Page 15 - KZN Business Sense- Vol5 No4

AUTHENTIC LEARNING EXPERIENCES

arklands College, an by encouraging them to create develop creative thinking and
innovative school based free, relevant, educational and problem solving skills.
Pon the West Coast near commercial software applications
Cape Town, is passionate about users worldwide. The focus here is This programme has been very
preparing learners for the future. for learners to give back to society successful with Parklands College
This is achieved by creating and solve current challenges. teams representing South Africa
authentic learning experiences, in the World Robot Olympiad
where learners create products and Of course, being an Apple school International competitions for
solutions for an ever changing, and using Swift as the development the past four years in a row. Their
environmentally challenged world. platform, learners distribute their teams regularly place amongst the
applications through the Apple Top 50 out of approximately 6000
In August 2018, Parklands College App store. They have developed and teams every year. The College’s
was, once again, recognised by released five apps so far: “Simple best position was achieved in India
Apple as an Apple Distinguished Learning Time”, “Safer Web”, in 2016 where team Robodog
School (ADS) for Innovation, “Simple Learning Afrikaans”, placed 12th.
Leadership and Excellence in “Safer Britannica” and “A.VOID”.
Education. They are reported to be These apps have had over 80,000 Teams have also excelled in the
the only school in Africa and one of downloads to date. A past learner, FIRST LEGO League Robotics
only 470 in the world. In addition, Stephanus Cilliers, received Competition, where the Hyperion
in August 2019, Parklands College three scholarships to attend Bots team placed 5th in Europe
was recognised by Google as a Apple’s WorldWide Development in the Open Invitational Central Parklands College is passionate about preparing learners for the future.
Google Reference School for their Conference (WWDC) between Europe in Hungary in 2018. This
outstanding use of technology to 2016 and 2018. team designed a water solution
drive positive learning outcomes, which included an innovative 3D
one of two in Africa. This year their all girls team, printed water brick which dispenses
Proteam, won the South African stored water from alternate sources.
In the early days of their Senior Regional Division of More recently, the StellarBots won
Apple Technology Integration the Technovation challenge for First Place for Project Presentation
Programme, it was found that their App, “Stream”. Every year at the FLL Plan Ceibal International
cross-curricular project-based Technovation offers girls around Open in Montevideo, Uruguay for
learning was the best way to provide the world the opportunity to learn their interplanetary hydroponic
authentic learning experiences to the skills they need to emerge as crop growing system.
learners. Being challenged to solve tech entrepreneurs and leaders. Learners can also take part in the
specific real-world problems, or They invite girls to identify a real- FIRST Tech Challenge for High
create something user-friendly or world problem in their community School Students. This competition
environmentally friendly, learners and then challenge them to solve uses Tetrix Robotics sets,
are equipped with competencies it using technology. The Parklands advanced controllers and motors,
such as communication, College girls designed ‘Stream” and learners program in Java.
collaboration, creativity, critical to offer educational support to Teams are challenged to design,
thinking and responsible Maths and Science learners while build, program, and operate
citizenship, that are essential for the reducing the need to use large robots to compete in a head-to-
future world. amounts of expensive data in the head challenge in an alliance The Mobile Application Development Incubator is an in-school learner
process. The team made it as far application development space.
Work Life Experience as the semifinals. Finalists in this format. Our team returned home
with the Robot Design Award.
During a project, learners are competition get flown to Silicon This award recognises industrial
assigned roles similar to those they Valley for the world pitch event design elements and a robot
may experience in the workplace. where they have the opportunity that was both functional and
Educators have discovered that to win funding to further develop aesthetically appealing. The team
learners become highly motivated their ideas. used many of the concepts they
when they are addressing a real- learnt in Engineering Graphics
world challenge, especially if Music and Film Experience and Design to design their robot
they are creating a product for an Parklands College Studios house in Fusion 360. Their design also
audience beyond the classroom. the College’s Film and Sound incorporated parts that were laser
This develops a deeper sense of Engineering facilities. The vision cut as well as 3D printed.
purpose and a passion for what for the studios is to give young
they are doing. As an example of talent the opportunity to experience The College’s committed
project-based learning, a team of the music and film industry from educators engage in ongoing
Life Orientation learners created the creation of original work to its professional development that
a movie called “I am Beautiful” release on a public platform. combines the best technology
(https://youtu.be/NkeG94WbmDA) This space is a hive of activity training with workshops on
which has been used in a successful as learners regularly use it for teaching strategies and learning
anti-cyberbullying campaign. theories that enhance lessons. They
their projects and subjects. This facilitate and ensure that learners
Time has been set aside during facility has also given the College’s are equipped to find their passions Parklands College Studios house the College’s Film and Sound
the school day for passion-led, sound engineering learners, and achieve their full potential. Engineering facilities.
experiential learning courses musicians and filmmakers, the
and interests, some of which opportunity to express themselves The College believes that the
include Film, Sound Engineering, in a professional environment. best way to prepare its learners for
Animation, Robotics, Mobile Parklands College Studios released the future is to provide a school
Application Development and a digital album called “Origin” environment where learners can
Hospitality. These courses provide on iTunes in 2014 and recently focus on their own needs, interests
learners with opportunities to released “Origin Vol. 2”. The film and passions, learn by doing,
explore areas they would never studio has released a further two innovate, make their own decisions,
have been able to experience in a music videos on the Parklands and work together towards solving
standard curriculum. College Studios YouTube channel. real community challenges. 
Software Development Robotics Offering Contact Info:
Environment In 2014 Parklands College Richard Knaggs, Director of Technology
The Mobile Application introduced Robotics as an T: +27 21 521 2700
W: www.parklands.co.za
Development Incubator (MAD exciting addition to its learners
as it is referred to by learners) is from Grade R to Grade 8 in order
an in-school learner application to further promote interest in
development space. The vision Science, Technology, Engineering,
for this incubator is to create Art & Design, Mathematics
young entrepreneurs of the future (STEAM) and Coding and Robotics forms part of the learning programme throughout the College.

15