CAPS documents

The CAPS documents are being uploaded and the CAT CAPS is there. 

Go to http://www.education.gov.za/Curriculum/CurriculumAssessmentPolicyStatements/CAPSFETPhase/tabid/420/Default.aspx

How to teach in a CAT lab – how not to tire yourself

I have had the pleasure of observing a number of CAT lessons and reading what CAT teachers think of CAT. These comments are based on this.

In the CAT lab, whatever you do, when you give instructions you must see the ‘face’ of every learner. You must be able to eye ball them, and they must see your eyes and if necessary be able to read your lips. This is absolutely crucial if you do not want to tire yourself having to repeat instructions.

In the CAT lab the air conditioner needs to be set so that all learners can hear the teacher comfortably, without the teacher shouting.

In the CAT lab all learners must be on time for a lesson. You should only have to give an instruction once, all learners should be in the room when you give the instruction, and all must be able to hear/see you giving the instruction the first time.

Swamped by trivia

I have realised that my email life is becoming too busy. I realise that I have subscribed to too many mailing lists. In the last few days I must have unsubscribed from at least 20 lists. Instead of a stream of emails during the day I only have mail from 'important' people. It is amazing how easily one is pulled into the flood of unimportant bits of information from book shops, cinemas, special offers, technical news, teacher news, etc. I was being swamped by trivia. Do others feel the same?

Online world

Being on ADSL or permanently linked to the Internet you can watch amazing things. Many people have signed the online petition South Africa: Stop the Secrecy Bill at http://www.avaaz.org/en/south_africa_stop_the_secrecy_bill/ Watching the numbers change is fascinating. Have a look!

Self marking quiz

Here are two self marking quizzes - maybe you could copy the idea and let your learners make one, learning IF, sum and percentage - Adams and Maqungo. They are in Office 2010.

Grouping WordArt and a picture

To group WordArt and a picture

In Shapes, in the Illustrations group on the Insert tab, select a New Drawing Canvas.

Paste the required WordArt and picture into the drawing canvas.

Select the objects you want to group by holding the "Ctrl" key. Right-click in the canvas and select Group. When you resize the canvas all the grouped objects will be resized proportionally.

News from the Department of Basic Education

Have a look at the May 2011 Curriculum News from the Department of Basic Education and join the Department on Facebook - go to DBE SA on Facebook.

Thinking and computer screens

I belong to a number of mailing lists and on one recently there was a discussion of digitising textbooks. In the light of that I wish to make a few comments. 
I work with computers all the time, 3/4s of my waking hours are spent in front of a screen, so I am used to computers. However when I need to read important documents that I have to cognitively engage with, I need it in printed format in my hand. I have had to review journal articles, and edit book and thesis chapters – small formatting functions can be seen on screen but not faults of conceptual design. 
I think the rush to computer screen needs to be done with great care.