Africa

We are working with universities across South Africa to support laboratory teaching and provide digital solutions to the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic

Educational Research

Learning Science: Virtual Labs Bring Real Results To UWC Students

Authors:
Nicklaus Kruger
Source:
News Article

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen the cancellation of hands-on laboratory practicals across the globe. But Learning Science UK online pre-labs have enabled University of the Western Cape students to continue their laboratory learning - virtually.

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Innovations in Pharmacy Education during the Pandemic: Using Learning Science to support laboratory-based practical skills

Authors:
J McCartney,S Egieyeh,N Ebrahim,E Braaf, D Beukes
Source:
South African Pharmaceutical Journal

South Africa’s higher education sector rapidly switched from campus-based teaching to online asynchronous teaching in April 2020. This sudden change imposed on universities saw pharmacy academics rushing to master new skills, re-invent laboratory-based practicals and assignments, develop online asynchronous teaching resources and explore various digital techniques that could be utilised during South Africa’s lockdown period, which extended over far more months than the initial few weeks that were implemented.

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Community

Teaching Innovation Award winners

The LearnSci Teaching Innovation Awards support innovation that positively impacts teaching quality and enhances student learning. Applicants are asked to demonstrate how they have led innovation in teaching and learning in their institution. Winners are chosen by an expert scientific educational panel.

Dr. Juliet Stoltenkamp, Director of the Centre for Innovative Education & Communication Technologies with Mr. Faghad Khan and Ms. Carolynne Kies, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of the Western Cape, South Africa

Winner
The Centre for Innovative Education and Communication Technologies (CIECT) team implemented a teaching and learning methodology where academic Learning Science Champions, identified by the Faculty, were shown how to incorporate LabSims into the VLE/LMS, iKamva. The success of CIECT’s approach to implementing Learning Science and making the simulations accessible to all via iKamva, is reflected in the Learning Science record set by UWC - over 35000 activities undertaken in the first three months of implementation.