HERBERT HURD PRIMARY SCHOOL
SINCE 1954
DIGITAL SKILLS
TECHNOLOGY RICH EDUCATION
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At Herbert Hurd Primary School, we are committed to our responisibility to equip our learners with essential digital skills, preparing them for the challenges of the 21st century. We strive to teach learners to create content in various ways, using various applications and tools.
By embracing innovative methods, we focus on developing not only technical proficiency, but also vital soft skills that foster collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking. Our goal is to equip every child with the tools they need to thrive in a rapidly changing global landscape.
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This is attained by maintaining a balance between developing digital and non-digital skills. Three vital "soft skils" that we seek to develop to reflect 21st Century skills are illustrated below.
1
LEARNING SKILLS
CRITICAL THINKING
CREATIVITY
COMMUNICATION
COLLABORATION
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2
LITERACY SKILLS
INFORMATION LITERACY
MEDIA LITERACY
TECHNOLOGY LITERACY
FINANCIAL LITERACY
3
LIFE SKILLS
FLEXIBITILY
LEADERSHIP
INITIATIVE
PRODUCTIVITY
SOCIAL SKILLS
THREE COMPONENTS OF DIGITAL SKILLS ARE INTEGRATED INTO THE HERBERT HURD PRIMARY SCHOOL TEACHIING-AND-LEARNING PROGRAMME.
IPAD PROGRAMME
All the learners and teachers at Herbert Hurd Primary School use school iPads.
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​The iPad programme at Herbert Hurd Primary Schools boosts learning through personalized, interactive experiences, fostering creativity, collaboration, and essential digital skills for the future, while improving accessibility and reducing reliance on paper resources, leading to better learner engagement and outcomes. Key benefits include adaptive learning, visual storytelling tools, easy resource sharing, and built-in features for diverse needs, all supporting modern educational goals.
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A cohesive iPad programme assists the learners in following a skills based approach instead of a consumer or entertainment based approach when using digital media.
In essence, iPads transform classrooms by offering a versatile, engaging platform that caters to individual needs, promotes active learning, and prepares students with crucial digital skills for the 21st century.
ADVANTAGES FOR LEARNERS
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Personalized Learning:
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Apps adapt to individual pace and style, allowing students to master concepts before moving on.
Enhanced Creativity:
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Tools for video, art (Procreate), and coding encourage creative expression and problem-solving.
Improved Engagement:
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Interactive lessons with sound, visuals, and touch make learning more dynamic and fun.
Accessibility:
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Built-in features (text-to-speech, dictation) support diverse learners, including those with ADHD or learning disabilities.
Future-Ready Skills:
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Develops digital literacy, research, visual storytelling, and critical thinking.
Digital Organization:
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Easy note-taking (GoodNotes), cloud syncing, and access to digital notes reduce lost work and cost.
ADVANTAGES FOR TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS
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Interactive Lessons:
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Easily integrate multimedia (video, images, apps) into lessons.
Streamlined Collaboration:
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Share work, give instant feedback, and project student creations with AirPlay.
Cost & Resource Savings:
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Reduces printing, paper, and textbook costs, saving money and administrative time.
Data & Insights:
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Monitor student progress in real-time for targeted intervention.
Seamless Transition:
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Facilitated remote learning, as seen during the COVID pandemic.
KEY TOOLS AND FEATURES
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Apps:
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A vast App Store offers subject-specific, creative and organizational tools.
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Wirelessly connects iPads to Apple TVs for shared viewing and presentations.
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Google Classroom offers major advantages like saving teachers time with centralized assignment/grading, improving organization for paperless classes, boosting communication (announcements, feedback, parent updates), enhancing collaboration with Google tools (Docs, Drive, Meet), and enabling personalized learning through easy tracking and content integration, all within a secure, accessible platform.
GOOGLE WORKSPACE AND CLASSROOM
ADVANTAGES OF GOOGLE CLASSROOM
KEY ADVANTAGES FOR TEACHERS
Time Savings:
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Quickly create, distribute, collect, and grade assignments; schedule posts; automate administrative tasks.
Centralized Management:
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Keep all class materials, assignments, and communication in one place, accessible via Google Drive.
Streamlined Communication:
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Instant announcements, threaded comments for feedback, and parent communication options.
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Reduces paper waste and allows for easy digital submission and feedback.
KEY ADVANTAGES FOR LEARNERS
Easy Access:
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Access materials and submit work from anywhere on various devices.
Organization:
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See all assignments and due dates in one place, with email reminders.
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Work together on projects in real-time using integrated Google tools.
Real-World Connection: Submit real-world examples (photos, videos) and engage in deeper online discussions.
PLATFORM AND INTEGRATION ADVANTAGES
Seamless Integration:
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Works perfectly with Google Docs, Sheets, Drive, Forms, YouTube, and Meet.
Security & Reliability:
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Built on Google's secure infrastructure with high uptime.
Free & Accessible:
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Available for free for anyone with a Google account and for educational institutions.
Scalability:
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Handles everything from small classes to large school communities.
CODING AND ROBOTICS
Teaching coding and robotics in South African schools equips learners with vital 21st-century skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity, preparing them for the tech-driven Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) economy, boosting innovation, fostering teamwork, and enhancing STEM academic performance, ultimately creating digitally literate citizens ready for future jobs.
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Herbert Hurd Primary School added Coding and Robotics as a co-curricular subject in 2024. The subject focuses on Coding, Robotics, 3D-drawings and applicaton skills such as MS Word, MS Excel and MS PowerPoint.
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The Code4Kids platform is followed in Grades 1 to 4, while the school will be developing its own content in Grades 5 to 7 for 2026 based on the CAPS Coding and Robotics Curriculum
KEY ADVANTAGES FOR LEARNERS
Prepares for Future Careers:
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Early exposure positions learners for growing tech-focused sectors like software development, engineering, and data science, crucial for economic competitiveness.
Enhances Academic Performance:
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Reinforces core math, science, and technology concepts, improving overall academic engagement.
Fosters Teamwork & Communication:
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Collaborative projects teach crucial communication, leadership, and collaborative skills as students work towards shared goals.
Builds Digital Literacy & Resilience:
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Learners become proficient digital citizens and learn persistence through trial-and-error, a key life skill.
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Aligns South Africa's education system with global technological advancements, ensuring learners aren't left behind in the digital age.
CONTEXT IN SOUTH AFRICA AND HERBERT HURD PRIMARY SCHOOL
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South Africa's Department of Basic Education has introduced Coding & Robotics (C&R) into the curriculum for Grades R-9 to equip learners for the 4IR.
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While the initiative faces challenges like infrastructure gaps (lack of computer labs in some schools), it's a significant step towards digital equity and future readiness.
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Herbert Hurd Primary School is fortunate to have access to Coding and Robotics content that is aligned to the CAPS Curriculum.
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All learners have access to IPads to create content.
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Herbert Hurd Primary School also has an Education Technology Centre (Grades 1 to 4) and a well-equiped Digital Skills Centre (Grades 5 to 7) for teaching Coding and Robotics.