Edu-bike Africa is a practical and inspiring educational programme which has been developed around the theme of the bicycle, and focuses on assisting Education Africa's partner schools in their outreach programmes.
Edu-bike Africa encourages both teachers and their pupils to explore the world of learning together. Using a workshop approach with an outcomes-based focus to promote entrepreneurial skills, it offers them a series of 30 prepared lessons (of 35 minutes each) developed around the topic of bicycles. The programme is fun, dynamic and useful and will teach learners about making money, travel, health and much more. The lessons are all language-based in that they require verbal interaction, comprehension and a rich variety of skills. Mathematical calculations, measurement and problem-solving activities will also encourage learners to work accurately on tasks which are exciting and relevant. The Edu-bike Africa learner books have been designed for the facilitator (the teacher) to guide and work along with the learner. They continually refer to the facilitator's guide, which contains explanations of the aims of lessons, answers to all questions and activities, as well as guides for enabling the facilitator to assess the lesson outcomes and the performance of his/her learners. Edu-bike Africa strives to achieve the following outcomes: To provide the facilitator with fully prepared cross-cultural teaching lessons. To provide the learner with relevant and interesting exercises which will result in meaningful outcomes. These include: Identifying and solving problems and making decisions using critical and creative thinking. Working effectively with others as members of a team, group, organisation and community. Organising and managing themselves and their activities responsibly and effectively. Collecting, analysing, organising and critically evaluating information. Communicating effectively using visual, symbolic and/or language skills in various modes. Using science and technology effectively and critically, showing responsibility towards the environment and health of others. Demonstrating an understanding the world as a set of related systems by recognising that problem-solving contexts do not exist in isolation. Edu-bike Africa is cross-curricular and, as such, covers seven of the eight learning areas. They are: Language, literacy and communication. Mathematical literacy, mathematics and mathematical sciences. Human and social sciences. Natural sciences. Technology. Economic and management sciences. Life orientation. Producing Edu-bike Africa has been no mean feat. Education Africa has managed to secure sponsorship for developing, designing and printing the programme from the Japanese government, the Osaka Prefectural Government of Japan and the Southern African Enterprise Development Fund. As a result, we have been able to offer all our partner schools and District Departments of Education the programme materials free, on the understanding that they will help us to workshop and distribute copies of these materials to their outreach programmes and district schools. Education Africa partner schools and District Departments of Education have also been involved in providing back-up to the schools in which they will implement the programme. The partner schools, in turn, provide a written report and feedback on the programme, to enable Education Africa to assess its success. Feedback received to date has revealed that the programme is well liked and has been useful to both educators and learners. "The cross-curricular approach of the Edu-bike Africa material is ideally suited to the outcomes-based education which we offer our learners. In addition to improving the learners' language skills, the workbooks encourage creativity and ingenuity, teach basic business skills and emphasise the importance of responsible citizenship. Learners were stimulated by the colourful, attractive layout of the books. They also enjoyed the exercises/classes and found the work relevant. By the end of the course there was a marked improvement in learners' confidence, fluency in English and problem-solving techniques." (Elaine Hyland, Rhenish Girls' High School, Stellenbosch) "We ran educator workshops for our outreach schools which were well attended. Schools who have attended our workshops have always requested more copies of the book for the following year as the learners at the school enjoy the programme, often expressing the wish to do Edu-bike rather than the regular curriculum." (Linda Giuricich, outreach director, St Mary's College, Johannesburg) "Your Edu-bike Africa books are proving so successful that we have been approached by 10 of our partner schools, requesting them for their classes." (Lydiah Dumisa, Penreach: deputy director, Penryn College, Nelspruit) To date, Education Africa has reached 90 000 learners and 2 250 facilitators throughout South Africa with this project. "The structure of the Edu-bike Africa lessons fits well into the OBE approach. The informal way of communicating around an object (bicycle) known to the learners enables them to communicate freely and spontaneously. This will surely make a mark in their education." Mr TS Tshepme, Co-ordinator, North-West Province Department of Education
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