MY NMMU EXPERIENCE (Kabulo LOJI)

The experience I would like to share for NMMU is that it had achieved the main theme of the conference: “ACTION RESEARCH: EXPLORING ITS TRANSFORMATIVE POTENTIAL”. In other words, through the conference I experienced the transformation and this consequently re-enforced my belief that AR can really transform the world. I can claim without fear and with authority that I have learned much more than any other delegate at the conference. The opportunity to listen to people from various field and to myself, made me explore the deepness of my ignorance. At the same time, it helped me to understand that no matter the field in which we are, “teaching and learning” is a common problem to all of us. The passion to tackle this problem demonstrated the unity in action to fight a “common enemy” as mentioned to me by Delysia Timm few days ago: “…for different people to be able to work together they must identify and have a common enemy…”.
I was impressed by the DUT team in general and in particular enjoyed all the presentations I had the chance to listen to. I cannot describe the spasmodic emotional feelings I went through when listening to some of the members of the group (Bonnie, Chris, Joan, Linda,…), it was just out of my own control and this was very influential.
From the topics of the conference, the content of the presentations and the discussions, I can mention the following:
1. AR can be applied in any field with positive results (government institutions included, how?) for social impact;
2. As many of the delegates expressed it I am equally concerned about the education system in South Africa and I am previewing a collapse of the entire system if we do not take AR into the class room from the primary to tertiary. The question “How can I improve my practice…?” should be made a vibrant slogan in the teaching and learning community.
3. Call for an urgent increase of power: the “work” to be done in the education sector is very huge. Positive results with regard to seeing the ones who are still unaware of AR being influenced to apply it should not be expected any soon unless if we increase the power of persuasion. In fact, power is the rate at which we spend (or consume) energy or simply the rate at which we do work.
If we want to achieve the same amount of work in a shorter time we need to increase our power. We cannot physically multiply ourselves but through Social media maybe we can. Information on all the positive things should be accessible to everyone and on a click. Every influential person should agree (de facto) that his contribution (including videos and photos taken with or without their permission) be made available with acknowledgement to anyone by appropriate means.
I support the idea of expending the network and I encourage the sharing of experiences (challenges and achievements). Together we will. (498 words)