Hola MaHigh-School - January 2023

Happy Valentine’s

Back to school

Welcome to all our and a sad farewell

Trusting we all had a great break - trusting we all had time to get ourselves together.

For some it will be the last stretch. Grade 12 can be daunting and it is going to be busy. However, there are plenty of help out there.

For some it is more of the same - going from grade 10 to 11 is not a big jump. However, don’t get fooled. there is a lot more to grade 11. We welcome our grade 10. This is a new dawn. Remember, from now on it is all volunteers. There is no compulsory schooling after grade 9. If you choose to get into grade 1012, it is a choice and that must result in commitment.

First things first: out. Go through not, chuck me tell me! We have a good one to mention Master’s. Yes, degree and is Movies, film, things will be There are also ing to the new see what a district Good Read!

Hola is here to give you a break from all We are also serious, but it is now called

school - can’t help it our new readers

farewell to the ‘oldies’

first: 2023 means a new laythrough it and see if you like it. If me an email. or if you do like it, good set of articles for you. The mention is from our newy-minted Yes, Masiziba got her Master’s is on her way in a serious way. music and opinions about all be found here. also a few serious ones pertainnew school year. Read on and district is planning - and more. all the school stuff. called edutainment.

Sybil Otterstrom Editor and CEO

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Contributors

Want to be a contributor? Wanting to write like a pro?

You CAN!

look firther and see how you can become one.

... and it is a good feeling to entertain and inform.

Masiziba Hadebe is doing her Master’s in Agricultural Economics at the University of the Free State (UFS). She is driven to make a change and is a passionate volunteer for community projects. She loves reading and writing about science, agriculture and anything in between. She believes you can wear a smile whatever the weather!

My name is Lerato Pitso. I am from Maseru, Lesotho. I am a Sociology and Criminology student at UFS and Miss Supranational Lesotho 2023. When I’m not a model and a student, I write about my philosophies on life as well as expressing my feelings on paper. I hope that my views will aid in the social development of the next person.

And we are honoured to also have industry-views from:

Edith Wynne-Trollip: - Curriculum Support and advise, Overberg District

Nadia Hearn - Founder of Get-Published

Ashalia Maharajh: - Founder & Director, Sivuka Consulting (Pty) Ltd Thozamile Mvumvu: - CFE Programme Manager, False Bay TVET

Daniel Roos - Account Executive, Transform Marketing

Artvilla Dakamela, 22, another wizard from the literature world, he is an Accounting student at the University of the Free State. He has written for the Initiative for Creative African Narratives (iCAN) amongst others. He currently resides in DurbanKZN - and is a very enthusiastic reader and writer.

My name is Molatelo Kate Kgatla, I’m 24 years old. I was born and raised in Lenyenye. I’m a grade 2 teacher at Vunza Teddy Bear Learning Academy, an author of a book titled her jouney as a young mother. I became a mother at 17. It influenced me to write about my personal journey to try and help someone that could be going through the same. I love writing and I love my 7 year old daughter and life.

Lesly Malose Mahapa is a singer/writer/poet. He started writing at the age of 14 and has since been on a journey to pursue his music and writing career. Lesly is currently working with an indie group ‘MozSouth’ based in Ivory park, Midrand. Lesly is also a brand ambassador for a local clothing line “Boi Boi apparel”

We tend to start the new year with seeing goals or at least getting some resolutions on the go.

The resolutions have a tendency to be ‘big’ things and when we get one week into the year, they evaporate.

It need not be like that. There are other ways of doing things.

Starting in grade 10, realizing you have signed up as a volunteer now, can be daunting. Three years are ahead of you and is it even possible to plan ahead? It is indeed possible and it should be done, at least in a very broad manner.

Look at your strengths and try to see what you would like to do after matric. That should set the agenda. If the desire is to be a brain surgeon, math is required. Make sure that is on the goal list.

If the desire is to be an actor, look at what is offered and look at extra-murals and opportunities in the community.

Grade 11 is a stepping stone to grade 12. However, don’t ignore the opportunity to ensure you are prepared. Grade 12 can be very busy.

Grade 12 is really the last step, but what after matric? That can also be planned – and should!

My Personal Goals For 2023

As teenagers, we tend to dream big and set personal goals which, for the most part, motives and gives us something to strive for. Top performers, celebrities and athletes all set goals. Nsikayesizwe David Junior Ngcobo, professional known as Nasty C (South African rapper whose goal is to become a billionaire at the age of thirty), and Pieter Coetze (South African swimmer who set himself the goal of joining the Tokyo Olympic Games at the age of sixteen) are some of the big names who set personal goals for themselves.

That’s because when you set goals, you have a vision to work towards.

I have set myself personal goals which I would like to achieve before the end of 2023. Some of these goals are educational, while others are finance related.

