1. South African Education Portal
THUTONG
South African Education Portal

2. WHAT IS THUTONG? Place of learning - seTswana
Thutong is a National Education Portal and aims to be the starting point for the South African schooling communities accessing the world wide web.
The portal exists to provide access to a wide range of curriculum and support material.
Content is highly relevant to the lives and learning contexts of South African learners, educators, education managers/administrators and parents.
Resources are quality assured by experts in the education field.
Materials are provided at no cost and this is a not-for-profit project.

3. DEFINING A PORTAL
A portal can in effect contain any service available via the Internet.
Not limited to the Worldwide Web, as it can be expanded to included services, chat, and other Internet applications not necessarily dependent on the Web.
Portals cluster together a comprehensive range of potential Internet services that might be delivered to users.
Portal seeks to be a ‘starting point’ for web users.

4. OPERATIONAL PRINCIPLES
Established with long-term growth in mind.
Growth in information and communication services offered
Growing user numbers over time,
Full range of educational sectors over time.
Technical platforms designed to support multiple languages. Given financial limitations of the first phase, however, the language of the portal itself will be English.
Ensure that its content is relevant to the lives and learning context of South African learners, educators, and education managers and administrators.
Particular attention to aggregating content for learners and educators from disadvantaged schools and particularly rural areas
Available at no cost to end-users
Collect and produce educational resources in variety of South African languages

5. I N T E R F A C E

6. DATABASE SEARCHES
1. Learning Outcomes
Competences,
Objectives,
Achievements
All educational content extensively cross-referenced against the topics of the South African National Curriculum Statements and assessment outcomes of the Revised National Curriculum Statements, to ensure that learners and educators can find what they are looking for with a minimum of effort.
2. Levels of
Learning
Grades, Key Stages
3. Focus Areas
Content, Subjects,
Disciplines
3. Assessment Criteria
Evidence of
Achievement
4. Teaching & Learning
Strategies:
Assessment, Contact
Independent Study

7. DATABASE SEARCHES 1 > < 3 2 > < 4

8. SERVICES FOR LEARNERS
Provide learners with tools to facilitate accurate and pertinent resource discovery (an array of different search tools)
Repository of frequently requested resources such as past examination papers
Over time, also provide learners with tools that can help facilitate the learning experience – tools like an assessment centre, a revision organizer, & resource packaging tool, as well as access to online dictionary

9. SERVICES FOR TEACHERS I
Searchable database (using either OBE criteria or a topic based search tools) that returns annotated reviews of curriculum resources

10. SERVICES FOR TEACHERS
South African professional development resources for teachers

11. SERVICES FOR TEACHERS
Allow educators to establish online communities by contacting other educators with similar needs and interests. e.g. Innovative Teachers Network is integrated into Thutong

12. SERVICES FOR MANAGERS Administration
Provide resources and other support services for schools to use in improving management and administration capabilities
Focus on school administration and management content, i.e. useful resources/web links.
Online communication tools support the Principal and School Governing Body (SGB) forums
Administration and information system – at national, provincial and school levels

13. SERVICES FOR MANAGERS Policy
Focus on making South African schools policy accessible, becoming a ‘one-stop South African schooling policy shop’
Ensure that the latest provincial education policy documents are made available to users
Offer credible summaries of and expert commentary on policy
Encourage users’ policy-related queries and contributions (Discussion forum via ITN)
Showcase South African success stories (case studies)

14. SERVICES FOR MANAGERS Research
Thutong provides access to the latest thinking both locally and internationally through up to date and relevant education research and information.

15. ADD RESOURCES ‘Sharing’ community
Thutong is seen as a conduit for learners, teachers and educational managers to communicate and share their experiences.
While all are free to access the resources it is also part of the portals philosophy to encourage sharing.
The portal also has a facility to upload resources, be they curriculum, research or policy etc.

16. THANK YOU