The Internet BioEd Project aims to make use of the Western Cape Schools Network (WCSN) to evaluate the feasibility of producing and distributing teaching aids and making other resources available through Internet access by schools that are part of the WCSN. 

Specific items that are or will be available include:

• question banks available through FTP;

• on-line resources developed for access via the worldwide web;

• construction of links to other resources available via the worldwide web;

• the development and maintenance of a list-server through which biology students and teachers could exchange ideas, and discuss questions and issues related to high school biology and environmental education;

• the modification of existing multimedia presentations and the development of new ones that can be accessed directly via the worldwide web and/or downloaded via FTP to be run on the school's internal network.

The project is a pilot study to:

• determine the needs of teachers and pupils that could be serviced in this manner;

• determine the level of existing skills, and what skills would be needed to allow pupils and teachers to avail of those resources;

• to provide training to allow pupils and teachers to develop the necessary skills;

• to develop and make available a collection of resources which pupils and teachers can use once they have acquired the necessary skills;

• to evaluate the effectiveness of these resources and access to the Internet at improving the quality and effectiveness of teaching-and-learning in biology and environmental education in the selected schools

• based upon the findings, to improve on the provided resources, and make recommendations for the development of further resources and how they should be made available to other schools.

PARTNER SCHOOLS

One biology teacher and one class has been selected from each of six schools, comprising two schools from each of the three former education departments. Two of these schools are selected on the basis of a very strong, long-standing use of computers in teaching. It is hoped that by enabling these schools to interact via the WCSN with the remaining schools, a partnership will develop which can serve as a model for the expansion of this facility into other schools.
  

INSTITUTIONS INVOLVED

Western Cape Schools Network
11 Firfield Road, Plumstead 7800
Contact person: Stephen Marquard

University of the Western Cape
Botany Department
Contact Person: Prof. Derek Keats

Western Cape Education Department
Private Bag 9114, Cape Town 8000
Contact Person: Flip van Schalkwyk,
Chief Education Services, Media Services