The academic goal

Once you have completed your degree, your mind is often overwhelmed with the question “where to next?” and with today’s competitive job market, it can be incredibly difficult for some to secure

employment with just a degree. That’s why furthering one’s studies is a sensible choice for many.

One of the personal goals I have set for myself is to obtain a postgraduate qualification so as to put myself in a far better position to secure employment.

The finance goal

Even though the amount of love we have for money may vary in sizes, it is nevertheless a doted-on item. Some are fond of money because of the things it allows them to do, others like to save every cent as a way to feel more secure.

Another one of my personal goals is to be more prudent with money so that I can live a stress-free life knowing that I will not struggle when things take an unexpected turn.

Getting some emotional improvement

Of course, it goes without saying that we all want to be happy in life. Otherwise, how are you going to achieve your goals while in a bad mood?

Engaging in activities that are as simple as meeting up with friends to watch sports can improve your wellbeing and can lead to a stress-free life.

Hopefully, the idea of setting personal goals will help you realise that one who sets goals tends to know where they are going and why they are going there. And although you may have countless goals, there’s always a few to prioritise.

Artvilla Dakamela

Starting 2023 After a hectic December

December is the busiest month of the year. Most of us artists spent the month traveling going to gigs and entertaining people.

As the new year begins most of us use this time to reflect on the past year. Some would do this by taking time off to spend with their loved ones and other use this time to go on holiday for a week or two and get a bit of time to relax and plan ahead

Year plan

It is a time for most of us to draw up our plans and mark dates on the calendar “important” so that we know exactly what to do when the time to relaxation comes to an end.

The year plan consists of what the artist intents to achieve through out the year. Such activities are music video shoot, new album release dates, recordings, music sales and performances and also target dates for all of this.

This is also very important as it works as a guide on what to do and when to do it.

Though this may differ from person to person because we all have different goals and targets that we want to meet.

However, having a year plan and vision board is very important and the good thing about this is that you can always change or move your plans or target if anything unexpected pop up. You are able to move around your schedule easily because you would have noted the importance dates on your to do list.

Plan of action

This is now the part where we put our plan to action, this is where the fun begins because now we are refreshed and inspired and ready to put in the work and starting to tick of the calendar.

February is around the corner so most of us are using this time to prepare for the love month it could be by recording new records and upcoming gigs.

And then it is Easter and suddenly winter break for the schools and then we look at heritage day and then we need to look at Christmas.

The calendar of an artist is always full. and unless it is all planned, we may have double-bookings - or worse - no bookings!

The message that Freedom Park sends to every South African is this: look at where we come from, look what we have lived through – if we can do that and survive then our future must hold infinite possibilities. Let Freedom Park open your mind to these possibilities.

Everything at Freedom Park is representative of our history, heritage, culture, spirituality and indigenous knowledge. Even the 360° view of the capital city from Salvokop Hill symbolises a link between the past, present and future. From here you can see the Voortrekker Monument – a reflection of the past; the Union Buildings – our current governance; and

UNISA’s Centre of Knowledge – engendering a sense of knowledge and development for the future.

Freedom Park a one-stop heritage destination because we narrate the history, heritage, culture, spirituality and indigenous knowledge systems of our nation.

Freedom Park honours those who took a stand and sacrificed for a better South Africa. We want our youth to know that there is a place that recognises such heroes and heroines. Our youth’s contributions mattered so much in the history of our nation. It is, however, time for today’s youth to take their lead from those who have gone before and take a stand to build this nation even further.”

We have a fully-equipped education unit that arranges activities that bring together youth from diverse backgrounds to talk about culture and heritage.

We also have specific programmes for basic and tertiary education and a special Youth out of School programme that teaches young people about where they come from and assists them to develop a sense of pride in their own identity. We teach young people about tolerance and acceptance, and to understand and respect each other. We believe that racism and intolerance often result from ignorance and misconceptions about who you are.’

Freedom Park also focuses on school tours but is aware that accessibility becomes an acute challenge; hence the outreach programmes that aim to take Freedom Park to the people. We have Our visiting hours are 08:00 – 16:30, Monday through to Sunday. We offer scheduled guided tours 09:00, 12:00 and 15:00

Ms. Rogini Govender

Chartered Public Relations Practioner (CPRP) Marketing and Communications Officer

Grade 10

Grade 10 is much more than just being overwhelmed with a new life. Yes, it can be daunting especially if it is starting in a new place. It is also a time to realise that adulthood is getting very close.

Goal setting in grade 10 is vitally important and should even be considered in grade 9. Why is that? Simple – the subjects chosen can determine where you will be going after matric.

According to University of Pretoria: “Learners often do not ensure that their Grade 10 subject choices are aligned with the requirements of the degree programmes they are interested in applying for”.

This is a serious concern. It is hard to change tack in high school. Make sure you got it right first time.

