Mamelodi Broadband E-Learning
Pilot Project = Connected we learn
ulwazi3

The Ulwazi E-Learning Partnership (ULWELP)
ULWELP

The Ulwazi E-Learning Partnership (ULWELP) is a partnership of five schools situated in the Tshwane metropolitan area. Four are situated in the township of Mamelodi and one is situated in the suburb of Lynnwood Glen, near the CSIR main campus.  For the execution of the project, the schools in Mamelodi, viz. Gatang High School, Mamelodi College, Mamelodi High School and Modiri Technical High School need to be linked, by means of a high-speed broadband wireless network, to each other and to St. Alban’s College, in Lynnwood Glen.

ULWELP came into being as a result of the need of the schools to interactively and in real time share in each other’s learning, cultural experiences and knowledge. A working group consisting or ULWELP and associates has conceptualised an experimental pilot project in order to determine if these needs can be met and to explore how e-learning, by means of modern technologies (including broadband wireless technologies), may be advanced.  One of the aims of the project is to extend the concept of the Connected Learning Community that St. Alban’s College has developed, to the mentioned Mamelodi schools. 

The pilot project, named the Mamelodi Broadband E-learning Pilot Project, is a true community project with commendable goals, in view of South Africa’s legacy of disadvantaged communities and the need to improve and accelerate education.  The project has the support of several associates, including the Knowledge Management and Multimedia units of the Department of Communications, as well as the Department of Education, the CSIR Innovation Hub, the University of Pretoria and Motorola Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd. The associates serve in a Project Working Group and steer the execution of the project.

The Working Group has ultimate responsibility for steering the project on behalf of ULWELP, St. Alban’s College plays the role of leading the project on a day-to-day basis.

The radio network is key to the execution of the project.  It is high-speed data network, capable of data rates of several megabits/second, which Motorola has undertaken to establish and maintain. The network will be established using Motorola’s 5GHz technology called Canopy, operating in the band 5.725-5.825 GHz. The technology, which Motorola claims is a breakthrough technology for broadband connectivity – in terms of affordability, ease of use, and speed – has recently been type approved by ICASA (certificate No TA-2003/058.) The network will comprise radio terminals at each of the schools, plus radio terminals at a relay station midway between St. Alban’s and Mamelodi

The project has the potential to become a landmark in the development of modern technology-based education and e-learning in South Africa. It is expected that lessons learnt from this project will be useful in contributing to the establishment of the countrywide educational network as envisaged by section 41(10) of the Telecommunications Act. 
In summary, it is important to note that: 

  • The project is aimed at gathering experimental results on e-learning and knowledge-sharing and, as such, will be important for the future of distance education in South Africa;
  • The focus is on bridging the digital divide one advantaged and several disadvantaged communities (schools);
  • No commercial or other telecommunication service will be provided by the network;

The network is unrelated to any existing commercial or other telecommunication service and there are no consumer interests involved.
The project totally relies, for its execution, on contributions by ULWELP associates.