Mindset SA has developed the Mindset Information Technology materials for primary and secondary schools. Mindset Learn educational resources cover Physical Sciences, English, Mathematics and Information Technology. Lessons are offered through video, print and interactive computer materials.

NetDay Association has modified the package of Mind set Learn materials for an open source platform, and said this is supported by pre-prepared lesson plans for teachers and subject specific resource material for learners.

Mindset's interventions in schools take a holistic view of education. Although the intention of the intervention is to improve performance of learners, great cognisance is taken of the role of the educator in the facilitation of this process. Worthy of note is the fact that Mindset Network's delivery of its mandate is guided by government policy.

All NetDay installations come fully installed with all the Mindset Learn and Cabanga Learning material, free of charge. NetDay computer labs comes with two servers, one server dedicated to driving the 20 computer network and the second dedicated to the Mindset learning material.

The Mindset learning material is accessed by the network via web browsing. This allows all twenty workstations to work independently and access different learning modules separately.

Should you require a free demonstration of this remarkable educational tool, please feel free to contact Ben Bredenkamp at NetDay on 011 3125997.

NETDAY BUILDS 20 ICT LABS FOR SMMT ONLINE

NetDay built 20 lCT labs for SMMT Online in the period October to November 2009. The schools were mainly in the Gauteng area but also included schools in the Tshwane. The areas ranged from Orange farm, Voortrekkerhoogte, Bronkhorstspruit, Van Der Byl, Johannesburg and Alexander.

The labs are state of the art equipment, consisting of25 thin clients built into a network. The furniture is pre manufactured and designed in such a way as to limit or even prevent the possibility of theft. The system is an online system, meaning that a school will dial up for their software, via an internet connection. This means that the servers and the computers once switched off, loses it value as a computer. Therefore, discouraging theft of the computer equipment.

The schools being a cross section of schools in Gauteng gave a good indication of the state of education in Gauteng. Generally speaking the leadership ability of the principal is the deciding factor as to whether the school is successful or not. Good principals run good schools.

From an ICT point of view, there is no doubt, despite a lot of criticism that Gauteng Online received, that the Gauteng DOE is heading in the right direction.