Opennetworks facilitates remote learning
Opennetworks “Unmutes” Remote Learning
“Is everyone on mute?”, well not anymore! Through the Grow with Google project, Opennetworks and partners have made it possible for over 100 schools across the African continent to benefit from the advantages of G Suite for Education. Opennetworks, itself, was responsible for deploying the solution across 32 schools, providing R 100 000 worth of onsite and virtual training for teachers who would be utilising the various tools. New to the offering?
Here’s a quick recap of its awesomeness:
- Collaborate anytime, anywhere, using Google Sheets, Docs and Slides
- Connect your classroom with email, chat, and video – at home teaching is made easy with Google Meet
- Create classes, make assignments, give quizzes, and save time marking (thanks to Google Classroom, Assignments and Forms)
- Compile to-do lists, create task reminders and schedule meetings and events with Google Keep and Google Calendar
Opennetworks’ contribution at a glance:
- Project duration – 7 weeks
- 24 885 students reached
- 1 591 teachers now have access
- Solution deployed across 32 schools
- Min of 640 hours of work (with lots of late nights)
- 12 000 cups of hot drinks
- 2 non-coffee drinkers
- 17 team members
- 3 contractors
- 100 hours of staff training
- Prepared more than 192 teachers to take their Level 1 Certified Educator Exam and 64 teachers to write Level 2
The Grow with Google initiative had a successful training model added onto it. Teachers were sent a series of videos with some content to work through beforehand, and then attended two online sessions where the features of the various Google tools were showcased and demonstrated. The teachers were encouraged to work along with the trainers and each and every one was actively engaged.
What educators had to say…
“Loved that it was all interactive – allowing us to practice as we went along and to pose questions .” – Belinda Brugge, John Graham
“My teachers are like kids! All I hear them talking about is Google. My grade 4 teachers gave me a big jar filled with treats to say thank-you for initiating Google. It’s so good to have a buzz at school amidst all the setbacks…” – Andre Engel, John Graham