It is further emphasized from Careerprep:

• General admission requirements for your qualification of choice (University, TVET or anything else)

• Specific subjects as required by the course you want to apply to

• Specific minimum performance in these subjects (remember, meeting this minimum requirement still does not guarantee a place in the course – the higher you score, the better your chances are!)

• Specific average score as calculated by the institution and faculty you are applying to

Suddenly grade 10 looks different!

Where do we find all these requirements? Typically online per institution, but there is also help on general search. What is important is that you start even in grade 9.

Open Day programmes may also help in this. Go to as much as possible before Matric (if they allow you in).

And if I want to change subjects? There is a policy on this and this is the summary I have from Jeppe High-School (which is aligned to the policy):

A learner may change a maximum of two subjects in Grade 10, subject to the approval of the principal of the school.

The closing date for subject changes is to be determined by the School Assessment Co-ordinator, but must be completed by no later than one week after the second term reports have been issued.

It is still possible to change two subjects in grade 11 (very strict rules will apply) and none in grade 12.

Choose wisely!

Grade 11

Grade 11 can be claimed to be the most important one when in highschool. Sometimes we tend to use it as something to get through so we can get onto grade 12.

But is it true? I found something interesting here and here.

I quote: “While Grade 12 is the time when you actually apply to university and write your applications for scholarships, the information from Grade 11 (your marks and activities) is often what’s used -- at least in part -- to make admission and scholarship decisions. Grade 11 is the most important year to prepare for university admission and scholarships. And it all has to do with when you apply for university and scholarships.

If you are applying for scholarships etc. it is important to showcase your willingness to work on non-curriculum things.

Get involved! Grade 11 is not high-pressure and it is possible to be active in other fields.

“The best way to maximize your impact (and to

put your best foot forward on an admission and scholarship application) is to take on a leadership role of some kind.

In Grade 11, a leadership role might be as a co-leader of something. Being a co-leader is a great way to start because you can share the responsibilities of leadership with another person, learn what’s involved, and prep yourself for another leadership role in the future”

And working during summer holidays: “Working part-time may be necessary. Good news: students who work during high school are often looked upon favourably by scholarship committees!

Try to find a job that carries some longterm benefits, such as those that provide transferable skills or potential relevant work experience, e.g. swim instructor, camp counsellor, etc. But any type of job usually develops some kinds of skills, such as customer service and handling cash, so all jobs can be an asset on a scholarship application”.

The most important thing is as well: doing well in grade 11 typically will mean you do well in grade 12. Creating a habit of ‘doing well’ is just as important as anything.

Use grade 11 to know more about what you would like to do after matric. There is time in grade 11, not in grade 12. Test yourself. It is last chance before the pressure is on!

My plans for 2023

Every beginning of the year we make new year’s resolutions. However, most of them last for the first few months due to the fact that they were made based on the societal pressure to make plans for the new year, and not on the reflection of the previous year’s actions and how one would like to improve his or her life.

Additionally, we try to make instant changes in all aspects of our lives at the same time, thereby leading to feeling burdened and overwhelmed. Hence I decided that this year I plan to have fun and accept situations that I have no control over.

Working hard without allowing yourself to have fun is detrimental to one’s wellbeing.

In 2022 I was doing my final year in Bachelor of Social Sciences at the University of the Free State. I was so very focused on obtaining good results that I ended up immersing myself in academic work only until it got to a point where I was struggling mentally.

The irony is that, instead of obtaining distinctions in all subjects like I had planned, my state of mind negatively impacted my academic work. As a result, I received average results in one of my modules.

When doing a reflection on how

I can improve my life this year, I realized that I should make time for hobbies and quality time with beloved ones as much as I make time for my goals.

Completing a certain level of education comes with a lot of uncertainties.

After completing matric, I was confused about which career path to follow. Now I am confused about whether I should go into a workplace or further my studies – both are situations out of my control as they are based on acceptance from institutions and companies.

This year I planned to reach for all opportunities so that I can learn that when applying or trying anything, acceptance is not always the answer; that the only way to learn to accept situations that are beyond one’s control is through experience. In fact, one goes through several failures before succeeding.

In whatever stage of life that you are at, do what you can with the resources that you have, develop yourself and be prepared for possible opportunities. Let your plans cater for your specific needs and do not be pressured by society.

Amber - just so pretty

Of course we do not see too much amber in South Africa, but it is still possible to buy as jewelry.

It looks just good, and it feels good. The deep brown gold colour is just so inviting and when we can find a piece of amber with something inside it (like an ant or insect or flower) it just makes it even better.

But how old is amber and where does it come from?

Amber is fossilized tree resin. That means that there must have been trees when it formed and that sets the age of most amber. It cannot be too old – like before there were pine trees around and so on. The typical age of amber is some 150 million years.

We tend to identify amber with coming from the Baltic and North Sea. It is true that the bigger deposits (and where it is still washed up on the beaches) are indeed the Baltic and North Sea coast lines.

