An Inspired student immersed in the Metaverse

Inspired Education Group launches cutting-edge edtech programme across South Africa

Inspired Education Group is rolling out four cutting-edge edtech (education technology) programmes across all 11 Reddam House and Reddford House schools in South Africa, beginning in January 2025.

As part of a substantial investment by the group, these initiatives will provide both teachers and students with innovative tools designed to improve learning outcomes and engagement. A dedicated local and global edtech team is overseeing the seamless integration of these programmes, ensuring they meet the unique needs of the South African curriculum while benefiting from the group’s international best practices.

This launch is part of Inspired Education’s global mission to leverage technology in education, ensuring students are fully prepared for the challenges of the future. By implementing these programmes, Inspired aims to enhance both teaching and learning experiences with technology-backed solutions, tried and tested in schools across the globe.

Ravi Nadasen, CEO of Inspired Education Group for Africa and the Middle East, comments: “The benefit of being part of a global education group is that we have access to international best practice and resources. This means our students and teachers are not just beneficiaries of local improvements but are part of a broader group where global learnings can be applied at the local level. This edtech rollout, backed by substantial investment, ensures our schools in South Africa can draw on cutting-edge technology that has already demonstrated its value internationally.”

The four key initiatives being rolled out in South Africa are:

Lesson Planner AI

The Lesson Planner AI programme is designed to assist teachers by significantly reducing the time needed for lesson preparation. The artificial intelligence technology allows teachers to input a topic, phase and level, and the tool generates a fully formed lesson plan including objectives, resources and a self-marking quiz. This tool taps into a vast global network of lessons uploaded by Inspired teachers from around the world, offering a collaborative platform that benefits all.

Proof from previous implementations demonstrates the AI’s potential to transform lesson planning. Feedback from Inspired schools shows that over 66% of teachers found the AI tool enhanced their lesson planning, saving valuable time that they could then use to focus on personalised instruction.

By drawing on international resources, the AI can generate lessons at various levels of complexity, giving teachers the ability to offer advanced lessons or simplified, personalised ones for students who need additional support.

The tool empowers teachers with diagnostic information, helping them make data-driven decisions about individual student needs. Although it’s not tied to any specific curriculum, teachers retain control to ensure lessons align with Independent Examinations Board (IEB) or other curriculum standards.

Metaverse VR

The Metaverse VR initiative introduces immersive, experiential learning to students in Grades 6 to 12. This revolutionary tool goes beyond traditional virtual reality; it creates a safe, interactive environment where students can collaborate in real time, offering a much deeper level of engagement with course content. Metaverse lessons are designed to provide an active, kinetic learning experience that leads to higher knowledge retention compared to traditional teaching methods.

Globally, Inspired’s Metaverse programme has seen impressive success. In feedback from 43 schools already using the programme, 87% of students reported feeling more engaged and interested in their lessons, while 85% of teachers found it to be a valuable tool for enhancing their teaching. Studies also show that students using Metaverse VR experience a 15% improvement in their academic performance in multiple-choice assessments.

In South Africa, 344 Meta Quest 3 VR headsets will be distributed, with a ratio of 1:20 students, ensuring every student has access to this groundbreaking tool. With more than 150 lessons already available, and the ability to create new ones based on specific needs, Metaverse VR will offer a completely new way of learning in subjects ranging from history to science.

Inspired AI

Inspired AI, powered by Century Tech, creates personalised learning paths for students in Grades 1 to 10, covering core subjects such as English, maths, science and life science. The AI uses a vast library of ‘nuggets’ – short, focused lessons – to tailor learning experiences to each student’s ability level. Teachers can monitor progress through a detailed diagnostic dashboard, which provides insights into students’ strengths and areas for improvement.

Globally, this programme has demonstrated its value, with over 84% of students reporting their learning was enhanced by Inspired AI. Teachers also benefit from the platform, with 80% recommending it as an effective tool for tracking and improving academic performance.

Additionally, this AI-powered platform incorporates content from reputable sources such as the BBC, offering rich multimedia experiences to enhance learning.

In South Africa, the platform will be adapted to suit the IEB curriculum, allowing for targeted lessons that meet local academic standards. Teachers will have the flexibility to edit or create their own nuggets to ensure lessons are relevant and effective, giving them back valuable teaching time while ensuring students receive personalised, high-quality education.

Inspired Global Study Platform

The Inspired Global Study Platform (IGSP) is a comprehensive learning management system (LMS) that provides a centralised space for students, teachers and parents to access educational resources, assignments and progress reports. Built on the robust Canvas LMS, this platform simplifies the organisation and delivery of course content, enabling teachers to upload notes, create self-marking assessments and manage assignments all in one place.

The system will replace the current ISAMS parent portal, providing a more integrated and user-friendly experience for parents.

Students and parents will benefit from detailed academic progress charts that track performance over time. In global trials, 90% of students reported using the platform to check their assessments and course materials regularly, while 75% of users rated their experience as easy and effective.

The IGSP will first roll out to Grades 7, 8 and 9 in 2025, with plans to expand to other grades over time.

This extensive edtech rollout underscores Inspired Education Group’s commitment to providing students and teachers with the tools they need to thrive in the digital age. The international best practices and applied learnings from global implementations ensure South African schools will benefit from cutting-edge educational solutions backed by proven success.

Torben Lundberg, chief information officer of the Inspired Education Group, adds: “This significant investment in edtech demonstrates our commitment to improving the quality of education in South Africa. We are excited to offer our teachers and students access to these global resources, which are not only innovative but also proven to make a real impact in the classroom.”

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