Multigrade Rural Schools Intervention

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Multigrade RuralSchools Intervention
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Ten years ago participants of the World
Conference on Education recognised that

• more than 100 million children had no access to
  primary education
• more than 100 million children failed to complete
  basic education programmes
• millions more satisfied the attendance
  requirements but did not acquire essential
  knowledge and skills during programmes

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Rural Schools in South Africa

• We find the same situation in our own rural
  schools where low numbers force educators to
  teach more than one grade in a single class (ie
  multigrade teaching)

• Research shows that the performance levels in
  literacy and numeracy of children in these
  schools are at least a good two years behind
  their counterparts in developed countries

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Rural Schools in South Africa

• To enable generations to break out of the
  recurring cycle of unskilled labour and resultant
  poverty State education must deliver learners who
  are able to read, write and who are numerate

• However, because South African teachers have
  never been trained for a multigrade system, they
  still teach these classes as if the learners were
  all in a single grade.

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International research identifies six key
variables for successful teaching in rural
multigrade schools

• Classroom organisation
• Classroom management and discipline
• Instructional organisation and curriculum
• Instruction delivery and grouping
• Self directed learning
• Peer tutoring

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A National Priority

• Educational problems in rural schools are a
  national priority - our president has emphasised
  the need for effective, coherent strategies
• Our Intervention rests within broader strategies
  addressing the problems experienced by rural
  communities
• The Western Cape Education Department has
  approved a plan to eliminate these appalling
  conditions - The Multigrade Rural Schools
  Intervention

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The Intervention within the nation province
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The Multigrade Rural Schools Intervention

• Teachers are trained to efficiently manage and
  organise their multigrade classrooms
• Relevant learning programmes and resources are
  developed and made available to schools
• Teachers in these schools are trained to use,
  develop and apply such learning programmes
  optimally with the support of Information and
  Communication Technologies
• EMDC officials are trained to provide ongoing
  support to such teachers

THEN

• The quality of teaching in mullti-grade schools
  will improve
• Learner participants and performance in reading,
  writing and mental mathematics will improve

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Extent of the Intervention
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Professional development of teachers

• Strategy
• 1 Theory at residential inservice training
• 2 Demonstration and practical application by
  peers
• 3 Classroom support by key teachers
• 4 Online support by multifunctional teams
• 5 Online communication, support and curriculum
  delivery using ICTs
• 6 Life-long learning and accreditation

R E S E A R C H
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Course Content

• Classroom organisation and management

• Literacy focussing on reading and writing

• Numeracy focussing on mental maths

• ICT skills and online support strategies

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Demonstration

• Viewing and discussing a series of videos to
  visually demonstrate the course content
• Live demonstrations and discussions with peers
• Coaching and practicising of relevant skills and
  knowledge to build teaching expertise
• Planning of lessons and learning resources
• Presenting demonstration lessons to learners
• Reflection

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Key Teachers

• Select and train experienced multigrade teachers
• Key teachers support classroom teachers for one
  week in the classroom to apply the content and
  strategies theyve been taught
• Provide an unthreatening, supportive learning
  environment for teachers

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Multifunctional Teams

• Comprised of circuit manager, SLES, and teacher
  co-ordinator

• Identify problems and successes
• Support classroom teachers
• Supply resources and advice
• Record and report on activities

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Communications and materials delivery
WCED
Project Office
Head office EMDCs
Wellington
Clusters of rural schools
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Cluster management
Cluster management
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Communications and materials delivery
WCED
Project Office
Email
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Cluster management
Cluster management
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Communications and materials delivery
WCED
Project Office
Website
Email
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Cluster management
Cluster management
Online learning community
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Communications and materials delivery
WCED
Project Office
Website
Email
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Cluster management
Cluster management
Online learning community
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Communications and materials delivery
WCED
Project Office
Website
Email
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Cluster management
Cluster management
Online learning community
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Communications and materials delivery
WCED
Project Office
?Fileservers ? ? databases for delivery
monitoring
Website
Email
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Cluster management
Cluster management
Online learning community
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??Learning support
??Technical support
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Ongoing communication and materials delivery 2004
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EMDC
HO
?Fileserver ? database for delivery
monitoring
Website
EMDC
EMDC
Clusters
??Learning support
??Technical support
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Using Information and Communication Technologies

• Customised software for teachers
• Computer literacy training and skills
• Online mentoring and facilitation

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Teacher Training

• Face to face trainingCurriculum Development and
  IT Unit Computer literacy focusing on basic
  computer skills including email, web browsing and
  use of document browser
• Online trainingSchoolNet SA Specialised
  multigrade module focusing on online
  communication, accessing curriculum and resources
  via the web
• CD Rom and print resources

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Multifunctional Team Training

• Face to face trainingProject Team
  Introductory course on cluster management,
  accessing and delivering curriculum and resources
  via the web
• Online mentoring and facilitation
  courseSchoolNet SASpecialised multigrade
  module focusing on online communication and
  community building, peer support,
• CD Rom and print resources

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Life-long Learning and Accreditation

• Accredited training modules NQF
• Certification of teachers by tertiary
  institutions
• Developing further study opportunities and
  courses in multigrade teaching
• Promotion and career opportunities in multigrade
  education
• Recognising the value of multigrade education - a
  teachers story

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INTERVENTION TIMELINES ?DEMONSTRATION ?PILOT
?IMPLEMENTATION 2002 Pre-Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct
Nov Dec 2003 Term 1 Term 2 Term 3 Term 4
2002 Pre-Jun Jul Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 2003 Term 1
Term 2 Term 3 Term 4
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Steering Committee? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
P
Executive Committee? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
P
Curriculum com ? ? ? ? ? ?
P
Assessment com ? ? ?
Evaluators ? ?
MGI Human Resources a c c o u n t a b l e s
t r u c t u r e s
Video committee ? ? ? ? ? ?
ICT committee ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
P
Literacy task team ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Mental Maths task team ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
P
Multifunctional teams/ school training teams ? ?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
P
Planning Implementation ? ? ? ? ? ?
P
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Steering Committee? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
P
Executive Committee? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
P
Curriculum com ? ? ? ? ? ?
P
Assessment com ? ? ?
Evaluators ? ?
MGI Human Resources a c c o u n t a b l e s
t r u c t u r e s
Video committee ? ? ? ? ? ?
ICT committee ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
P
Literacy task team ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Mental Maths task team ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
P
Multifunctional teams/ school training teams ? ?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
P
Planning Implementation
P
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WCED Head Office

• Chief Director Regional Services (Rural)
• Chief Director Education Planning
• Director Communication
• Director Curriculum Development
• Director Human resources
• Director Education Research
• Director Specialised Education Support Services
• Director Media Services
• Manager Khanya Project
• Curriculum Planners

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WCED Rural EMDCs

• Director Westcoast/Winelands EMDC
• Director Breede River/Overberg EMDC
• Director South Cape/Karoo EMDC
• Chief Curriculum Advisers
• Curriculum Advisers
• Media Advisers
• Principals and teachers

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• PAWC
• Schools IT Unit
• IT Advisers

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• Edumedia
• Video production unit
• Print unit
• DTP Unit

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• Project Office
• Project manager
• Operations manager
• Administration

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• External Evaluators

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Expansion of the Intervention
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Testing components

• pre and post tests of basic skills
• standardised tests
• external project evaluation

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Aligning the Intervention life cycle with
appropriate evaluation activities
Intervention Life Cycle
Evaluation Activities
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The essential focus of the Multigrade
Intervention