But not exclusive! Lebanon and Jordan have some of the oldest and

most remarkable amber finds. Somehow, the insects trapped in the amber from Middle East display a variety of even extinct insects. It is a ‘gold mine’ for early discoveries.

Burmese amber might be younger (only 99 million years old) but plenty of species have now been identified.

Although 90% of amber is coming from Russia’s Baltic coast line, there are also amber mines around.

So what is the process? It is really simple. Here is a pine tree (as we see them today, really). A big animal (a dinosaur?) scrapes the tree which ‘bleeds’. Here is the resin. It slowly runs down the tree and as it is sticky it can easily trap an insect. Or it can drip to the forest floor, entrapping a flower or some pollen or those things.

This drop of resin hardens and now we just wait some 10 million years for it to become a fossil! The tree rots way. The water is rising and the newly formed amber is slushing around in the Baltic until one day it is washed ashore and found.

Is amber always this nice dark yellow golden colour and is amber expensive?

No, Amber is not expensive. But it is such a beautiful piece especially if it has an insect inside. It just looks good.

Raw amber as found on the beach looks like pebble. But if any amber collector picks it up, it is easy to determine. Amber is not heavy at all.

And the ultimate test is to just sink your teeth in it (don’t bite!) just enough to know it is not a rock, but something else. Then it is typically amber.

When to collect amber, at least from the North Sea? Well, after a couple of days with the wind blowing onto the shore and then shifting to blowing away from shore, the amber is there! It has been washed up and there can be plenty of it.

After a bit of cutting and polishing we find those magnificent pieces of amber. And who would not like to display a piece that is like 150 million years old.

Now colour, There are plenty of different colours. But the blue one can be most expensive. And the clear amber is sought after rather than the cloudy ones.

… and of course if there are ‘things’ in it.

So amber is easy to cut and form, we see amber being used for all kind of thing.

It is also claimed that amber has ‘healing properties’.

Amber necklaces are a traditional European remedy for colic or teething pain with purported analgesic properties, although there is no evidence that this is an effective remedy or delivery method.

In ancient China, it was customary to burn amber during large festivities. The oils were combined carefully with nitric acid to create “artificial musk”.

Modern products, such as perfume, do not normally use actual amber because fossilized amber produces very little scent.

In perfumery, scents referred to as “amber” are often created and patented to emulate the opulent golden warmth of the fossil.

Is Jurassic park possible?

Whenever we talk about amber, there is always one question that pops up: is Jurassic Park possible?

Let us just recap this one:

The story line is simple: If we can find a piece of amber with a fossilized mosquito in it, we could extract the blood from the mosquitoes stomach. This blood could contain the blood from the animal the mosquito was feeding off, and then we should have the DNA from that animal.

When we have the DNA we quickly see where there are pieces missing and put those in. In Jurassic Park it is mostly frog DNA.

Then into to incubator and there we have a dino!

That is the story, but there are few things wrong there.

DNA is a good storage device, but the oldest DNA found is some 2 million years old (look here):

“Scientists discovered the oldest known DNA and used it to reveal what life was like 2 million years ago in the northern tip of Greenland.

With animal fossils hard to come by, the researchers extracted environmental DNA, also known as eDNA, from soil samples. This is the genetic material that organisms shed into their surroundings — for example, through hair, waste, spit or decomposing carcasses.

Studying really old DNA can be a challenge because the genetic material breaks down over time, leaving scientists with only tiny fragments.”

So, dino-DNA like 65 million years old? Probably not.

Let us just imagine then that we have a string of DNA. Found in the blood of a mosquito which must also have lived some 65 million years ago (they did, so that is a tick). But which animal? We don’t know. Maybe we clone a worm!

Inserting missing pieces? Do we know where to insert it if we don’t know the animal? Even if we have scattered pieces of DNA (broken pieces) from several pieces of amber, would it be from the same animal? If not, we have a serious problem here (herbivore T-Rex?).

And why frog DNA? In the story that is where it goes wrong because frogs can change sex. The dinos were supposed to be only females, but hey, Frog DNA – sex change – males – problems So no, good movie, but no cigar

New Exhibitions

4IR Exhibition

The 4IR exhibition currently hosts the Humanoids (two small ones and the big one called Pepper), Virtual reality Station, Augmented Reality and the interactive displays integrated with of a number of TV screens.

This concept is through the touch screen located at the entrance to the center. Interactive display section has been created where visitors are encouraged to use traditional touch screens to immerse themselves in games and content around Science Technology Engineering and Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).

Children are provided with the opportunity to play games to train their analytical ability, improve their ability to solve puzzles and chal-

We added two new exhibitions to our collection on the floor. The 4IR and Mirror Maze exhibitions

lenges. They are also challenged to explore more traditional content style, such as exploration of subjects including how Artificial Intelligence works, Machine Learning, how data transfers over networks etc.

