Changing times in South Africa : remodeling interactive learning

Specifically, LearnTech provided technical services to the Open Learning Systems Education Trust (OLSET), a South African NGO interested in applying various learning technologies, including interactive radio instruction (IRI), to improve basic education in English and mathematics within South Africa"s most disadvantaged communities. After the election, however, the well-established IRI model had to reinvent itself in light of educational reforms envisioning a greater role for teachers and a problem-solving, pupil-centered learning methodology. This case study documents this redesign, covering theoretical concerns; the roles of pupil, teacher, and media in a multi-channel setting; new obligations (such as teacher training and student learning); and the challenge to re-evaluate many existing assumptions about the role of radio in the classroom. The study highlights Learntech"s efforts to develop local capacity, respond to local control, and accept local evaluation. Includes references. (Author abstract, modified)