Some years back the WCED launched the first of its Web initiatives, which included WCED Online and the Curriculum Development Website. With 2008 being the first year in which the revised Grade 12 curriculum will be externally examined, the WCED is providing teachers with an additional range of electronic teacher-support initiatives. This minute is aimed at providing information on these initiatives and also at reminding you of some of the other online educational resources and services provided by the WCED and the national Department of Education.

1. Mailing lists

Electronic mailing lists have been created for each of the NSC subjects. These mailing lists will enable teachers in each FET subject to communicate with one another as a subject group with a view to such activities as exchanging ideas, question papers and documents, asking questions and having them answered, and debating issues. All the mailing lists are “closed lists”, which means that only listed members can post messages to the lists, thereby reducing spam and the number of other undesirable materials.

To subscribe to a specific subject mailing list, please follow these instructions:

  • Open your Internet browser.
  • Enter the following address (URL):  http://www.wcape.school.za/mailman/listinfo
  • Select the subject of your choice by clicking on the subject title in the column on the left.
  • Enter your e-mail address and name (e.g. Joe Bloggs) in the space provided. Do not enter a password, as this is not necessary. Click on the “Subscribe” button.
  • After a short while you should receive an e-mail response indicating that the list manager of that subject will attend to your request.
  • Within a day or so you should receive an e-mail message welcoming you to the subject mailing list and allowing you to participate in the discussions that take place. The welcome message will contain information on how to post messages to the list.
If you do not have a personal e-mail address, please approach the network administrator at your school, who should be able to provide you with an e-mail address. Please be sure to follow the e-mail policies in place at your school.

2. Blogs

A new and exciting development in the social networking space is that of the use of “blogs” (web logs). Blogs provide opportunities to exchange comments, opinions or news on a particular subject. A typical blog combines text, images, links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to the topic being discussed. The facility that enables a reader to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. Most blogs are primarily text-based, although some focus on art, photographs, videos, music and audio (podcasting) as part of a wider network of social media.

In addition to the various blogs available on the Curriculum Website, you are also invited to visit and contribute to the following blogs that have recently been started:

3. Curriculum Website

The Curriculum Website contains a mass of information on each subject and learning area. This information includes the following:

  • Aspects of assessment
  • Exemplar papers in Grades 11 and 12
  • Policies, circulars and guideline documents for subject or learning areas
  • Discussion forums
  • Contact details of curriculum managers, planners and advisers
The latest books and electronic purchases available from EDULIS are also listed on the Curriculum Website. These can be accessed via the relevant learning area and subject sub-sites. For more information, open your browser on  http://curriculum.pgwc.gov.za/  and then select the subject or learning area of your choice from the side-bar. You may also request to receive regular updates by scrolling to the bottom of the front page and registering.

4. EduMedia Website

EduMedia, the WCED’s media development unit, develops and distributes electronic resources that cover both the GET and FET bands.

EduMedia services can be found at  http://edumedia.wcape.school.za/  where you should note the following:

  • New additions to the products they provide
  • The product catalogue and on-line shop
  • The library of Internet resources
A CD containing a full set of the Grade 12 exemplar papers can also be obtained from EduMedia. Please contact EduMedia on tel. no. 021 689 9536 or at e-mail address edumedia@pgwc.gov.za for more information on this very valuable resource.

5. EDULIS Website

EDULIS (the WCED's Education Library and Information Service) ensures that WCED teachers have access to management, research and curriculum-related material to support teaching and learning. It also co-ordinates and supports the functions of school library advisers and EDULIS resource centres at the district offices, and provides guidance and assistance to schools on the purchase of library materials, such as books, posters, DVDs, CDs and multimedia.

Have a look at  http://curriculum.pgwc.gov.za/site/118  for more information on the services and e-resources EDULIS provides for teachers. For further information on access to full-text articles, contact EDULIS at tel. no. 021 957 9618, or at e-mail address edulis@pgwc.gov.za

EDUPALS is the library administration software used to facilitate on-line access to the library material in EDULIS's central collection in Bellville, as well as in the EDULIS district resource centres. Members of these libraries can, in the comfort of their home, at their desks or in their schools, use WEBPALS to scan book reviews, suggest purchases by EDULIS and search the entire PALS network for library material they may wish to request on loan. Please look at  http://eduweb.pals.gov.za  for more information on these services and to access the PALS library system database.

6. National Education Portal

The national Department of Education has recently re-launched Thutong, the national education portal. This portal also provides a range of services to support teaching and learning. The URL is  http://www.thutong.org.za .



SIGNED: MJ CHILES
HEAD: EDUCATION
DATE: 2008:04:18