Science Exploration

While traditional science teaching has complex challenges around logistics, safety and costs. VR has none of these limitations. Experiments are done as often as needed with no physical costs of materials or safety concerns. Students can learn about physics and chemistry, life science etc. in a safe environment. Within VR learning occurs without any distract but with full immersion. Learning and understanding mathematics becomes easier and more fun inside of VR due to the nature of games and how they are designed.

This is designed to make learning and exploration real fun especially for little ones. Wide learning opportunities exist through this exhibition, children have many prospects to learn on, e.g. google earth exploration experience.

With Google Earth VR, children can travel to almost any place in the world. They can fly all over the world and explore any city, any monument and landmark anywhere in the world.The exhibition has two different types of humanoids the small one (called Sanbot Max and the Bigger one called Pepper).

The Sanbot Max robot was designed to be implemented into numerous kinds of business scenarios, providing customers and staff members with intelligent and efficient services.

Pepper is a semi-humanoid robot, which means that a human has to control it. It is designed with the ability to read emotions. Pepper recognizes faces and basic human emotion.

Drones and Mirror Maze

Drones Pilots at the Clubhouse

Did you know that the Clubhouse has three certified drone pilots?

They also have 10 DJI Tell drones that they will used for their drone course.

They are currently putting together content for the said course.

In addition, the Clubhouse offers programmes such as Teach Fundamentals of drones, real-life applications of drones: namely surveillance using object identification and tracking to videography for commercials and other media use.

This includes python programming that covers drone automation.

A mirror is an object that reflects an image. Light that bounces off a mirror will show an image of whatever is in front of it, when focused through the lens of the eye or a camera.

Mirrors reverse the direction of the image in an equal yet opposite angle from which the light shines upon it. This allows the viewer to see themselves or objects behind them, or even objects that are at an angle from them but out of their field of view, such as around a corner.

Natural mirrors have existed since prehistoric times, such as the surface of water, but people have been manufacturing mirrors out of a variety of materials for thousands of years, like stone, metals, and glass. In modern mirrors, metals like silver or aluminum are often used due to their high reflectivity, applied as a thin coating on glass because of its natu- rally smooth and very hard surface.

A maze is a path or collection of paths, typically from an entrance to a goal. The word is used to refer both to branching tour puzzles through which the solver must find a route, and to simpler non-branching patterns that lead unambiguously through a convoluted layout to a goal. The pathways and walls in a maze are typically fixed, but puzzles in which the walls and paths can change during the game are also categorised as mazes or tour puzzles Mirror Maze

The mirror maze itself is a pattern, combining several characteristics of geometric patterns: repetition, symmetry and tessellation using repeated equilateral triangles. These triangles fit together without any gaps or overlaps, creating a tessellation. Mirrored surfaces all around reflect the pattern so that it repeats and appears infinite.

Sharing is caring – the success of a 20-year partnership supporting STEM subject learners and teachers by one of SAs top schools

For more than 20 years, the Vula Programme at Hilton College has provided relevant, meaningful and cost-effective educational interventions and development opportunities for teachers and learners from more than 100 affiliated less-resourced schools in the KZN Midlands region.

“This remarkable track record not only emphasises the programme’s sustainability and longevity, but it has also allowed for the development of long-lasting relationships of mutual trust and respect with a large number of Maths and Science teachers and officials throughout KwaZulu-Natal.”

Teacher participation is arranged through KwaZulu-Natal Education Department district officials, in particular Maths subject advisers in the Umgungundlovu, King Cetshwayo, Ilembe, Pinetown and Harry Gwala districts. Learner groups are set up in targeted interventions with schools identified as requiring assistance.

In the past two decades, some 500 Maths teachers and 300 Science teachers have been directly impacted by the programme, while more than 40 000 learners attended Vula events.

A strong information technology emphasis offered learners and teachers a vast selection of computer-based teaching resources, as well as training in the teaching methodologies best suited to the use of these resources.

Since 2014, more than 200 Maths teachers have received laptops.

The main component of the Vula Mathematics Project is the Vula Mathematics Academy (VuMA), a termlong in-service training and development initiative for practising teachers from under-resourced schools.

The project also organises and offers several other training and enrichment activities, including The Laptop Project for teachers from rural schools in the marginalised Pholela and Bergville districts; a Maths Club for talented mathematicians from schools in the greater Edendale valley; and residential workshops and school holiday residential workshops.

The Vula Science Project, meanwhile, supports and assists Physical Science teachers in the use of technology and relevant laboratory equipment while providing opportunities for learners in Grades 10 to 12 to be exposed to relevant teaching materials and gain handson experience in conducting science experiments.

Smuts explains that the Principals Leadership Project, launched in October, takes the form of a leadership forum and support group for school principals from Vula schools.

The Datatec Educational and Technology Foundation has supported the Vula Programme for a “considerable number of years”, Vula director Lloyd Smuts says, and this has allowed it to continue with its ongoing upskilling programmes without a break since 2001.

