The very first online school on the continent has been launched on Tuesday (13 October). Bridge House, an independent school in Franschhoek, and Digemy, award winning education technology company, have joined forces to create ConnectEd – the first Independent Examinations Board (IEB) curriculum online high school in Africa to use a dynamic adaptive learning platform.
Bridge House and Digemy have an aligned vision to change the traditional teaching model and, in the process, enable a first-rate education to be accessible to a much wider audience.
“A key issue with the current education system is that all students are expected to work at the same pace,” said Kate Cowling, Head of College Academics at Bridge House.
“This system doesn’t allow for students with differing abilities to engage and absorb information at different rates, nor does it acknowledge each student comes with their own unique background and prior knowledge.
“Teachers spend a lot of time repeating content until all the students have an understanding of the work. A second issue is that teachers are unable to make real-time data-driven assessments to identify which concepts students struggle with as these insights are not automated or readily available.”
Kobus Louw, Chief Executive Officer of Digemy, explains the adaptive learning approach Digemy provided and ConnectEd uses addresses both issues.
“The ConnectEd platform is powered by neuroscientific algorithms that identify each student’s knowledge gaps and adapts questions and content accordingly,” Cowling says, “providing a tailored and effective personalised learning plan. The result: a decrease in time spent learning and an increase in retention.” World-class academic content based on the IEB curriculum created and developed by experienced Bridge House School staff will be provided to students via multimedia micro-module lessons.
Personalised support will be provided through a facilitators’ programme and weekly live group sessions for all subjects, both of which will provide a collaborative learning community.
ConnectEd will also empower students to take ownership of their personal, non-academic development with access professionals and mentors who will present masterclasses to expand knowledge of the world beyond school.
Students will have the opportunity to learn essential life skills and do courses in a number of subjects, including personal finance, memory mastery and entrepreneurship, among others. “Bridge House holds true to the core values in providing a pioneering, dynamic and forward thinking education for our students,” says David Clark, head of the school.
To apply for ConnectEd or learn more about Bridge House and the Digemy platform, visit connectedschool.africa.
