The Education Show: Recent Episodes
Dr C. L. Smith Foundation
In this episode, I chat with prof Jansen about his life and his love of learning. We also look at teaching in a pandemic and some of the ways that education needs to change.
In this episode I chat with Maanda about the World Teen Parliament, we explore what it is and how it can benefit young people.
In this episode, we chat with Thulani about his NGO Young Aspiring Thinkers. We talk about the need for helping students from disadvantaged schools by means of face to face and online education.
https://www.zibuza.net/
On this episode I chat with Natasha and Rori about what Heritage Day is, what it means and how we celebrate it in South Africa
On this episode I chat with Ali about the myths around Covid and the vaccine. We take a look at some of the myths and debunk them. This is a great episode with information from a medical expert who is working on the frontlines.
On this episode I chat with Natasha and Rori about what parental rights and responsibilities are. We look at care and custody, the different kinds of contact. And we look at the sometimes prickly issue of maintenance.
On this episode I chat with Andrew and Sandiso about Thethani What it is and how it operates. We also discuss the benefits of debating for learners.
On this episode I chat with Lorinda about her company Inspireware. Her journey and how Inspireware is teaching, motivating and educating teachers and learners across the country.
On this episode I chat with jenna about her career and the recent research she has conducted regarding teachers and their digital skills.
https://zibuza.net/
What do you get when you have a doctor a lawyer and an accountant in the same room? The answer is a very insightful discussion. On this episode we chat to the guys about what it takes to study in these three fields, what we need to do and where the journey starts.
https://www.ensafrica.com/
https://zibuza.net/
On this episode we chat with Elsabe about the incredible power and versatility of Microsoft Teams in education.
On this episode I chat with Nicky about her journey and her book Finding Flow.
From Nicky:
My personal life has been one of great adventure rooted in friendship and a deep commitment to holistic living. During and after a recent health crisis, I dove deeper into understanding how my energy, environment and nervous system impacts my health and have managed to bring healing and wellness back into my life, supported by a wealth of scientific learning and a tribe of incredible women, whom I now call friends. I’ll be incorporating all of this knowledge under Finding Flow, my guide to easeful living.
https://nickyrowbotham.com/
https://zibuza.net/
On this episode I chat with Candace about the growing resilience within programme, what it is and the benefits for learner, parents and teachers.
GRIT Growing resilience within is a revolutionary whole school training program. This program equips both teachers and children with a very specific set of skills. Children and teachers who complete this program are far better equipped to ‘roll with the punches.’ The GRIT Growing resilience within program is not a conventional content-based program. This experience shifts the mindsets of the pupils and teachers and they leave with a greater sense of self-love, self-acceptance, tolerance, empathy, positivity and a new zest for life!
https://grit-grow.co.za/
https://zibuza.net/
On this episode we chat to the ENS team about study methods, where to study, revision etc.
On this episode we chat with Josh about his journey and what led to his co founding Be In Touch.
Having completed a degree in psychology, philosophy, and coaching, Josh spent his twenties travelling the world working as a model, actor and later a stuntman.
He has seen first-hand the illusion of the ‘entertainment engine’ and decided to pursue purpose over profit. His broad scope of experience from working in organisational development to holding workshops for teens and tweens, means he always begins with the end in mind, and brings humour and realism to every interaction with adults and children.
Keep your children safe in this digital age.
https://beintouch.org.za/
https://zibuza.net/
On this episode I chat with Mohamed about the powerhouse that is Microsoft Teams. We discuss what it is and its many uses in the classroom environment.
https://zibuza.net/
Go here if you want to learn more about Microsoft Teams.
www.education.microsoft.com
On this episode we chat to Natasha and Rori about The Bill Of Rights, we take a look at some of the important aspects of the bill. If you have any questions or any part of the bill you would like us to cover in depth please post them on the Zibuza platform.
https://zibuza.net/
https://www.ensafrica.com/
On this episode we chat with Uviwe about Office 365 and how to check if your school has access and how to access it if your school does not have access.
On this episode I chat with Mphiwa about his journey and the creation of Career Mate. It is an incredible platform and one you should definitely visit.
https://zibuza.net/
On this episode I chat with Ola about the work Solve Education does and what they are bringing to South Africa.
