Day 3 is tougher and more challenging and also more exciting! Parabola; curves; ratios; tangents; normals; mid-point theorem with a design platform called geogebra; I got excited when I saw the capability for teaching so many more aspects of geometry and sciences than just those with Engineering Graphic Design.

There is consensus that we are going to be able to share this learning beyond EGD; Technical Drawing and CAD; there are multiple synergies with maths; life sciences and Design and Technology in the GET and Intermediate Phase.

Some of the trainees are finding this level of ICT skill challenging to work with; they are not au fait with mouse skills and keyboard competency which is required and are working hard to close the gap. This lack of ICT knowledge is making ELCAD tough to master; and also exposes a larger and more endemic problem within education.

How do educators function at full capacity when they dont have access to technology many of us take for granted? This is to be addressed nationally in all spheres of education.

The educators who have arrived with a good level of ICT skill (which we would expect in those who are responsible for EGD and CAD-being a computer based Learning Area); are having a very scintillating time; they are being shown capabilities and tools which are going to make their teaching so much more relevant and exciting. 3D spatial ability in their learners is lacking and V8i can embed moving and rotational capacity which SHOWS their learners the shapes in 3D. These educators are so excited to be able to use this to teach their learners…its going to make a massive difference to their work in class.

Today for 20 min each trainee was asked to perform a self-test; a time to reflect on what they had learned in the last few days and what would be needed to get them up to speed before end of Friday and the end of the training. Some were done in under 10 min; some took a little longer and some were stretched to complete in the allocated time. There is time for those who have struggled to make the grade; and practise is going to be the deciding factor for those.

In the whole Guenter and Andreas are very satisfied with the way training is going and the pace of the training.

Maritzburg College has been phenomenal; we have been treated to yummy food at set times which has inspired us to start an exercise regime next week..it has been a larger than life experience :)

There are regular giggles; we went to the MC shop and Guenter and Andreas are now the proud owners of rugby shirts in red; black and white :) Guenter and his son Tobias are going to be father and son rugby boys in Salzburg and Andreas’s 2 children will be dashing in red shirts…such a special memory that was created this afternoon.

We also visited the MC museum; with interesting conversations about old boys; the feats; I saw a swimming costume from Darian Townsend who was part of that amazing swimming relay team of men who won gold in the olympics….sharing in the history of MC was a special afternoon well spent.

Tomorrow we have the media evening; and we are working to make that a success; media packs; press releases; pictures and updating the blog….its going to be a special evening acknowledging the delegates and their learning; Guenter and Andreas’s contribution to education here and the team that made this a reality.

Zeljko arrives tomorrow morning and we are set to welcome him to SA bright and early; we are excited to have himhere and will be sharing more about him when he gets here :)

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