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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      • Barking up the wrong tree?
        10/31/07
        Computers were introduced into schools more than three decades ago – in South Africa only some schools were in this fortunate position – and for the past thirty years the issue of ICT in education has been controversial.

        Is computer technology an aid to education or does it stand in the w

      • How many hours in your day?
        10/28/07
        There are twenty-four hours in each day. That is the same for everyone, regardless of physical locality, age or any other circumstances.

        Some teachers have found the time – in many cases created the time – in their busy lives to come to grips with computer technology. Many of them are

      • A good example
        10/26/07
        Not all teachers resist the use of technology for teaching and learning. Some educators are not only using available resources but are also developing innovative ways to promote the use of tools that are at their disposal.

        Kumaras Pillay, a mathematics teacher in Burnwood Secondary Schoo

      • A firmer approach
        10/24/07
        In some schools it is difficult to get the educators to embrace technology. One may be tempted to give up on such schools and their educators.

        But we cannot give up on them: the learners are the ones that will lose out. Technology is not placed in schools for the benefit of educators –

      • Learn to be smart
        10/21/07
        A few days ago the posting "Work smarter …" suggested that, instead of working harder, one should work smarter.

        What does it mean to be "smart"? A few definitions found on the internet are:

        • Showing mental alertness and resourcefulness
        • Bright: cha

      • Déjà vu
        10/18/07
        South Africa has a long and proud sports history – particularly in rugby. The press is dominated by speculation about what will happen on Saturday night: will the Springboks conquer the World Cup?

        Rugby has done South Africa a lot of good. If nothing else, it put the country in the news

      • Work smarter ...
        10/16/07
        The task to help all educators in our province to use ICT as a curriculum delivery tool sometimes seems overwhelming. Field workers complain that there is simply not enough time in the day to do everything required to move educators along on the ICT path; at the end of a day, after running around n

      • Unfinished business
        10/14/07
        There is a saying: "The job is not finished until the paperwork is done."

        Few people like paperwork. Many professionals love their jobs, but they don't like the bother of documentation. One finds it all over. Computer programmers are particularly notorious for this: the

      • Wash behind your ears
        10/12/07
        If schools accept responsibility for the upkeep of headphones, they may take better care of them. How can this be done? One simple way is to keep them clean.

        Since headphones come into close contact with delicate human organs – and used by multiple learners – the importance of keeping t

      • Headphones or headaches?
        10/11/07
        Headphones are required in computer laboratories in schools because many good educational software packages make use of sound. But it is amazing what a pain these peripheral devices can become.

        "We can't continue with the lesson: the headphones are lost," is a common objec

      • Give before you get
        10/09/07
        Buy one and get one free! Why would any vendor make an offer like this?

        If the item was originally priced double its real worth, one can afford to give one away as a free gift. But then it is not really free; the “free” bit is merely an illusion.

        It could also be that the it

      • Digging for water in the desert
        10/07/07
        When they are lost in a desert, most people simply assume there is no water. The truth is that there are only a few extreme deserts in the world that are totally devoid of water.

        If one is stranded in a desert without water, it is crucial not to give up. Start digging. Water often see

      • The way to go
        10/04/07
        The previous posting started with the comment: “Librarians are very defensive when technology is mentioned.” Judged by the unanticipated number of comments … I rest my case.

        The ancient library of Alexandria in Egypt was once the largest in the world; it is also one of the oldest, having

      • The dinosaur and the internet
        10/01/07
        Librarians are very defensive when technology is mentioned. "Computers will never be able to replace books," they say.

        That is true. But does one really need libraries when one has access to the internet? This issue is particularly relevant to poor schools who cannot afford t

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