible artefacts for learners' portfolios. They designed and compiled their own books which will be made available in both digital and printed formats. These books will serve as examples for learners on the project products that can be created when using a mobile phone as a tool in learning.
Teachers were awarded certificates for successfully completing the Introduction to Teaching and Mobile Learning module.
SEE Videos:
For more pictures click here
Learners from Sweden and USA prepare for seminar with difference
Washington DC, 6 May, 2009
Two groups of young people, thousands of miles apart, are anticipating to maximise the use of communications technology and have a Webinar during the last week of May 2009. Students from LAWW in Sweden and John Muir School in San Diego, CA. have just completed phase 1 of the pre-webinar work and have submitted written responses to questions based on the South African novel, Chain of Fire, by Beverley Naidoo.
The webinar is a "virtual" seminar based on the Paideia principles where the learners improve understanding of ideas that emerge from interacting with either a book, music or a work of art.
The idea of connecting the Paideia-like initiatives of LAWW in Sweden and South Africa with the California school, was born during a National Paideia Conference held earlier this year in Winston-Salem, NC. LAWW Director, Theo van Rensburg Lindzter and Mr Chester Hancock started the planning of the webinar end of March earlier this year.
Mobile Learning Project Staff ready to work after winning DML prize
South African Primary Schools win prestigious prize in the Digital Media Learning Competition in the US
Chicago, Ill, USA Friday, 17 April 2009
The sun came out and shone brightly on Chicago, Ill as the two principals from Spectrum Primary and Ramosadi Primary in South Africa stepped off the plane to receive their prize for their innovative idea to improve functional literacy in their respective schools.
Read the full story here. Also see video of interview with Learning Academy Worldwide director, Theo van Rensburg Lindzter.
Sam Nenngwekhulu , far left and Sydney Teme are congratulated by Dr Cathy Davidson in Chicago, US for their innovative proposal to improve functional literacy in their schools.