Let us tell you a little story. A few years ago, Peng T. Ong was invited to give a speech at the Africa Innovation Summit in Cape Verde. He asked a provocative question: what would happen if we could bypass the industrialization stage of economic development, and jump straight to the knowledge-based economy? It prompted vigorous discussions, but soon, a light bulb went on: we cannot have a knowledge-based economy without knowledge workers! We shifted gears and spent the next couple days discussing the state of global education.
After talking, we listed out some of the issues (there are many!):
- Today, hundreds of millions of young people face barriers to education linked to poverty, diversity politics, gender, disability, armed conflict, and displacement.
- Inadequate access to quality education keeps inequality alive by preventing disadvantaged youth from attaining the skills to take their economic situation into their own hands.
- By 2020, 70% of the world will have a basic smartphone and intermittent internet connectivity. The education technology industry sees this opportunity and has responded with lots of new software. However, there’s a problem: the families who can pay for this technology are not the ones who need it most! Even worse, a lot of existing technology is built for users who are already motivated by their communities to learn. When we look at children who already don’t have hope for the future, that approach is not going to work.
We left the Innovation Summit inspired and motivated. These were big challenges, but someone had to take them on. And at the end of 2015, Solve Education! was born.
https://solveeducation.org/
https://zibuza.net/
On this Episode I chat with Ronelle about Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts how you can join the programme and the benefits of said programme.
We also chat about some of the teacher success stories.
www.aka.ms/mecsa
www.aka.ms/mienomination
https://zibuza.net/
On this episode we chat with Libby about EQ and SEL what they are and why they are so vital for our educators and learners.
Libby has spent the last 30 years in Education and for the past ten years has specialised in Psychomotor Education as a teacher and supervisor. She is a qualified Emotional Intelligence facilitator having completed numerous courses through Six Seconds. She engages individuals and organisations through educating, facilitating, coaching and training.
https://eqlibrium.co.za/
https://zibuza.net/
On this episode I chat with Liz and Sheila about the challenges we face in terms of Equity, Inclusion and Anti Racism.
This is a great conversation and one we need to be having more of.
This is a fascinating look at the education options our children have after finishing their matric. Two great minds sharing their thoughts.
On this episode we chat to Corvell about the Schools Turnaround Foundation and the impact this system has on schools and learners.
PROGRAM LEADER BIO
Dr. Corvell Cranfield is a Fulbright scholar from South Africa who completed his PhD at MSU in mathematics education. He was at MSU for 6 years and has been fortunate to lead this Cross-cultural Teaching Abroad: South Africa program for the past several years. Before attending MSU in 2006, Corvell was the deputy principal at a high school in Cape Town and taught mathematics at all levels, and he also worked at the University of Cape Town in their Schools Development Unit for 8 years. As the Deputy Director and Project Manager for Research and Development in this Unit, Corvell gained valuable experiences in leadership, administration, management, research and development, project design and implementation, teaching in the Advanced Certificate in Education, and materials development. Corvell's research interest and dissertation is investigating achievement patterns and mathematical identities that develop as a result of a history of underachievement of students from ‘disadvantaged’ communities in South Africa.
A motivational artist living his brand, and leading others by example, to be their best. WarriorRic (aka Ricardo Gressel) gravitated towards the limelight from an early age. He was born and raised in California, USA, and was an outspoken over achiever from grade school, culminating in his matriculation as valedictorian from Saint Mary’s High School. He subsequently graduated from Stanford University with an International Relations degree, and was destined to be an entrepreneur from the moment he stepped off campus and into his career.
His first venture was as designer and manufacturer of his very own leather apparel firm where he partnered with a colleague from Stanford. From his exposure to the world of fashion throughout the US, he became a model and actor appearing in television commercials and fashion magazines the world over, including South Africa.
