Last month, education consultancy Sangari launched the Life Sciences Lab and the Land Rover 4 × 4 in Schools Technology Challenge at the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre science museum, in Johannesburg.

The lab and the 4 × 4 challenge will be run in partnership with Sci-Bono, the Gauteng Department of Education and Sangari South Africa. Sangari MD Bez Sangari explains that the Sangari Life Sciences Lab provides an opportunity for learners from schools across Johannesburg to carry out experiments in a hands-on fashion, providing a more exciting and memorable experience.

The South African leg of the international Land Rover competition for model 4 × 4 vehicles will see the winner compete at the world finals in the UK in 2017.

“The 4 × 4 challenge requires learners to complete a predesigned course with a vehicle of their own design to encourage science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) skills,” he says.

Life Sciences Building

“Through the use of the kits we have provided, learners are able to set up experiments quickly, observe experiment results safely and come to scientific conclusions in a practical way in the laboratory,” Sangari notes.

The Life Sciences Laboratory comprises small-scale science kits, digital science experiment technology, the Sangari iBox with its comprehensive science content and wireless local area network-connected tablets.

He points out that the equipment is used across the industry with universities also adapting to use the technology.

“While traditional experiment techniques are still valid, there is a strong move towards the use of digital sensors and data loggers. Our learners have, however, never had the chance to see or experience this technology. The Life Science Laboratory gives everyone the opportunity to be acquainted with the future,” Sangari explains.

The iBox provided in the Life Science Laboratory creates a digital teaching resource, creating, according to him, a complete interactive classroom that enables the teacher to share information and receive feedback from learners in real time, making learning a measurable outcome.

Creating Opportunity

The Land Rover 4 × 4 challenge encourages learners between the ages of 11 and 19 to form teams of four to six members and design and build a radio-controlled 4 × 4 vehicle, based on set specifications to compete on a 4 × 4 obstacle course. Sangari explains that the challenge aims to give young learners an insight into what it takes to become an engineer.

He says that teams entering the challenge will spend a number of weeks researching, designing, building and project managing their 4 × 4 vehicle and then enter a regional heat to compete against other schools in their region. Winners will be selected through a judging process to decide who will go through to the national final where they will compete to become the Land Rover 4 x 4 in Schools Technology Challenge South Africa national champions.

The rookie class – up to grade nine – are required to design and manufacture their own vehicle body, along with the tilt and light sensor and the professional – grades 10 to 12 – class will need to make structural changes to the vehicle and design new mechanical parts for their 4 × 4 vehicles.

He concludes that registration for the programme is free for all schools in South Africa. The competition centres on broad cross-curriculum learning as a result of the blended learning experience, where learners apply what is acquired in the classroom.

“The true value lies in how learners take ownership of their own learning,”

“Many, if not most children in Gauteng, come from previously disadvantaged communities with no access to even basic laboratories and equipment, let alone high-quality equipment that is available at Sci-Bono. “We will ensure that thousands of learners and teachers have an opportunity to visit the lab at no cost, maximising the benefit and actual contribution by Sangari,” explains Sci-Bono COO Tebogo Gule.

She explains that learners are able to make use of tablet PCs, affording learners access to the content on the local server in the Sci-Bono building that can be accessed by teachers who upload course work and other helpful documents.

This allows learners to work at their own pace and learn through the medium most suited to them.

“The teaching and learning laboratory has been set up at Sci-Bono to demonstrate the effectiveness of combining the excitement of learning through discovery with the power of modern education and technology,” says Sangari.