With the launch of TelOne’s Digital Impact Learning platform today, businesses and education can now reach out to wider audiences without the limitations of geographical boundaries.
TelOne’s Digital Impact Learning platform encompasses learning using online platforms.
In his keynote address during the launch, Dr. Jenfan Muswere, the Minister of ICTs, Postal, and Courier Services said the new normal has drastically changed the way people conduct business.
“We have migrated towards digital platforms which clearly speaks to TelOne’s great vision of a digitally enabled society by 2023. Technology is evolving at a rapidly fast speed globally, the onus is on us in the ICT sector to keep abreast with it in order to create and maintain a digital Zimbabwe.
“There is talk now of, Virtual meetings, Online learning, Virtual reality, Artificial intelligence, and Machine learning to improve efficiencies in businesses as well as enhance the customer experience. Thanks to technological advancements; now more than ever businesses can reach out to wider audiences without the limitations of geographical boundaries.,” Dr. Muswere said.
The TelOne Impact learning platform was developed by TelOne software developers. The platform is a home-grown solution that was developed by TelOne to extend education beyond physical classrooms.
Added to this, the solution has become a necessity in tackling the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the delivery of education to the majority of students in Zimbabwe. It is set to allow a smooth transition from the conventional brick and mortar based direct contact education system to the adoption of online platforms that ensure that education continues to happen whilst maintaining social distancing and safety for both the teachers and the students.
“Platforms such as these will go a long way in helping us go back on track and align to the programmes set by the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education and Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education for the 2020 Academic calendar.
“I must commend the TelOne Centre for Learning which has built this innovative solution, Impact Learning platform that we are launching today. It is a proudly Zimbabwean solution for our educational institutions to adopt. It is easy to use and lecturers, students, office administrators, and school heads can easily adopt as they continue with their academic lives during and post the lockdown phase,” Dr. Muswere added..
Innovation is a key driver to the development of nations. With the advent of the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0), it has become apparent that a developing nation has to invest in skills development with a bias towards innovative skills.
“It is not enough however to provide skilled manpower to the industry but it is a requirement to introduce innovative products and services to the industry. TelOne has led the Innovation drive by developing this E-Learning platform which is already operational at the TelOne Centre for Learning to initiate for both undergraduate students and Corporate Training departments who use the platform to conduct professional business training sessions. This is a move in the right direction.
“As the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, empowering a digital Zimbabwe is the mantra that drives us. Our mandate is to assist in the digitization of the government and the nation as a whole. It is ideas and projects like Impact Learning that respond directly to the call for a Digital Zimbabwe.”
In a speech read on her behalf by the company’s director of innovation, Mrs. Chipo Mtasa, the TelOne Managing Director said the value of information and data has skyrocketed in the twenty-first century especially with the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. In that regard, she said, access to data becomes an important factor in business and this access is highly dependant on connectivity.
Mrs. Mtasa said data and connectivity, therefore, become the key enablers of Digital Transformation.
“It is with that in mind that as TelOne we have focused our Vision on creating a Digitally enabled society by 2023. A digitally enabled community will not only have access to data but also to digital products as well.
“To draw towards the digitally enabled society our main tasks will be to work on connectivity and develop digital solutions. With our mission, we will be able to drive to our vision using our products and services which include fixed voice (landlines), broadband, data transfer, and Value Added Services (VAS),” Mrs. Mutasa said.
The Covid-19 pandemic came as a test to the whole world on digital preparedness. In the new normal era that we are in, there are limitations in travelling and face to face meetings. In a moment people had to start working from home and have teleconference meetings, popularly known as Zoom Meetings. This was a sudden turn which many companies were not ready for.
Suddenly many companies realised that they were far from being digitally enabled. Many businesses only had connectivity solutions in their offices but since people had to work from home, connectivity at home for key staff members became a business need.
“This was a challenge to TelOne as we were called to help digitally enable some organisations. We were also forced to introspect to see how enabled we were. It is interesting to note that as part of our vision, we had a plan for the digitisation of TelOne Centre for Learning. The first part of the digitisation process was the development of an e-learning platform to allow our students to be able to learn online. The digitisation of TCFL had been initiated with the e-learning platform Impact Learning already in place.
“The system became handy as our lecturers were able to migrate their training from physical classroom to the virtual classes on Impact Learning platform. Lectures were continued online smoothly. This system became a tool to replace the physical classroom,” Mrs. Mtasa added.
TelOne has also used the system for its internal staff development and training and it has really worked well to help equip its staff with the necessary skills.
Impact Learning is a digital solution which will help develop digitally enabled training and education institutions.
“Together with our connectivity solutions, the Impact Learning will empower trainers and training institutions to be able to equip their students with the necessary skills and knowledge with ease.
“Besides reaching out and connecting to their current students, Impact Learning also enables training institutions to recruit and train students in different geographic areas. This means even after the lockdown restrictions have been lifted a school can still operate classes on Impact Learning. Today we are excited to be releasing Impact Learning an online learning platform which we trust will have a positive impact on our schools and colleges.”