"If only I had this when I was at school"

Johannesburg, South Africa - Dainfern College is a private, co-educational school situated on 14 hectares of land bordering the suburb of Dainfern.

The College is currently the only private school operating on a debenture system which ensures a place at the school for prospective pupils and provides the required capital for the development of the grounds and buildings.

Dainfern College endeavours to be a centre of academic excellence. The most modern educational facilities are provided for pupils such as a media centre, lecture theatres and auditorium, as well as the more traditional sporting facilities.

Whilst the College focuses on the traditional subjects, there is a realisation that pupils need to have a strong, practical knowledge of modern technology, particularly in the field of computers.

"We accept the need to develop those critical skills which will be required by for our pupils to become productive members of a changing society," says Dr P Turner, Principal of the College.

Dainfern joined the Knowledge Network Partner Schools Programme at the end of 1999 to equip learners for a technologically enhanced working environment. In order to adapt to this environment where each person’s ability to think independently and originally will be a necessity, the pupils’ creativity, lateral thinking and problem-solving skills are nurtured by the programme.

Leading corporations are currently investing millions of dollars in staff development programmes to develop their employees into creative thinkers who are able to use technology to gain a competitive advantage, to constantly re-invent themselves and to create a culture of learning in their organisations.

The Knowledge Network curriculum with its strong business, IT and creative thinking focus will develop such skills for pupils at Dainfern. This will offer the pupils not only the opportunity to excel at school or university, but will prepare them to become independent, creative-thinking knowledge workers in their chosen careers.

Teachers at the College were selected to attend the Knowledge Network Integrated Learning and Mentoring Methodology (ILAMM™) training programme, following which the Knowledge Network IT Curriculum was introduced into the College at the beginning of the year.

Deirdre Proxenos, the teacher of Information and Communication Technology at Dainfern College attended the Knowledge Network Training Course (ILAMM™). "I found the methodology used very different and yet extremely effective. We have been using the curriculum for 5 weeks in the College and have found that the learners were a bit resistant in the beginning, but have now become accustomed to the new method of learning as well as the curriculum content."

"The Knowledge Network sessions are effective for both the teachers and learners, and the tasks are always short but allowances are made for creativity from each individual," says Proxenos.

Other teachers from the College are currently on the ILAMM™ training course, and will implement the Knowledge Network curriculum as from the 1st March 2000.

The teachers are extremely excited having themselves gained vital knowledge from the course, whilst parents have reacted positively to the practical, business focus of the outcomes-based Knowledge Network curriculum.

"If only I had this when I was at school," is the oft heard comment from enthusiastic parents.

Both these parents and their children, the learners at Dainfern College, are aware of the enormous potential the Knowledge Network curriculum has to offer each and every learner, and it is with anticipation that they look to the future.

Both parents and learners alike are impressed with our progression so far, and look forward to the rest of the curriculum.