For more information, please contact: Lloyd Smuts

MaHigh-School

Entertainment – with a stretch?

Before we get into this rather fascinating new world of entertainment, we need to ask ourselves: what is entertainment?

I found something on BBC here

Of course we all like to get ‘entertained’, but we can either be passive (being entertained like going to a movie) or we can be a part of the entertainment (a video game like World of Tanks).

So, 2,000 years ago people went to see the gladiators fighting it out. That got the adrenalin going – and so does World of Tanks. The difference is the same.

Let us leave the violent ones alone and look at music.

True I can use Youtube to look and listen to my favourite music. But that is passive. I can TikTok or Instagram, but that is still passive.

The new thing is that I can choose when I want to be entertained and how. It is not limited to me going to buy a ticket to a concert. After all, I have my cell and that is where I get the entertainment. And the good thing is: it is for free!

The problem is (I read it somewhere) that Japanese youth are spending a massive amount of time in their room on the cell. Being entertained 24/7. This is a growing worldwide trend.

It is also a bit expensive to do music videos with the bands. They all need to be together, rehearsals, studio time, sound, recordings, and so on. This can take a lot of time and expensive staff.

Where do we go with this then? Is there a follow-on to this?

We need to go to Korea (of course!) where the latest trend is the girl bands. We have probably seen BlackPink, SNH48 (Japan, but..) and so on. But this is now one step further.

Thanks to AI, there are now several girl bands in Korea that are totally fictious. The characters are avatars and are created with AI.

The dance and sing and talk and move and look so real (The app for creating such avatars is mostly DeepFake).

The music is catchy, the avatars are so real, the graphics is so fantastic and it all blends into the experience of being entertained.

The point is: does it even matter if I can’t tell the difference between an AI band and a ‘human’ band? It is still entertainment.

AI is a part of it

The next step is to have a blended band. A band that consists of humans and ‘near-humans’. They all have names and likes and dislikes and personalities – and a following of fans.

I quote from the article: “While chart-topping girl band, Blackpink made history with the help of their virtual twins, winning the first-ever MTV award for Best Metaverse Performance in 2022.

More than 15 million people from around the world tuned in to popular online gaming platform PUBGM to watch the group’s avatars perform in real time”.

Can I have an audience of 15 million just like that? Yes!

Look at Aespa – four humans and four ‘near-humans’. It is a full band with each member doing different things.

Now comes the bigger thing: Can I interact with my character? Asking ae-Ningning (the near-human twin of Ningning) to change her hair style? Of course, and she can do that. And that change will only appear for you.

Now we see what AI can do – it can personalize the entire entertainment experience to suit exactly you.

But there is more: I can probably also choose to join the band. My cell has a camera, so the AI app can incorporate me into the experience. I am actively involved in the entertainment now.

But there is a lot more: why can’t I go shopping with them? Of course I can – it only takes the developers to incorporate that into the app.

But there is even more: the app offers the usual 10-15 second advertising spots. That pays for it all.

“The digital human and avatar market size is estimated to reach $527.58bn globally by 2030, according to projections by market consulting company Emergen Research.

At least four of K-pop’s biggest entertainment companies are investing heavily in virtual elements for their stars, and five of the top-earning K-pop groups of 2022 are getting in on the trend.

It gets back to the first question: what is entertainment? technology has evolved, but emotions are still the same. And the objective of entertainment is exactly that: entertain!

(PS: The hit song from eternity is ‘I am real’)

What is NSFAS?

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a government entity under the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET)

What does NSFAS do?

Supports access to and success in, higher education and training for students from poor and working-class families who would otherwise not be able to afford the cost of studies at a public university or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college.

•Provides financial aid to eligible students who are studying or plan to study at any of the 50 TVET colleges or the 26 public universities in South Africa

•Identifies students who qualify for the bursary

•Provides bursaries to students

Who qualifies for NSFAS funding?

• All South African citizens

• All SASSA grant recipients

• Applicants whose combined household income is not more than R350 000 per annum

• Persons with disabilities with a combined household income of not more than R600 000 per annum

• Students who started studying at a university before 2018 and whose household income is not more than R122 000 per annum

Crypto currencies gaining ground

Will cryptos still be used? Will it still be a currency? Some serious questions are arising based on the ‘crypto winter’ we just had.

The traditional crypto is a highly volatile ‘currency’ that represents investor sentiments, trust and the strength of the balance sheet of the issuer. In essence: do they have money if you should decide to cash it.

It leads into one thing: is there a need for another currency? If we can pay in dollars and pounds and euros, why do we need something else?

According to Sofu, there are advantages of a digital currency, like:

• Ease of transaction: it really only requires a cellphone app. And (overseas) you can go to the crypto ATM and deposit money into your crypto wallet. no borders either

• Fast: transactions are within seconds, not 3-5 banking days.

