Description of project:

The Khanyagula Science expo was initiated three years ago to encourage learners living in disadvantaged areas to participate in the subject. It gives township children a forum in which they can compete at the same level with their peers from other disadvantaged communities and develop themselves until they are at the same level as their counterparts from the advantaged suburbs. Township schools are invited to take part in this expo.

The Shuttleworth Foundation?s involvement:

The Shuttleworth Foundation funded the expo.

Aims and objectives:

The aims of the project were:
? To expose learners to doing investigations which will give them an experience of what science is all about.
? To help learners develop problem solving and investigating skills.
? To provide learners with an opportunity to experience the satisfaction, frustrations and joy that come with doing science.
? To show learners that science is fun and that it is a relevant part of our daily lives.
? To encourage learners to take up scientific careers in the future.
? To motivate girls and encourage them to be involved in science and not see it as a male world.

Evaluation:

Strengths

The project has a very motivated and passionate champion in Khalipha Ramahlape (MRC). She is well respected amongst science teachers and others involved in science education. She put a lot of effort and hours into organising the event, which she did almost entirely on her own. Additionally, Brian Grey is involved with the Expo and he too is a great asset to the project.
The learners? projects on display were of a good quality and many had put a lot of effort and thought into the preparation. The whole event did seem to excite and inspire many learners. The Shuttleworth Foundation and the Khanyagula Expo received very positive publicity. Articles appeared in the Cape Times and Die Burger on 26 September and Kalipha was interviewed on a local radio station in Khayelitsha for 30 minutes.

Weaknesses

There was not sufficient time or judges for all the projects to be judged twice. This may have resulted in some of the scores being over-inflated. Additionally, the hall was not set up early enough for the event to start on time. The tables arrived late which in turn resulted in the learners setting up their projects late. In general the presentation of the projects needs to improve. Many of the posters and displays were not well presented and in the future learners need to be trained on how to structure a presentation properly.
Many teachers did not get involved with either the expo or the assisting of learners in developing the projects.

Lessons and future developments:

Although the expo was seen as successful, there are many areas to improve on for next year.

The preparation for the event must start early in 2003 so that the event can take place before the UCT science expo. A date needs to be set and the schools need to be informed accordingly.

The hall must be set up earlier for the event to start on time. Tables, desks, boards for posters, etc. need to be delivered the day before the expo, so that setting up can start early. Additionally, the learners need to be there early in order to set up their projects.

Teachers need to be encouraged to be more involved in the event. Many of the learners were left with the co-ordinators to prepare a project instead of the teachers being involved. Mr. Glen van Harte (Chief Curriculum Advisor, EMDC South Metropole) has suggested that he meet with Megan Kennedy (Shuttleworth Foundation) and Kalipha Ramahlape (MRC) to see how the EMDC can assist in improving participation in the next event and encourage teachers to be more involved and excited about the expo. The involvement of the education department could have a big impact on motivating the teachers. It has been suggested that incentives are created for the teachers - perhaps there should be a prize for the teacher whose school wins the most prizes. Last year the Shuttleworth Foundation has sent a teacher to the Pretoria Science Expo, so this could also be offered as an incentive.

When the co-ordinators assist the teachers and learners they should also give proper guidelines for project presentation, what kind of projects can be displayed, how many people will be explaining the project to the judges etc. More training is required with a long-term goal in view. We want to develop an excitement around maths and science and proper training can assist in accomplishing this goal.

More time needs to be given for judging and more judges need to be arranged. All the co-ordinators should be at the expo to assist the teachers, learners and with the collation of the results.

The Shuttleworth Foundation would like to continuously be involved with this event and assist with the planning and organisation in the future. In this way we can implement the above-mentioned improvements and expand the event.