On 24 May 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that in order to open up the economy further, certain industries would be allowed to operate when the country enters into level 3 of the lockdown in June.
The education sector is among those gearing up for reopening, with grade 7 learners and matriculants going back to school on 1 June.
This plan of action still leaves a significant portion of learners at home, emphasising the need for high speed internet access and online resources to keep children engaged and educated while they are at home.
With a fast and reliable fibre connection from Vumatel, learners can ensure that they keep themselves busy with stimulating educational content that supports their learning and development. Here are a number of resources that parents can access online in order to keep their children educated during lockdown:
1. Government resources
The Department of Education has ensured that it provides learners with free online resources that they can access on their website.
It consists of study guides, reading material, video tutorials and even homeschooling tips for parents.
2. e-Learning apps and portals
e-Learning apps and portals are a great way for children to engage in educational content. There are tons of apps and portals to choose from online, and the best part is that some of them are accessible for free.
An example is Vodacom’s e-school, MyTopDog, which provides learning material for grades R to 12. The material can be accessed from a tablet, smartphone or desktop and provides a variety of curriculums from CAPS to IEB.
3. Downloadable printables
Although the rise of technology is shifting education onto virtual platforms, it is important for children to still physically interact with learning materials in order to develop and strengthen motor and cognitive skills.
Printable lessons and worksheets are a great way to encourage learners to get physically involved with their education. All you need is an internet connection from a reliable fibre-to-the-home provider like Vumatel, a printer and you’re good to go. You can also print flashcards which make learning fun and promote memory retention.
The added benefits of worksheets is that they help children focus, build stamina, and allow parents to easily track their children’s progress.
4. Audio books
Audio books are a great way to enhance memory, comprehension skills as well as imagination.
Learners can access free audio books on websites like Audible, which has made a few hundred books freely accessible.
Parents can ask children questions about the audio books they’ve listened to, which can also improve conversation skills.
With high speed open access internet from Vumatel, learning is possible even outside of the classroom.
