Information Technology Learning System and Partners in Education Programme

For so many years we have held skills based training qualifications in high esteem, assuming that the mere acquisition of skills would make a sufficient contribution to the required task.

In today's world we need to acquire skills as well as being able to apply them and most often in unique and creative ways. Not only is the corporate world placing a larger emphasis on ability and results but there is a worldwide trend in education towards the acquisition of acquired knowledge and skills as opposed to simple drill learning. 

When we factor in the technology used in the modern school and business, we realise that not only are there a whole range of technology skills to be acquired but failure to apply them effectively is as detrimental as not having the skills at all.

Knowledge Network set out in 1994 to address this lack of technology skills and simultaneously educate the learners in how to apply what they know. Since those early days, the original Knowledge Network programme has evolved into a highly sophisticated yet easy to use programme known as the Knowledge Network Information Technology Learning System.

The IT Learning System consists of three major components namely the Progressive Learning Programme, the Integrated Learning and Mentoring Methodology (ILAMM) and the accompanying Session Training. 

The most interesting aspect of this system is that any educator, irrespective of their IT background can present the programme to learners once they have gone through methodology training. 

Yes, this means that someone who gets technophobic with a calculator can actually effectively present IT sessions to learners.

The Progressive Learning Programme caters for learners from Grade 0 right through to Grade 12 on different levels of complexity. The programme places great emphasis on entrepreneurial thought through the briefs and topics for each lesson. To compliment this, the methodology creates an environment where the development of creativity, lateral thinking and logic are facilitated and by placing the learning process in the hands of the learner we achieve both accelerated and active learning.

The third component of the IT Learning System, if implemented as a progressive learning programme, is the Session Training which occurs at regular intervals during the academic year to ensure that educators presenting the programme are sufficiently equipped to successfully present sessions in the classroom.

Currently over 22,000 learners in the Gauteng area and thousands more across South Africa and internationally are using the Knowledge Network IT Learning System as a progressive learning programme to great effect. 

One would immediately consider such a beneficial programme to be expensive and limited to well heeled private institutions. Not true. All schools, irrespective of economic factors, are using the system with great success.

The Knowledge Network "Partners in Education" Programme includes schools as diverse as Roedean School South Africa, Greenside High School, King David Schools, Beaulieu Preparatory School and College, Brescia House, Dainfern College, Halfway House Primary School, Lenasia Secondary School, Moregrove Primary School, Phuting Primary School, Pridwin Preparatory School, St Johns, St Josephs RC School, St Peters Preparatory School, Tom Newby School, Veritas College and Krugersdorp High School.

Not only does Knowledge Network cater for the learner but places high value on the professional development of educators in information technology by offering courses, workshops, seminars and diploma programmes specifically designed for educators. 

In addition, seminars, workshops and customised resource toolkits geared to facilitate the integration of information technology into specialist subjects are available.

All this combined with additional services such as curriculums and sessions plans for speciliased study programmes, computer clubs, IT Learning programmes for parents, and the international knowledge exchange programme, has allowed Knowledge Network to provide their partners with short and long term IT solutions and thereby living the "working together, learning together" culture of the company.