Page 20 - Blue Valley Issue 4 2020 print.pdf

Kyalami Schools Group (NPC) is reimagining
education! Led by the Group Head of Academics and
Innovation - Mark Naidoo, along with his dedicated
Kyalami Schools
(NPC) team of deputies, Tammy Odendaal, Kim Deirino
and Denise McKee (Kyalami Preparatory), Bobby
Mark Naidoo Preparatory) and Jorge Ruiz-Mesa (Beaulieu
Bain, Debbie Kromm and Debbie Waldron (Beaulieu

College), they have worked to modify the academic
offering to our community of schools.

Here is a snapshot of the considerations and actions
that our amazing academic staff have been
unpacking as they move to online teaching.

THE EDUCATIONAL LANDSCAPE IS CHANGING!

Are brick and mortar schools a thing of the past? Will online THE BENEFITS
learning become the new norm? Teaching and learning is
fundamentally a social activity – can this be replicated with In some ways the move to remote teaching and learning
an online learning approach? Recent media articles and has yielded positive outcomes for education, with the under-
interviews voice their opinions on the above questions, a standing that the experience is pronounced in independent
number of which are given by technology experts and the schools. We are witnessing an accelerated development of
corporate sector; I wonder if teachers will have their say. more resilient pupils. Better time management, active self-
dicipline, an increase in independent thinking and the use
Our schools have been fortunate enough to transition to an of multiple technologies have become a norm in the current
online learning model given our access to existing technology HWWYVHJO [V SLHYUPUN ;LHJOLYZ HYL ÄUKPUN UL^ ^H`Z [V
PUMYHZ[Y\J[\YL [OL HNPSP[` VM Z[HɈ HUK H]HPSHIPSP[` VM W\WPS engage their pupils and at times, pupils experience a greater level
devices. The rapid response by our management teams has of personal attention through one-to-one interactions. Teacher
also helped us in preparing for the inevitable changes that will creativity, peer collaboration and peer review of learning material,
take place, post Covid-19. critical thinking and the ability to communicate succinctly via
online mediums have strengthened our 21st century skills.
However, we are acutely aware of the inequalities in South
African education as we note that the majority of pupils in WHY CONSIDER ONE OF THE KYALAMI SCHOOLS?
government schools do not have access to infrastructure,
data and connectivity to support distance learning. In many of Teachers across our campuses accepted the challenge,
these schools, education has ceased for the past few weeks, albeit at short notice, to present their subject content remotely,
driving apart the education gap. in a professional manner. They have also become more
PUUV]H[P]L PU [OLPY KLSP]LY` HUK JVU[PU\L [V ÄUK ^H`Z [V ZOHYW-
NEW CHALLENGES en their online skills. As a community of schools, our ability to
work closely as a team and leverage our collective expertise
:JOVVSZ [OYP]L ^OLU W\WPSZ WHYLU[Z HUK Z[HɈ HJ[P]LS` OHZ HPKLK Z[HɈ [V MLLS ZLJ\YL K\YPUN [OLZL JOHSSLUNPUN [PTLZ
contribute to the learning experience that does not simply Online teaching and learning demands a range of teaching
focus on academic prowess. Kyalami Schools Group has TVKHSP[PLZ" V\Y Z[HɈ JVU[PU\L [V L_WSVYL [OLZL TVKHSP[PLZ HUK
a holistic approach to education; the emotional, social and determine to remain adaptable. We also maintain the view that
WO`ZPJHS ^LSS ILPUN VM V\Y W\WPSZ HUK Z[HɈ HYL VM WHYHTV\U[ technology remains an enabler – great teachers know how to
PTWVY[HUJL >OPSL ^L OH]L TVKPÄLK V\Y WYVNYHTZ [V VɈLY leverage technology to reach a predetermined objective.
holistic development, it has become a challenge given the
Covid-19 situation. Social interaction and play, especially for As a Group, it has always been our values of Integrity,
younger children in the pre-primary phase, is a necessary part Consistency, Accountability, Respect and Excellence which
of their development. have driven our commitment to our pupils and parents. Our
values determine who we really are. Access to the Kyalami
Teachers also depend on a social cues to guide their :JOVVSZ Z[HɈ HUK THUHNLTLU[ PZ ZLHTSLZZ ^OPJO PZ
pedagogy. Subsequently, questioning techniques, facilitating PTWVY[HU[ MVY JVUZ[Y\J[P]L LUNHNLTLU[ ;OL Z[HɈ NV [OL L_[YH
a meaningful discussion and debating opinions become com- mile (I know this sounds cliché) so that each child is nurtured
plicated in an online learning environment. However, adapting and feels part of the greater community. There is an innate
to these environments and learning to navigate an online generosity which our teachers express to pupils in their care
meeting has propelled the pupils forward, teaching them an and our service to parents and pupils remains our core focus.
important skill they will need in the fourth industrial revolution.
IS THERE A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL?
Parents who have to manage the availability of devices and
ensure uninterrupted connectivity, while their employers have When all is said and done, our values as a community will
expectations of them, adds a tangible level of stress to many determine how we respond to a completely new approach
households. Therefore, we have adopted an asynchronous to learning. We control our response, irrespective of the
HWWYVHJO [V HSSV^ MVY ÅL_PIPSP[` LZWLJPHSS` ^OLYL TVYL [OHU circumstances imposed on us. How we respond now will
one child needs to access a device per household. We remain JLY[HPUS` OH]L SHZ[PUN LɈLJ[Z VU OV^ ^L YLMVYT LK\JH[PVU
JVTTP[[LK HZ H .YV\W [V ÄUKPUN ^H`Z [V PTWYV]L [OL in South Africa. The education system has been reset, not by
situation, within our means. choice. I see this as an opportunity to reimagine education
– if we are completely honest, it’s about time!
#REIMAGINING EDUCATION
18 • Issue 4 2020 • BLUE VALLEY NEWS

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