Local ISP World Online has teamed up with the Learning Channel to offer secondary school learners and teachers online access to curriculum-specific educational content for grades nine to 12 through learn.co.za.
This is the first of several educational initiatives that World Online plans to launch in 2002. Learn.co.za can be accessed through the Services section of the www.worldonline.co.za portal by all users, regardless of whether they are World Online subscribers or not.
"Our partnership with the Learning Channel provides visitors to World Online with access to a networked learning community catering for learners and teachers," says World Online portal manager, Natalie Thayer.
"Learn.co.za is the first local learning site of its kind in Africa. It is available free of charge to anyone with Internet access and offers content and activities for learners in a range of high school subjects."
Learning Channel Campus was formed three years ago with its core expertise being the creation of high-quality, curriculum-specific, educational content for different media channels: broadcast (video and CD Rom), print, Internet and live seminars.
Its New Media division creates online learning sites and digitises existing educational content for Learning Channel and other organisations that have organisational programmes or interests. The main focus of the division is to create or promote the networked learning community, made up of learners of any level, educators, parents, and organisations.
Learners and educators will find:
. In-depth curriculum-specific lessons for a wide range of subjects and grades.
. Interactive experiments that stimulate and engage in the Virtual Laboratory.
. Free books and past exam papers in the Electronic Library.
. An up-to-date TV guide on the Liberty Life Learning Channel Broadcasts on SABC 3.
. An online shop with Learning Channel`s full educational video catalogue.
. Information about Learning Channel and contact details.
Thayer says World Online plans to bring in other educational partners which will be accessible through an educational content landing page via the ISP`s homepage. She says the initiative is part of World Online`s commitment to providing value-added services for users.
"Learning Channel delivers quality education and helps learners to improve their understanding of the high school curriculum and, therefore, their results. The site is designed to be user-friendly and highly interactive, while remaining simple for easy navigation."
The Liberty Life Distance Trust funds the majority of the content development, enabling Learning Channel to offer many of its educational products either free of charge or at highly competitive fees. This ensures they are relevant to all learners and schools and are easily accessible, regardless of background or social standing. Constant reinvestment in content and education technology takes place to ensure up-to-date teaching methods and relevant educational.
Says Thayer: "World Online supports Learning Channel`s efforts to address the current educational problems in SA. We believe it is important to provide access to services like this that offer a holistic education solution aimed at the developing world via a multimedia platform."
Learning Channel is part of the Johnnic group of companies. Johnnic E-Ventures recently acquired 56% of the company, while the Liberty Life Distance Learning Trust and William Smith hold the balance of the shares.
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