By Emeka Aginam,  just back from Cape Town, South Africa

TAKING the educational  system o f ThirdWorld economies to the next technological level  may have begun when global software maker,  Microsoft  gathered  about 125  innovative teachers  from 70 countries around the world in Cape Town, South Africa last week, celebrating their unique innovations targeted at transforming the traditional classroom into 21st  century learning environment.

Mr Nwodo Monday Obinna, a teacher from Odogbulu Grammar School, Ogun State Nigeria, (middle) checking the Blood Pressure level of the Citizen Lead, Microsoft Anglophone- West Africa, Jummai Umar- Ajijola, (left) at the exhibition ground while Menasie Zandu from Ethopia (right) looks on during the just concluded Microsoft Partners in Learning 2010 Worldwide Innovative teacher awards held in Cape Town South Africa. Photo by Emeka Aginam.

Nearly 200,000 teachers around the world had earlier participated at country and regional events, vying to compete on the  global stage.

Running in its sixth series, the 2010 edition of Microsoft Partners in Learning Worldwide Innovative Education Forum, (WWIEF) was rated high  in content by both the teachers  and judges as an intervention strategy for the challenges ahead in the paradigm shift from traditional classroom to e-learning.

Even though most educators from developing countries expressed fears of infrastructural challenges that may affect e-learning, participants noted that the programme will definitely change the shape of things to come in the years ahead.

Having honored  innovative teachers and school leaders around the wold including African teachers which were among the winners in the finals, the forum showcased how best  technology practice can  further transform global educational system by  being appropriately incorporated into curricula, pedagogy and classrooms.

Holding for the first time in Africa, the  forum  is the centerpiece of Microsoft’s global US$500 million Partners in Learning programme, which helps teachers and school leaders to use technology as a tool for innovative teaching and learning in the 21st century knowledge economy.

However, 13 projects placed in this year’s competition, selected from more than 125 projects presented this week and 200,000 participants over the year.  The celebration capped off a week of seminars, visits to local Cape Town schools and the announcement of the start of a student-powered, environmental initiative called Shout formed by Microsoft, the Smithsonian Institution and TakingIT Global.

Participating teachers were judged by an international panel of education experts, using a number of criteria. Through virtual classroom tours and interviews on site by judges, the teachers demonstrated a profound dedication to helping their students learn by leveraging effective and engaging technology resources for teaching critical 21st century skills, such as collaboration, critical thinking and social responsibility.

The Best Practice winners in the four main evaluation categories were  Samuel Avornyo of Ghana (Innovation in Community), Martin Ryum and Mette Hauch of Denmark (Innovation in Collaboration); Pat Yongpradit  of the U.S. (Innovation in Content); and Tareq Mahjoub, Shahzlan Al Saffar, Omar Ashour, Futooh Khareetah and Majdi Daoud of the Arabic region, (Educators Choice).

A close monitoring of  presentation after presentation including exhibition at the forum  which showcased best technology practices in the academic environment showed the commitment of  Microsoft to transform education systems in Africa, especially and  around the world. A further monitoring of  activities during the forum showed that  both the exhibition and lecture series will no doubt, change the shape of things to come with respect to technology supported learning.

For most participants, unless teachers around the would were empowered with IT tools and knowledge, students down the line may not be able to compete globally in the knowledge society.

“The Innovative Teacher Awards exemplify the creativity and dedication of the world’s most forward-thinking educators,” Anthony Salcito, vice president of  Worldwide Public Sector Education for Microsoft Corp told the large audience, noting that, . “I am inspired by the energy and unique approaches of the winning teachers.

Microsoft remains committed to supporting the education community to advance both teaching and learning around the world. I’d like to extend warm congratulations to our winners and to everyone who participated in the regional events that led up to today’s celebration.”

On the  launch of  Shout initiative , a  program designed to encourage teachers to use technology to help students explore, connect and act to address some of the world’s most pressing environmental issues, while gaining important skills including collaboration, critical thinking and  social responsibility, Salcito  noted with optimism that technology is an amazing tool to reach beyond geographic and cultural boundaries and build meaningful collaborative partnerships.

“Teachers must be prepared for the challenges ahead. Teaching and learning must challenge in the new world. Microsoft is committed to  transforming educational m around the world.
For James Bernard, Microsoft Worldwide Director, Partners in Learning, education is very important to Microsoft.

“We are targeting  250 million teachers and students globally by 2013. We are committed to transforming educational system around the world he said, urging the  participating teachers and tutors to use the skills and knowledge gained from the competition to make a change in their different conties.

Also speaking,  Mteto Nyati, Managing Director, Microsoft South Africa, Partner in Learning by Microsoft will reshape learning environment globally, especially in Africa where most teachers do not have enough empowerment with respect to technology.

“This is the begging of things to come .With better education, skills development and development of innovation mind set, African will better placed to participate in the global knowledge economy” he said adding that  in the education space in Africa, partners in learning, Microsoft’s comprehensive training and resource platform for teachers and schools will transform educational systems around the world.

Citizen Lead, Microsoft Anglophone West Africa, Jummai Umar-Ajijola, while noting that the  worldwide innovative education forum  is truly a 21st century affair urged the competitors use the skills and knowledge gained from the contest to make impact in their different schools.

“The teachers, especially the Nigerian team  are very talented. Ghana has made sub-Sahara African region proud.” Most importantly, the teachers should learn, expand network and when they go back, share  and make learning in your  different countries  a 21st century affair” Ajijola who is passionate about IT education said.

For the judges, Microsoft  Worldwide Innovative Education Forum is a step in the right direction to shape global education system for the challenges ahead.

“I commend Microsoft for initiating this program. It will have serious impact on the teachers in one hand, and the students in the long run. The products they showcased are very creative. They are fantast even in the face of infra structural challenges especially in the African countries.” Mrs. Aderonke Bello, Deputy Director SchoolNet Nigeria who was one of the panel of impartial judges that evaluated the creative works of the competitors.

According to her, government of different African countries should support Microsoft in their laudable programs. Microsoft is doing good works in al regions of the world. They need the partnership of government who can also hardware while Microsoft provide the content. I see Partners in Learning drastically changing the way of teaching and learning all over the world’ she said.

Samuel Avornyo, a teacher from Ghana did Africa proud by wining best practice in Innovation in Community, Microsoft has me  made proud “Microsoft has reshaped my career, and   has taken me to the nest level. I do not know what to say again. Iam very happy for winning this prestigious award,” he said with excitement.

His project was on  “Rural Food Processing Industries”: In the project, students were exposed to some of the food processing techniques used by local industries and then identified and shared ways these industries could maximize profit through quality packaging, developing marketing strategies for their products and keeping proper records using information and communication technology (ICT).

It would be recalled that the  Worldwide Innovative Education Forum is the signature program of Microsoft Partners in Learning to honor innovative teachers and schools, and to showcase how technology can further educational transformation by being appropriately incorporated into curricula, pedagogy and classrooms. Partners in Learning is the 10-year, nearly $500 million commitment by Microsoft to transform education systems around the world. Since its inception in 2003, the Partners in Learning program has reached more than 196 million teachers and students in 114 countries.