• Inflation-prone: sort of. If a currency is not linked to a national currency, the risk of artificial exchange levels are minimal

• Transactional freedom: transactions are independent of third-party interventions. Banks can close you off, countries can have regulations on possessing their currency, exchange regulations can prohibit free exchange. A crypto transaction is like handing a bank note to a friend

in the street!

• Always available! No banking hours.

So, what if we can have a crypto without the speculative aspect? One that is stable and not prone to the FTX scandals?

In comes stablecoin!

A ‘normal’ currency is backed by the economy of a country as it is issued by the reserve bank. That means that the value is linked to a country’s economic performance. Typically, it cannot go totally pear-shaped unless the country simply fails. Some do, but it is not the norm.

So, if a crypto can have the same backing as a typical currency, we are past the speculative element? In essence, yes. And those are stablecoins.

A stablecoin is therefore pegged to the asset of something very large, like the US dollar, the Euro or something. In essence to an entire country’s economy.

Cashing in on your stablecoins, backed by the UK reserve bank, can hardly make a dent in its ability to pay, even if you are super rich! THAT is the advantage of offering a stable currency without major ups and downs.

This is the single thing that can make it a success and ensure general usage. It is a daily-day thing, not speculative.

What is the UK treasury then doing?

According to BBC it will be a digital currency alongside cash and bank deposits. Right now they are looking at a research and exploration phase before they dip their toe in the water.

They need not look too far. China is right now testing a digital Yuan in Shanghai, Beijing etc.

UK is preparing to hold several consultative engagements as it is really also the reputation of Bank of England that is at stake.

EU has formulated its rules and regulations on the crypto market. These will come into play in 2024 after final approval in EU.

These are the most comprehensive regulations yet and should protect the market, the investor and the user (like you and I).

It is all focused on the use of the stablecoin – the digital currency pegged to an

outside source (like the Bank of England, etc).

Are there ‘stablecoins’ out there already? A few. Let us look at some:

The one that springs to mind is USDT or just Thether. It is an asset-backed cryptocurrency stablecoin. It was launched by the company Tether Limited Inc. in 2014. Tether Limited is owned by the Hong Kong-based company iFinex Inc., which also owns the Bitfinex cryptocurrency exchange.

Tether is described as a stablecoin because it was originally designed to be valued at USD $1.00. Tether Limited has stated that it maintains USD $1 of asset reserves for each USDT 1 issued, but has been fined by regulators for failing to do this and has failed to present audits showing sufficient asset reserves. Despite this, their asset base is still $ 66 billion.

Diem was a permissioned blockchain-based stablecoin payment system proposed by the American social media company Meta Platforms. The plan also includes a private currency implemented as a cryptocurrency.

The launch was originally planned to be in 2020, but only rudimentary experimental code has been released until the project was acquired in January 2022.

In general, the project generated backlash from government regulators in the European Union, the USA, other countries, and among the general public over monetary sovereignty, financial stability, privacy, and antitrust concerns which ultimately helped kill the project.

There are others, but it is still not plain sailing even there.

STEMulator - enter the hidden world

It’s back to school for our young learners. To kickstart the year we are thrilled to introduce the STEMulator to you.

STEMulator.org, an interactive platform designed to spark a passion for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in young minds. Proudly brought to you by the National Science and Technology Forum of South Africa (NSTF), our aim is to inspire the next generation of STEM professionals.

The platform offers learners ways to explore, discover and ultimately learn about the hidden world around them. With the latest information, STEMulator is revolutionising the education system and providing opportunities for learners, parents and teachers. The platform is meant not only for those who have access to internet: the STEMulator is designed to operate on several platforms and devices to reach even the most remote areas.

The STEMulator can be packaged onto a memory stick and given to teachers who can then access the STEMulator without any need for internet. STEMulator can even form part of a teacher’s curriculum plan, for instance if she has a group of learners who are learning about the human body: the STEMulator has four areas of the human body to explore, namely the body’s five senses, organs such as the eyes, heart, and the most sophisticated human systems like muscular, nervous and skeletal systems.

Explore

For aspiring engineers, a great find on the STEMulator are the satellite and plane tiles. They show how these amazing objects are put together.

from childhood to career

Explore STEMulator's virtual landscape – for an inside view of all things STEM Full of animated content – Free, on-line, interactive and digital An initiative of NSTF/proSET professional societies, for the next STEM generation Memory-stick versions available for remote and rural areas

The car reveals the hidden world that we don’t necessarily see: inner objects working within the car such as the exhaust pipe, the brakes and steering systems and how the piston works.

This platform is a highly interactive knowledge portal, crammed with animated and visual educational content, aimed at enticing audience behaviour through curiosity and fun. The learner who enters this hidden world will be intrigued for hours on end.

How does it look?

