The name Khanya is derived from a Xhosa language word meaning "to let the light shine", "to brighten", or "to illuminate". The Khanya project was established in 2001 by the Western Cape Education Department in South Africa to provide computer technology to schools. The objective was to use the technology as an illumination tool during the curriculum delivery process.

I had the privilege of being involved in this project from the start. Over the years I had many illuminations regarding the potential benefits of ICT in education. In e-culture terms, I received many e-luminations. The purpose of this blog is to present my personal e-luminations to all who have an interest in education, technology, or both. You are invited to add your comments and insights.

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      • Textbooks for Africa
        09/29/08
        The availability of textbooks is an ongoing problem in our schools. The trouble with textbooks are:

        • There is never enough of them
        • Most of them are not up-to-date
        • Replacement of old books with new ones is unaffordable
        • School management cannot get the procurement and

      • How clean should your computer centre be?
        09/26/08
        In many computer rooms a notice is displayed, stating:

        KEEP YOUR COMPUTER CENTRE CLEAN

        Sometimes a list of rules is pasted up as well, which may include the following:

        NO EATING

        NO DRINKING

        NO SMOKING

        DID YOU WASH YOUR HANDS?

      • Personal learning networks
        09/23/08
        There is nothing new about having a personal learning network – what is new is that it is called a PLN nowadays.

        Personal learning networks have been around for ages – whenever a person needed to learn a new skill, a peer or an elder would be approached for guidance. People joined guilds

      • Young writers for Africa
        09/21/08
        A few days ago I posted an item about a young blogger .

        Another child blogger was brought to my attention – her name is Adora Svitak. She describes herself as follows:

        I am an ten-year-old writer and I live in Redmond, Wa[shington, United States of America]. I've publ

      • Make a difference
        09/20/08
        While promoting the use of technology as a teaching and learning tool in schools, are you making a difference – or are you tied up by administrivia ?

        The term administrivia is a combination of two words: adminis(trative) + trivia .

        One definition is: the inordinate amou

      • Encourage learners to blog
        09/18/08
        A while ago I brought to your attention a blog authored by a ten year old boy named Mathew, who blogs about his experiences in Tuscany, Italy. A few of your comments indicated that you were as impressed as I was with a boy of this age, using technology in such an imaginative way.

        Even

      • Cloud computing
        09/15/08
        e-Business.

        e-Commerce.

        e-Learning.

        And now they are talking about cloud computing . What is it? It is difficult to get an exact definition, because, like a cloud in the sky, the concept is rather nebulous.

        One definition found on the web is not too b

      • Cultivate the art of listening
        09/14/08
        Trainers need special skills to train teachers in the use of technology. They must have a good knowledge of hardware, software and education programmes, and ought to understand the process of education. Healthy doses of patience, empathy, discernment and suchlike qualities are also required
        <

      • Sunday is the new Monday
        09/13/08
        Fortune magazine of 15 September 2008 (European edition) carries a brief article claiming that an increasing number of business people are now emailing on Sunday afternoons.

        The reason? It seems to be a good idea to send emails when nobody else is doing it. The claim is made that on

      • Laptops for South African teachers
        09/12/08
        Great excitement reigns – there is a prospect that all teachers in South Africa will receive notebooks over the next few years.

        Rumours that each one of the 340 000 teachers in the country will be issued with a laptop computer was sparked when the national Minister of Education issued a

      • Only you ...
        09/08/08
        The task to get all teachers in Africa e-literate is huge.

        Do you sometimes feel that your contribution is not making a dent in the hump that must be worked away? Are you beset by feelings of inadequacy, particularly when your efforts are not appreciated and seemingly not having an eff

      • Blogs worth following
        09/07/08
        As a non-educator (in Harry Potter terms, a "muggle" in the world of teachers) my thinking is constantly enriched by other bloggers experienced in the use of ICT in education.

        Today I would like to feature two of them:

        " Just Another Cog in the Mind Machine"

      • A product of the WWWWW
        09/06/08
        If this posting seems rather different in style and content from my normal contributions, please read to the end ...

        Abject apologies! I just climbed out from under my rock and realised I have not updated this since you last visited ... You would not believe that my hands were chopped of

      • Computers - positive or negative effect?
        09/05/08
        There is sufficient evidence to support the notion that technology could help good teachers to become even better teachers.

        It has been the experience of many educators that the judicious use of technology assists them to captivate the attention of learners, makes lessons more interesting

      • Congratulations
        09/01/08
        One of the cornerstones of the success of Khanya is the good partnerships that have been formed over the years.

        The notion of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) takes on a new meaning for our programme. Partners are viewed not only as suppliers of goods and services, but are organisation

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