MELISSA project final event

The MELISSA team

It was during one of these sunny  days ending Spring, on the 7th of October 2011 at The Auditorium of the Bellville Campus of the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT); the MELISSA project (Measuring E-Learning Impact in primary Schools in South African disadvantaged areas) was having an event closing a year of research work. Cape Town school teachers who took part in the project were acknowledged for their achievements made during the whole process.

For the occasion, Prof. Lorenzo Cantoni from the Università della Svizzera italiana (University of Lugano, Switzerland) was visiting the country and shared his depth on the meanings, importance and benefits of eLearning for individuals, their communities, educational institutions and teachers. In addition, Madame Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, eLearning researcher and former deputy president of the Republic of South Africa attended the event and shared with the audience her experience conducting empirical research in various places including Kwazulu Natal and Eastern Cape.

Prof. Cantoni

Madame Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka

Prof. Chigona

Prof. Bytheway

Leading researchers in the MELISSA project, Professor Wallace Chigona of UCT, and Professor Andy Bytheway of CPUT chaired the session. Prof. Chigona in his address pointed out the importance of the context in the spread of eLearning in Africa; while Prof. Bytheway presented the findings unveiling unexpected outcomes including the fact that one of the major accomplishment of the project was teacher’s achievement of confidence in using ICT which is a strong determinant to it adoption.

The event ended up with the distribution of certificates, photos and a sumptuous lunch.

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