Introduction

The purpose of this module is to outline the roles and responsibilities of the ICT committees in ICT-implementing schools. The programme focus is on the institutionalization of ICT in schools with a focus on the functionality of the school-Based ICT Committee.  The Committees have been established in schools with the right composition but there is a need to look at the school context and check if the members represent all stakeholders responsible for ICT integration in teaching and learning. The committee is responsible for the review of the ICT policy and ensuring that is well understood and implemented accordingly. 

Overview

In South Africa today, teaching and learning require us to adopt modern technological approaches where we integrate Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in the classroom. This Training and Support strategy seeks to provide a capability-building model to school-based ICT committees on how to manage and support the utilization of technology in all schools. Technology is used as a communication tool as well as to ease the administrative burden of teachers and schools in general. The vision for ICT in education is captured in the statement that: 

“Maximum utilisation of technology is an enabler in a classroom environment for teaching and learning. We are building classrooms of the future which are paperless and technology-driven.” Lesufi (2014). 

The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) is committed to accelerating the use of ICT in education as part of its strategy to improve teaching and learning in all schools. The GDE seeks to ensure that schooling in Gauteng benefits from new developments in technology and other educational innovations that can enhance the delivery of quality education. Matthew Goniwe School of Leadership and Governance (MGSLG) as the Provincial Teacher Development Institute (PTDI) has a mandate from the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) to provide capability-building programmes and projects to support ICT integration for teaching and learning. The School-Based ICT Committee training is one of the projects that MGSLG is responsible for capacity-building purposes. This manual was developed as a guide to promote the functionality of the committees in ICT-implementing schools

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course you should be able to:

• advance the functionality of School-Based ICT committees 
• promote professional learning communities in ICT Implementing Schools 
• identify Frameworks that support the use of technology in the classroom. 
• promote the monitoring and evaluation of ICT in schools 
• advance in-school mentoring and coaching initiatives