Because of the timing of his assignments in South Africa’s unforgettable year of 1994 and his interest in the de-colonisation of Africa, he found himself more often traveling the country in support of galvanizing voter registrations for the ANC and enjoying outdoor political rallies led by Nelson Mandela, than working in front of the camera. Today, with over 17 years of marketing experience as a brand specialist for various agencies in the US and Africa building formidable brands, such as McDonald’s, Cell C and Kenya Power, to name a few, WarriorRic is now keenly focused on inspiring individuals and companies to achieve greatness by developing personal brand vision and mission statements for individuals, and aligning their values to the organisations they serve.
https://warriorric.co.za/
https://zibuza.net/
NB: The email address in the episode is incorrect please use this one if you want to get in touch with Lwazi developmenttrust@distell.co.za
On this episode we chat with Lwazi Mankahla head of the Distell Development Trust. We find out more about his role and what the trust does.
The Distell Development Trust focuses on the following three strategic imperatives when deciding what initiatives to invest in. These focus areas are appropriately aligned with international, national and Distell Group focus areas.
- Empowerment of black women in rural communities
- Encouraging innovative initiatives that benefit rural black women and restore the dignity of communities.
- Education and work-readiness
- Improving basic schooling.
- Assisting young people to complete their tertiary studies successfully so that they are better placed to get jobs.
- Youth employment and entrepreneurship in townships
- Working with organisations that help youth to develop suitable skills that enable them to find suitable jobs.
- Helping potential or prospective entrepreneurs to start businesses and run them successfully.
The Trust has opted for an approach of “Doing a few things well” rather than trying to be “all things to all people”.
https://www.distelldevelopmenttrust.org.za/
https://zibuza.net/
On this episode I chat with Graeme about his job as a futurist, his take on education and his message to teachers in these disruptive times.
ABOUT GRAEME
Graeme’s breadth of knowledge and expertise makes him highly relevant - essential - in today’s rapidly evolving business world. Along with his formal qualifications and research credentials, he also has a wide range of personal experience and a deep understanding of how people and business work. Now add his vast experience working with business leaders the world over during the past 20+ years, and you’ll understand why he is the go-to resource for leaders who are gearing up for the future.
That’s why CEOs in 50+ countries insist on working with him, year in and year out. It’s also why he continues to lecture at leading business schools on three continents, and why he gets invited to speak to 100,000+ conference delegates around the globe annually.
https://www.graemecodrington.com/
https://zibuza.net/
On this episode we chat with Natasha and Rori about Wills and Testaments. We discuss why a will is important, what should go into a will and also where and how to get your will drawn up.
https://www.ensafrica.com/
https://zibuza.net/
On this episode I chat with Jennifer about the need for becoming culturally sensitive and aware and the importance of being culturally sensitive in order to become an effective global citizen.
www.culturallyresponsiveminds.com
https://zibuza.net/
On this episode I chat with CEO of Futureproof SA Lisa Illingworth about leadership and what type of leadership is needed in these uncertain times.
https://futureproofsa.com/
https://zibuza.net/
On this episode I chat with Yen about teaching during the pandemic, we focus on self care for teachers and as always we have a little bit of revolutionary chat thrown in for good measure.
Qi Learning was founded on April 5, 2018 with a mission to edvolutionize the way that we educate by empowering teachers with the tools to help people learn. Although we are a young company, I have spent a lifetime developing our company’s vision. When I was 17, I received a letter from the mom of a student that I tutored in math. She told me that my tutoring gave her son more confidence and motivation. The experience had completely changed her son’s outlook on school and on life. The letter surprised me because at the time, I was only tutoring for gas money and I didn’t realize just how much teaching can change someone’s life. That insight shaped my future and set me on a path to positively impact the world one person at a time, one class at a time. One candle can light the world when each of us nurtures and spreads the flame.
Yen Verhoeven
https://www.qilearning.com/
https://zibuza.net/
On this episode we chat with Candice about her lifelong passion for learning and the courses she presents to enable students to study and learn better.
Candice:
My focus has been around combining teaching and coaching to help young people achieve greater success in their lives. I love learning and believe that education transforms us in amazing ways. Society is shaped by our schools and how we develop our youth. As teachers we have so much power to create and destroy.
