Mxit becomes teacher's pet by PAUL VECCHIATTO

Once the bane of teachers and education authorities, instant messaging service Mxit is teaming up with cellphone manufacturer Nokia and the Department of Education to teach learners mathematics. Until recently, children found using Mxit on their cellphones at schools could have the devices confiscated by frustrated teachers, as it was considered a distraction.

However, the use of Mxit as a medium for children to learn in a fun and interactive manner is beginning to surface. The Department of Education (DOE) is leading a pilot project that uses the mobile social network company to deliver mathematics tutorials to Grade 10 learners. This project, “Imfundo Yethu Imfundo Yami”, is a joint venture between the national DOE, Nokia SA and Safipa (a funding portal managed by the Finnish Embassy in SA).
Grade 10 learners – 260 in total – from six selected schools in Gauteng, the North West and the Western Cape provinces will take part in the pilot project. It allows users to receive maths information, to problem solve, as well as to share thoughts and ideas to better their understanding of the math module for Grade 10.
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Source: ITWeb