Technology can be a powerful tool for transforming learning and teaching inside or outside the classroom. Effective and appropriate use of technology can help sustain and advance relationships between educators and students, reinvent learning and teaching approaches and collaboration, shrink long-standing equity and adapt learning experiences to meet the needs of all learners. Universities around the globe in general and South Africa in particular, are striving to implement various educational technology tools such as e-learning, Moodle, virtual classrooms, TedEd and many others to enhance learning and teaching practice. However, to realize fully the benefits of technology in the education system, educators need to use technology effectively in their practice, be collaborators in learning, seek new knowledge, constantly acquire new skills alongside their students and build a community of practice among them. Walter Sisulu University (WSU) as an incubator of exploration and innovation has designed a ‘grassroots event’, to allow educators, academic staff, students and educational technology specialists to showcase their technology use in learning and teaching and share best practices. This paper presents the findings of a grassroots event conducted in 2018, at WSU, Queenstown Campus and report on the impact, usefulness of the event as well as the expectations on the use of technology for teaching and learning. The paper has an implication to stakeholders in higher education who include: faculty, educators, researchers, policymakers, funders, e-learning specialists and academic developers who are responsible for Professional Academic Development (PAD).

Username
Password