I met James Jooste who created Ascend Whole Brain Learning in the 90's and helped over 15 000 students improve their learning methods and results. Together we rebranded as studytothrive.com where we started offering the courses online as well as in person and we are focusing on expanding into other content and skills that the youth of today need to succeed sooner in their lives. (Such as financial education, social etiquette, relationship building, etc)
Our study skills methods are incredible. When I learnt them I wished I had learnt them sooner because they help you think about the material you are learning in a very different way and enable you to learn anything with ease. We combine education and academic coaching to empower students to achieve greater academic success. However, that is not the end goal. We use study skills courses as a vehicle for helping students develop vital soft skills that will give them the advantage in the new and changing world of work.
Whole Brain Learning methods are focused on developing both the left and right hemisphere of the brain so that students have greater synchronicity between these hemispheres enabling them to learn more effectively and developing their higher order thinking skills (evaluating, analysing and creating new ideas). But it is not a one size fits all because we can look at each student's brain profile and use their learning style and preference to help them apply the methods in a way that suits them best. Every single one of our students has improved academically and as they do they feel more confident and motivated to spend more time studying and thus they get even better results.
The education system is changing and what students are learning is changing but the point of education is still to develop students' ability to think and that is what our methods help students do.
When students perform better academically and feel more confident in their ability to learn they start to enjoy learning and pursue more learning opportunities. As they do this they develop themselves and open new doors of opportunity to not only better their lives and their families lives but to contribute something unique and valuable to the world.
Focusing on coaching students for ultimate success
Academic success leads to financial success but we need to learn how to manage our money and make our money work for us. Thanks to meeting and working with Kathryn I am able to empower students through financial education as well.
Book
From Teen to Adult: The Real Stuff For Success
I wrote a book connecting teenagers with the key things that can help them achieve success sooner in their lives.
https://www.studytothrive.com
On this episode we chat with Natasha about gender based violence and violence against women and children. We talk about what GBV is and how we as individuals can help to break the cycle of GBV in our country.
Natasha Wagiet is a Pro Bono Coordinator at ENSafrica in the Mitchell's Plain office, and oversees ENSafrica’s CSI portfolio.
Her experience includes advising on gender and child justice, human trafficking, liaising with various stakeholders from both government and civil society, conflict resolution, legal administration, and advocacy.
As ENSafrica’s Mitchells Plain pro bono coordinator, Natasha is responsible for screening pro bono matters and coordinating consultations with ENSafrica’s practitioners, as well as running legal awareness workshops.
Natasha has a particular interest in socio- economic rights issues, as well as intellectual property and traditional knowledge.
On this episode we chat with Kathryn about her journey and her business Money Savvy Kids
Born out of the need to teach our kids that money is something to be understood and respected, Money Savvy Kids (MSK) is the beginning of the end of financial mismanagement and misunderstanding.
MSK makes learning easy through fun ways to teach kids money matters.
The MSK financial curriculum ranges from grade 0 to grade 7 and combines real-world education with easy-to-understand modules to further enhance the children’s learning.
MSK is not just a product. It is a pathway to developing mind-sets that will ensure South Africa’s children not only work their way out of poverty, but that they have the tools to stay out.
MSK promotes in youth the skills, knowledge attitudes and behaviours required to be financially independent. This is critical to South Africa’s future because each person’s informed financial decisions help shape the country’s economy into the powerhouse it has the potential to be.
https://moneysavvykids.co.za/
https://zibuza.net/
On this episode I chat with Mangaliso about her journey and her passion for the digital world.
Mangaliso is a Corporate Communications executive with 10 years experience. She completed her Masters Degree in Media Studies at the University of Sussex, United Kingdom. Her passion for the education of children in Africa and digital innovation led to the birth of AfricaKidsCode.
http://africakidscode.com/index.html
https://zibuza.net/
On this episode Quinton and I take a deep dive into cultural diversity and what it means.
Quinton has 22 years of experience in speaking, facilitating, and training within major corporations, universities, and youth organisations across South Africa and abroad. He lives and breathes diversity and relates exceptionally well to people from diverse backgrounds. His personal story is also a shining example of how one can overcome very difficult circumstances.
