Projects

NBA developed a multimedia rich tutorial on being and becoming an early years teacher for Project for Inclusive Early Childhood Care and Education (PIECCE). The tutorial used images, animations and video to tutor educators on the importance of using different types of reflection as part of their studies.

The ‘Being and Becoming’ tutorial can be accessed here.

NBA is working with the Knowledge for All (K4A) Foundation and International Development Research Centre (IDRC) on the Artificial Intelligence for Development (AI4D) Africa initiative. The initiative seeks to strengthen and develop community, scientific and technological excellence in a range of AI-related issue areas across sub-Saharan Africa. NBA is assisting with generating an AI capacity building agenda for the region by conducting research on the current AI landscape and capacity-building needs amongst three key stakeholders – Centres of Higher Education and Training; Governments and the AI Community.

NBA produced a Lindau alumni booklet on behalf of the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf). The publication captures the stories of the Lindau alumni on their experiences around how participation at the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings benefitted them in their careers.

During 2017, NBA helped MGSLG to develop and pilot an online ICT literacy programme, called MG Online. MGSLG, in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Education, is administering the programme for approximately 10,000 teachers in Gauteng province. Given NBA's extensive experience in working with the UNESCO ICT Competency Framework for Teachers (CFT) and implementing similar projects throughout Africa and the developing world, the team was invited to assist MGSLG in adapting existing open educational resources (OER) and developing new South Africa-specific content. In total, 56 units comprising 80 notional hours were developed. NBA assisted the MGSLG in training the facilitators to administer the course and developed the pilot programme, which was successfully concluded in the latter half of 2017. This course has now been accredited by the South African Council for Educators (SACE), which means that users will have the opportunity to earn points towards their continuing professional development (CPD) requirements by completing this course.

Neil Butcher has been contracted by European Consulting for Developing Countries (ECFDC) to build the knowledge and understanding of TVET staff in the extent and range of Open Learning approaches, Open Educational Resources, and the use of multi-media and materials development processes (Electronic, Online, Open Learning). 

The specific objective of the assignment is to provide technical assistance to DHET staff in the Directorate: Career Development and Open Learning in: 

• Building knowledge and understanding of the extent and range of open learning approaches, open educational resources, the use of multi-media and materials development processes (electronic, online, open learning), and introducing new developments and practices in the development of electronic, online, open learning materials; 
• Developing a materials development model for the Department to adopt; 
• Assisting the Department in setting up a unit for materials development; and 
• Working with Department curriculum officials, open learning management team, materials developers, media experts, and instructional designers in developing an open learning materials development workflow for the Department. 

NBA is currently adapting Current Open Learning Educational Resources to Produce Digital Teaching and Learning Resources (Courseware) for Mathematics and Science (Vocational) for the DHET. For this project, the DHET has decided to develop open and self-facilitated text-based materials for the National Certificate (Vocational) programmes in Mathematics and Physical Science at Levels 2–4. This project is principally an open textbook design and development project that will culminate in the publication of learning materials in various formats that support maximum dissemination, access, use and educational impact as well as their reuse and adaptation by others. However, this project is also, importantly, a capacity development initiative to build the capacity of a group of existing TVET lectures in the processes involved in creating new, high-quality OERs through the reuse and adaptation of exiting open materials. 

NBA is currently managing the development of curriculum content and open learning materials for the Occupational Certificate: Electrician Programme (OCEP) for the DHET. The DHET has selected the Occupational Certificate: Electrician programme as the first programme to be developed and delivered through the National Open Learning System (NOLS). One of the goals of the project is to define a general and broadly applicable practical approach and methodology to designing for and implementing Open Learning programmes within the TVET sector as a possible support strategy for the DHET to meet the targets outlined in the National Development Plan 2030 (NDP). 

For exemplar materials visit http://dhet-tvet-lms.co.za/course/view.php?id=30 
Username: guest
Password: guest

NBA worked in conjunction with the British Council and the South African Department of Higher Education to develop a set of digital guidelines to introduce stakeholders to the A21, the new South African apprenticeship system. NBA further developed animations and interviewed prominent personnel in order to enrich the guidelines with multimedia assets. NBA also ran a social media campaign, incorporating MailChimp, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and SoundCloud, to spread awareness of the new system and the guidelines. The A21 digital guideline resources can be accessed below: 
 

NBA has developed an online Learning and Knowledge Management platform to function as a gateway to a broad range of tools that enable countries and stakeholders to address issues related to educational policy making and on-the-ground implementation. 

The ADEA Learning and Knowledge Management Hub main functions are:

• Manage, classify, and disseminate ADEA’s knowledge products;
• Build the capacity of key users of those knowledge products to ensure that evidence-based solutions are integrated into a country’s education strategies and policies;
• Facilitate engagement and collaboration between ADEA members and partners in the region and beyond, in exchanging knowledge and learning; and
• Support the strengthening of capacity of the ADEA workforce though peer learning between and among ADEA member countries and internal and external partners.

The Hub connects national, regional, and global platforms and networks to create a central access point for sharing and promoting the analysis, dissemination, and accessibility of proven best practices and knowledge products on education and training in Africa.

OER Africa is an initiative of Saide, established in 2008 with support from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, to collaborate with higher education institutions in Africa in the development and use of Open Educational Resources (OER), to enhance teaching and learning.