A WhatsApp Chatbot has been launched in an effort to provide support and equip Grade R to Grade 7 teachers with the skills to teach the new Coding and Robotics curriculum to their students in preparation for the framework's future implementation across public schools in South Africa.

The Chatbot project is a part of the Tangible Africa Teacher Support Program, a joint venture by Tangible Africa, Leva Foundation, and a team of qualified teachers with extensive experience.

In 2019, The Department of Basic Education (DBE) announced the addition of Coding and Robotics to the national curriculum for Grades R to Grade 9, with the amendment to the National Curriculum Statement Grades R-12 officially gazetted on June 7, 2021.

The DBE believes that this significant step towards modernising education from as early as Grade R will equip and expose learners to digital literacy that will enable them to function effectively in the rapidly changing digital era.

“The programme is completely free, tailored to the CAPS Coding and Robotics curriculum, and suitable for teachers without prior coding experience”, said Prof Jean Greyling, Tangible Africa founder and associate professor at Nelson Mandela University Computing Sciences Department.

Greyling also added that one of the best parts of the programme is that it is designed for teachers, by teachers.

According to the CEO of Leva Foundation, Ryan le Roux, this approach is meant to increase accessibility, particularly for schools with limited resources.

“This way of teaching has been proven to be the most effective within the country’s environment where many schools do not have computers, internet connectivity, or electricity. The Chatbot will play a pivotal part in all of this, since we have found that emails are not the best way to communicate with our teachers,” said le Roux.

The weekly lessons are easy to follow and in addition to the resources, the Chatbot enables teachers to provide feedback and ask questions.

The programme can be accessed on the Tangible Africa website, where there is a link redirecting to WhatsApp, giving teachers access to the lessons immediately.

“The continuation and expansion of the project will literally depend on how many teachers register and implement the lessons in their classes,” said Jackson Tshabalala, Engagement Manager for Tangible Africa.

IOL