Telkom Foundation creates educational content for learners

High School learners from Grade 10 to 12 can gain free access to the new educational platform, will not be required to pay a subscription fee to sign up and be able to utilise the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM)-based content that has now been added.

TelkomONE IGNITE’s content will focus on fours content areas:

• STEM-specific topics and subject matter

• Content that directly supports the SA curriculum’s CAPS lessons (Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement)

• Content that indirectly supports the SA curriculum in the form of non-fiction relevant programmes

• Content that is of interest to a wider school-going audience.

Access to the pack will be given upon free registration with a learner’s Telkom mobile number, name, age, gender, institution of study and grade.

“We are thrilled to introduce TelkomONE IGNITE to the youth. Learners simply need the support to access quality online schooling and above all adult supervision and assistance. It was important to introduce TelkomONE IGNITE to ensure that it was affordable across the board too.

We have also been particular in our selection of the content, providing the right content mix of career-related topics, CAPS lessons and edutainment and I believe we ended up with the right formula,” said Sarah Mthintso, Telkom’s head of the foundation.

Last year, the Telkom Foundation partnered with Lightbulb Education during the first national lockdown to facilitate seamless virtual learning and teaching.

Mthintso explained, “As an organisation, we are committed and constantly exploring opportunities to drive education. We want to give as many viable options to learners as possible.”

Lightbulb Education is a zero-rated e-learning platform for Telkom users designed to enable remote learning and teaching. Telkom has not only partnered with Lightbulb but has also invested in Lightbulb Education through its Future Makers investment fund that backs innovative small technology businesses.

“Through the Lightbulb platform, learners can access dynamic content, group tutor support and can work collaboratively with others through our various features that include Q&A chats and an interactive whiteboard.

Additionally, the Telkom Foundation supports numerous institutions of higher learning and Tvet colleges through zero-rated educational websites designed to provide learning support. The Covid-19 outbreak highlighted that the future simply cannot wait,” Mthintso added.

Learners interested in exploring IGNITE have six channels options on the platform:

• Mindset – a 24/7 local linear channel available on the platform that broadcasts live across Africa, is CAPS compliant, covers the local curriculum and covers subjects like mathematics, physical science and life science among others.

• Discovery Science channel, which is also available on TelkomONE IGNITE for learners interested in the topics of wilderness, survival, ufology, manufacturing, construction, technology, space, prehistory and animal science. The channels have curated an attractive 160-hour VOD STEM package specifically for Telkom, including titles from Animal Planet, Food Networks, Science and is made specifically for learners in high school.

• Curiosity Stream – an award-winning destination for documentary series and features launched by media visionary John Hendricks and covers every topic, from space exploration to wildlife adventure, technology to society.

• Da Vinci, which boasts more than 2 500 videos across the channel and 100 hours of on-demand content.

• Ted-Ed – TED’s youth and education initiative aimed at sparking and celebrating the ideas of teachers and learners around the world.

• EduVOD Curriculum Lessons – a technology-assisted learning and teaching vehicle that uses a variety of digital learning media such as e-books, audio and video-learning content.

Visit www.telkomone.tv/en/ignite to sign up or find out more about TelkomONE IGNITE. For zero-rated educational URLs for higher learning and Tvet colleges, visit: www.telkom.co.za