By Neo Kolane
A new system that is a close-to-perfect way for students to survive the miseries of having to learn amid COVID-19 has been developed by three students of the National University of Lesotho (NUL).
Educ Learning Management System is an online platform that will allow schools to do their teaching and learning in a very effective and efficient manner. It was developed by Reitumetse Sehloho, Tšepo Thamae and Thapelo Maraisane during the early times of COVID-19 in the country.
One of the NUL students who developed this platform, Sehloho told theReporter that COVID-19 is proving to be deadlier and physical interaction is proving impossible.
“Coronavirus may be one of the smallest organisms ever seen, but that hasn’t stopped it from forcing us into hiding, including hiding away from classrooms,” Sehloho said.
He further stated that unfortunately, many schools, even universities, were caught off-guard. Platforms, which were used mainly for sharing material online were suddenly called online learning platforms when schools found that there was nowhere to run to.
These students knew there was more than one way to tackle the challenge. In fact, the most effective way was to search for the solution themselves. Sehloho and his team knew they had to go beyond just complaining. Although students of Economics, they learned basics of Computer Science at college and, according to Sehloho, they put many into self-learning.
Sehloho added that with this system, students go to live classes, like they would in physical classes. When they enter the digital classrooms, they find a whole new library of learning material and access to their classmates.
“There was a realization that in the country during this pandemic or similar situations, our education system doesn’t not allow us to continue as if nothing happened just because we changed the mode of teaching and learning,” Sehloho stated.
He said the problem they were trying to solve the moment they developed the platform was to try or transform the country’s education system.
Sehloho further said that Educ LMS is a one-stop shop.
“Once one is logged in and has selected their course. The teacher is able to create a live video in which he can now start having live interactions with students using Zoom or Zoom-like platforms. Such platforms are embedded in this system and one can even use them when they do not necessarily have their mobile app versions in their cellphones,” Sehloho explained.
Sehloho enthused that the live interaction is key.
“Students will find necessary information about their course, put in an organized manner. Students will know when they will have tests, quizzes or exams.”
He added that there are around 10 forms of assessments the teacher can use, including the traditional way of posting a test and getting written answers back, all on the same platform.
“If a student misses a class, they do not have to rely on their classmates to recount what was said in the class. Rather they can play a recorded episode,” he said.
“If a person from a particular school wants to use the platform then it will be customized to be used for a particular school, then we will see the way forward.” Sehloho said.
