This article draws upon the experiences gained in participating in an Information and Communication
Technology for Rural
Education (ICT4RED) initiative, as part of a larger Technology for Rural Education project (TECH4RED) in Cofimvaba in
the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The aim of this paper is to describe the conceptualisation, design and application
of an innovative teacher professional development course for rural teachers, enabling them to use tablets to support teaching
and learning in their classrooms. The course, as outcome, is presented as a Teacher Tablet Toolkit, designed to meet the
challenges inherent to the 21st century rural technology enhanced teaching and learning environment. The paper documents
and motivates design decisions, derived from literature and adapted through three iterations of a Design Science Research
Process, to be incorporated in the ICT4RED Teacher Professional Development Course. The resulting course aims to equip
participating teachers with a toolkit consisting of technology hardware, pragmatic pedagogical and technology knowledge
and skills, and practice based experience. The significance of game design elements such as simulation and fun, technology
in need rather than in case, adequate scaffolding and a clear learning path with interim learning goals are noted.

doi:10.15700/saje.v35n4a1218