View the five sections on an airplane and discover the different types of careers linked to the aviation industry.

Ever wondered how a modern museum would look like? We partnered with the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) to create a science plaza on the STEMulator and museum is coming alive.

Human beings are fascinating to learn about.

On the STEMulator, we look at the five basic senses, the intricate systems such as the human digestive, muscular, nervous, skeleton and the heart.

The industrial revolution is here to stay and on the STEMulator we have the factory displayed in a different way. Having partnered with South African Institute of Electrical Engineers the tile explores six manufacturing sectors namely Electronic Components, Motor Vehicle Parts, Aerospace Parts, Textile, Pharmaceuticals, Food and Beverage Manufacturing.

Cars have many parts and on the STEMulator we show the parts fit together, Take a look at the aircon system, braking system, engine, steering wheel, and car exhaust system.

Maths is everywhere. On the STEMulator look for the square root of X icon. Here in the car we have a formula relating to the piston in an engine.

Kgaugelo Pule , NSTF

STEMulator: Research Assistant

Music evolves. Nothing is as it seemed before. Known entities are mixed with something we have never thought of before.

So it is with what we can term ‘classical music’. What makes it classic? I have tried to find any definition and there is not one I like. So let us just leave it our own ‘feelings’.

The new style from 2000 and onwards seem to be a fusion of different genres with old traditional music from non-western cultures.

This is Jung Hee Choi. Listen here

John Tavener was inspired by early church music-here

But let us turn to something that is not building on something old: Konrad Boehmer – here

Let us also find something very new: Wiki: The music of John Luther Adams (an Alaskan environmentalist and no relation to the other John Adams discussed in this article) is informed by nature, especially that of his native Alaska. His Pulitzer Prize-winning sym-

Ant-man and the wasp: Quantumania

More from Marvel, more adventure, more drama, more sequels: Scott Lang and Hope van Dyne, along with Hope’s parents Hank Pym and Janet van Dyne and Lang’s daughter Cassie, go on a new adventure exploring the Quantum Realm that pushes their limits and pits them against Kang the Conqueror.

movie time!

there are plenty of new flicks titles and get excited

A young boy in San Francisco meets a talking tiger named Mr. Hu and discovers he is the latest in a long line of guardians who protect an ancient phoenix from evil-doers.

The tiger’s apprentice

We are already into the new year now. February is of course Valentine’s but we found something different for you.

Groundhog Day is a popular North American tradition observed in the United States and Canada on February

2. It derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day and sees its shadow due to clear weather, it will retreat to its den, and winter will go on for six more weeks; if it does not see its shadow because of cloudiness, spring will arrive early.

While the tradition remains popular in the 21st century, studies have found no consistent association between a groundhog seeing its shadow and the subsequent arrival time of spring-like weather.

It is just a nice tradition and a way of celebrating something not rooted in reality!

But what comes to mind when you say ‘groundhog day’ is the movie!

Anosmia Awareness Day is a day to spread awareness about anosmia, the loss of the sense of smell. It takes place each year on February 27.

Remember, one of the long-Covid symptoms is exactly loss of smell and taste. It is not pleasant at all!

Proponents of this event suggest that since there are relatively fewer visible and practical difficulties associated with olfactory disorders than with visual or auditory impairments, the nature of olfactory dysfunction and its consequences for an individual’s safety and quality of life are not widely understood.

Anosmia Awareness Day aims to expose this situation, push for the development of successful treatments, and inform the general public about the serious impact that anosmia can have on a person’s life.

Anosmia sufferers have been shown to be susceptible to dangerous situations such as gas leaks, fires, hazardous chemical vapors, and ingesting spoiled food.

Additionally, people with smell loss can also experience difficulty with eating due to the close relationship between smell and taste.

Studies also indicate that some individuals develop depression in response to feelings of social isolation, fears regarding safety and personal odor management, and a diminished connection to pleasure, emotion, and memory.

My name is Rofhiwa and I love to write. I have used my skills to express my thoughts on international dealings of the world which have been published in Hola MaHigh-School. It has paid off, not only is my work printed for young people in the country to read, but it also contributed to me gettng a bursary from CNBC-Africa to do my post-graduate studies. Would be a lot harder to get by if I didn’t have a platform like Hola MaHigh-School.

Next Time...

Welcome to a new year - a new beginning - a new welcome - a new life.

First of all: Congrats to all our (former) grade 12 students who passed. And so many with flying colours! What is in store for the year and for next month? Plenty of things.

We intend to look into the ever evolving school year. There are plans and new directions and things for us all to know.

And of course we look at science. There could be much more from NSTF (look it up - it might be your reality soon). International stuff is heating up. So many things, but let us see.

... and I really need to find the conspiracies again.. and the tech stuff. Until next time!

Coronavirus Protect yourself Wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds

How long is 20 seconds?

Hum the first verse of our national anthem: Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika

More info: www.health.gov.za