School Based Monitoring Programme

The Arid Lands Node deployed automated weather stations and computers at three schools (Emang Mmogo Comprehensive School, Hoërskool Diamantveld and Thabane High School). Learners, with the support of teachers, collect data that are used to support the school curriculum in the subjects of Geography and Mathematics. The node also has a fourth, mobile automated weather station which is used for demonstrations during career expos and school visits. It is hoped that learners will gain interest in Maths and Science through their own involvement in the data collection process (with the assistance of teachers and scientists) and the tangible connection between those subjects and their own environment. We hope to expand this project to other schools in future.