School years are all about preparing our kids for the real world, where one day, they will work and hopefully, thrive. With rapid rate of continual tech advancements, it’s become harder to feel certain about the shape and substance of the ‘real-world’ that our kids will soon inhabit. There are already multitudes of new career options, as well as dramatic changes to long-established career paths.
High engagement online school, Koa Academy has introduced a monthly session, ‘The doctor will explain you now’ that brings together the entire school and a working PHD graduate. The doctor is challenged to explain their doctoral studies to the kids in 15 minutes, and then participates in a Q&A that enables Koa learners to learn more about their work and field of study.
The latest session of ‘The doctor will explain you now’ featured Dr Malebogo Ngoepe, a Biomedical Engineer working in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Cape Town (UCT). Mark Anderson, Principal of Koa Academy, says, “Dr Ngoepe does fascinating work in the computational modelling of blood clots, and this was a rare opportunity for Koa learners and educators to get insights into the ways that technology and engineering are being used in the medical field to understand diseases and improve treatments.”
Dr Ngoepe, who graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and then completed her PhD in Biomedical Engineering explained how she and her team developed a model of blood clotting, set up computational experiments and then verified the computer data with simple real-life experiments.
Mark says, “The aim of these sessions is to activate learners’ curiosity and give them a glimpse into the world of work, and the study paths that professionals such as Dr Ngoepe have taken to become leaders in their field. From her straightforward presentation they could see how she and her team are working to benefit society and make a difference to health and well-being. Dr Ngoepe also highlighted the importance of teamwork and collaboration, which are such important 21st Century skills that we are cultivating at Koa Academy.”
For parents of kids aged 8-18, the next ‘The Doctor Will Explain You Now’ is on Tuesday, 22nd March from 8:15 to 9:00am. Dr. Michelle Blanckenberg, a Conservation Biologist who investigated the effects of land-use change, from small livestock farming to protected area, on vegetation and mammal communities in the SKA region of the Karoo, South Africa, will be talking to us about her PHD.
Come join us:
Online | Tues 22 March | 08:15-09:00 | Ages 8-18 | Free | Register at https://forms.gle/um5wMcZwQq5pZui29
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