Quinton is best known for his use of stories, humour, multimedia presentations, and authenticity in his talks. His facilitation style is highly interactive and probing through which he helps diverse audiences make the transition from a subjective worldview and interaction style to having a greater appreciation for the complexity of social interactions in multicultural environments. Quinton leaves a lasting impression on his audiences through connecting, inspiring, and challenging them to unlock the potential of diversity.
https://culturalintelligenceafrica.com/
https://zibuza.net/
On this episode I chat with Micheal about the state of education in South Africa and we look at some potential solutions.
Micheal Goodman is a group knowledge manager at Via Afrika, an educational publishing house in South Africa. He has been working in education and in charge of teaching, authoring, teacher education and publishing roles for more than 25 years. He has had the opportunity to explore what language learning means in a variety of contexts and in a number of roles. His key interest in these roles has been language, especially for learners who learn and who are taught in a language that is not their home language. He is passionate about the role technology can play in achieving good education. He believes that when applied effectively, technology can transform educational practice and solve the many problems we face across our continent. He has an honors degree in applied linguistics and a master's degree in English education from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.
https://viaafrika.com/
https://zibuza.net/
Qi Learning was founded on April 5, 2018 with a mission to edvolutionize the way that we educate by empowering teachers with the tools to help people learn. Although we are a young company, I have spent a lifetime developing our company’s vision. When I was 17, I received a letter from the mom of a student that I tutored in math. She told me that my tutoring gave her son more confidence and motivation. The experience had completely changed her son’s outlook on school and on life. The letter surprised me because at the time, I was only tutoring for gas money and I didn’t realize just how much teaching can change someone’s life. That insight shaped my future and set me on a path to positively impact the world one person at a time, one class at a time. One candle can light the world when each of us nurtures and spreads the flame.
Qi Learning provides the spark, but teachers set the world on fire.
https://www.qilearning.com/
https://zibuza.net/
On this episode I chat to the firecracker that is Lisa Illingworth about FutureproofSA and Futureproof online.
Lisa Illingworth is a qualified educator with a post-graduate degree in curriculum design. Lisa curated and wrote the FutureProof curriculum which assimilates the global standards of entrepreneurial education into a structure that equips young people to start a business in a blended economy, and teachers and parents support those activities. She is the CEO of FutureProof and a mother of two daughters.
https://futureproofsa.com/
https://futureproofonline.co.za/login/index.php
https://zibuza.net/
About Amy:
I am an educational technologist focusing on ways to make learning experiences more engaging, effective, and enjoyable. My training spans many disciplines, with undergraduate degrees in Computer Science and Spanish, and a Ph.D. in Human-Computer Interaction supported by a fellowship from the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). I have been named a Rising Star in EECS by MIT, a World Economic Forum Young Scientist, received the McCandless Chair and the Thomas and Lydia Moran Professorship in Learning Science, and been awarded the Jacobs Early Career Fellowship to study the use of educational technologies in emerging economies. I have been a visiting researcher at USC’s Institute for Creative Technologies and the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and have conducted field research on the deployment of educational technology across many international sites. My research is supported by the National Science Foundation, Google, the McDonnell Foundation, and the Jacobs Foundation.
https://www.amyogan.com/home
https://zibuza.net/
On this episode I chat with Shekinah about her early life and what led her to becoming a coach and facilitator with Naledi shine. She is a wonderful speaker and incredibly passionate about the benefits of the Naledi Shine programs
On this episode we chat with Charles about the importance of emotional intelligence and the projects run by Naledi Shine
Emotional intelligence is a significant differentiator and contributes to organisational and individual strength.
The level of self-worth evident in a school or business directly correlates to the value that it creates: the turnover, the share price, and the academic results are interwoven with worth. Solid performance has a direct relationship with inner strength. For South Africa’s economy and its quality of life index to improve substantially and sustainably, its people and organisations, must interrogate and strengthen their values. The time for building an emotionally intelligent set of habits that are aligned with core values – is now.
Building hope and creating purpose – Deliver is an NPO committed to facilitating change, so that South Africa’s human potential more predictably translates into high performance. We take people as they are and help them become what they ought to be. We believe that growth is an inside out and bottom up process which is why our work starts with young people in schools which are the foundation of economic growth.
https://zibuza.net
http://naledishine.org/
On this episode we chat with Kate about emotional wellbeing for educators.
Through my own journey of not being very good with feelings, not having very well-developed emotional wellness skills to manage my feelings and regulate my nervous system. I took the long and sometimes deeply difficult way to find harmony in my life. To find more space and ease it took growing my ability to be present to what I am feeling, developing the essential skills for connection and navigating the tough, painful and beautiful parts of my life. For I have realised when I try not to feel my pain, I limit my willingness to feel joy too.
It has been a challenging road to walk, sometimes it felt more like a very slow belly crawl through a swamp, and my life is infinitely better from this journey and growth. My life is now filled with more connection, kindness, compassion, love and joy. I have grown my resilience muscle, my capacity to sit in uncomfortable places and communicate clearly. It has made all the difference. These are the skills I believe the world desperately needs in these times and I am committed to being part of the change.
Kate Rowe
https://emotionalwellness.co.za/
https://zibuza.net/
Mokhudu Machaba is a teacher with more than 15 years of experience. She has taught from grade r-12 in her teaching career. Her focus has been on Maths, languages and Life Skills; Geography, History, English First Additional Language, Natural Sciences and Technology. From 2009 she also started ICT in the classroom after a training by the Coza Cares foundation.
She is a Microsoft Certified Educator since 2015, and got recognition for being Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert from 2014-upto date. She has trained more than 600 people across the country on computer literacy at School Net Conferences, E-schools Network and Microsoft gatherings as well as the EdTech Teams seminars. She was awarded the ISPA Super Teacher Champ in 2016 and her school was awarded special Ministerial award for introducing e-learning at a quintile 2 rural school. She has also got nominations globally for GESS Awards for Innovation in Education
Mokhudu is passionate about ICT and this has brought development to her school and the people around her.
On this episode we chat with the powerhouse that is Wendy Horn.
Wendy is passionate about Science and technology, and especially about empowering girls to become leaders in these fields. Seeing the struggle of both learners and educators in understanding and applying Science concepts galvanized her to reach out to more than learners but also to other educators. Now as well as teaching students, she talks to educators about science, how to teach it, how to engage earners, how to use technology, and how to make it hands-on, practical and relevant. So to achieve good results at the end of Grade 12, she recommends they focus on instilling a love and natural curiosity for science amongst the learners from Grade 8.
Her approach to learning is rigorous and practical, with demonstrations to ensure that abstract ideas are made visible and more accessible to the visual and kinesthetic learner, and videos and quirky science songs to engage the auditory learner. Her classroom is a challenging place – she wants to create problem solvers and doesn’t believe in “can’t do it”. She has embraced two “game-changing” strategies: an e-learning strategy in teaching and learning and increasing the number of learners that obtain quality results in Mathematics and Physical Sciences on exiting school. Wendy sees the need to develop critical and analytical thinkers with good problem solving skills in the next generation, so they can collaborate across different cultural groupings in a world that’s shrinking with the use of social media platforms and the internet.
https://zibuza.net/
On this first episode we chat to Phuti about her incredible passion and commitment to teaching.
Phuti grew up in difficult circumstances, but her parents saw leadership and teaching talents within her and encouraged her to try to become a teacher. She is now a teacher and Principal of her school, always keeping the idea of ‘service beyond self’ strongly in mind. Working in a semi-rural area, most of her learners are orphans, or from families where parents are poor or ill. Instead of turning children away if their parents are unable to pay for classes, she has managed to empower parents by employing them in the running of the school, giving their children opportunities they would not have otherwise had. The parents therefore also become invested in the school, and attendance is high.
Although her own education was very traditional (essentially using just blackboard and chalk), Phuti has undertaken a number of initiatives to widen the education available to her students. She has launched, with colleagues, a permaculture garden to grow vegetables and herbs for the benefit of the poor in the community. This helps students acquire the desire to become scientists, farmers and pharmacists when they see the application of what is grown in the garden. Phuti is also a Microsoft Innovative Expert Educator, pioneering the integration of technology in the classroom, and has received many awards from the government and other organisations in recognition of her achievements. With the prize funds, she would improve the facilities of her school, adding a sanitation block, library building, and more computers in the short term.
https://zibuza.net/