Bogus online schools or bogus reporting?

“To date, Umalusi has not accredited any online school to offer any of its qualifications. In the same vein, Umalusi is not aware of any such institution having been registered by any provincial education department,” Dr Rakometsi said.

In response to a statement given out by Dr Rakometsi, CEO of Umalusi, Think Digital Academy would like to set the record straight by providing readers with some clarity regarding the accreditation of online schools.

Think Digital Academy urges parents and readers, to consider the following factual statements:

The condemnation of online schools by Umalusi is unfair and has misconstrued the legal offering of registered Distance Education Providers such as Think Digital Academy and other online schools, who have accreditation by SACAI (fully accredited by Umalusi), one of the three exam boards in South Africa.

It is imperative to understand the complexities of accrediting online schools – “Umalusi is the only institution in South Africa that is legislatively mandated to issue certificates of learner achievement in respect of the National Senior Certificate (NSC). In South Africa, we have three examination bodies, registered and accredited by Umalusi. These bodies are the: IEB, SACAI and the DoE.”

About SACAI:

  • The South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI) is an assessment body that is allowed to set and mark exams for the NSC.
  • It is also, 100% aligned with CAPS and Grade 10-12 learners registered under SACAI, will also be issued with SACAI Statement of Results and NSC certificates that are accredited and issued by Umalusi.
  • This means that a learner can access the various levels of pass requirements for Higher Education such as university and college entry, on provision they have met the NSC requirements.
  • SACAI learners need to comply to the same rules and guidelines that apply for the DBE NSC and the IEB NSC.

Think Digital Academy urges parents to do their research before committing to registering their children with online schools and distance education providers, by ensuring that their perspective online school is in fact registered with SACAI or the IEB.

Think Digital Academy has been a registered NSC Institution with SACAI, (registration number 851107) since 2017.

Let’s look at the positive role of online schooling and the rise thereof:

This new era of online schooling is a positive solution for many children, all over South Africa. Online schools have provided a solution to South Africa’s unplaced learner crises in the public sector.

In-person and traditional online education takes very structured approaches — learners must fit in with institutions’ schedules for classes, deadlines, exams, often travelling long distances to get there. That works for many learners, but also excludes many more. Perhaps we should further consider the statistical outliers, the thousands of unplaced learners who have not been fortunate enough to find a space in one of South Africa’s traditional brick and mortar schools.

The education system needs to work for the average child, and the average child who has not been placed, should not be disadvantaged for not having the capacity to overcome gross inequalities and sheer injustice on the part of the state when it comes to education.

Therefore, lets rather place an emphasis on how registered online schools can be leveraged and positively used to accommodate the average child who could not be placed as well as the child who has not been able to reach their full potential due to:

  • an overcrowded classroom
  • the absence of personal guidance
  • the lack of a tailored learning programme that will suit the child’s educational needs in order to reach their full academic potential.

Flexible learning approaches that embrace active learning, can also unlock greater levels of engagement between learners and student success coaches, a holy grail for most educational institutions.

Let us not be discouraging of the registered distance education providers and online schools, but rather be encouraging of this new era of education and the powerful opportunities it brings with it.

Mental health awareness in children and why it’s important to prioritise it

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If silver linings exist from the pandemic or the current youth mental health crisis, it’s that awareness about the importance of supporting mental health is at an all-time high. A win for sure! But awareness is just the first step. Real change includes access to quality mental health services and support for everyone who needs them. We know we can’t do it alone and are calling on all our TDA family and to join us by increasing the love we show our children a little bit more every day!

Mental health is an essential aspect of our overall well-being and this holds especially true for children. A child’s mental health is crucial for their healthy development, learning, and socialisation. However, despite the importance of mental health, it is often overlooked or stigmatised, leading to negative outcomes for children. Therefore, in honour of Mental Health Awareness, let’s discuss why it’s important to prioritise mental health awareness in children.

Childhood mental health problems: prevalence and impact

Mental health problems among children are quite common. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), about one in six children aged 6-17 years, experience mental health problems such as anxiety, depression and behavioural disorders. Furthermore, mental health problems can have a significant short-term and long-term impact on children’s lives. These can include difficulty in socialising and making friends, poor academic performance, self-harm and even suicide.

Stigma and misconceptions: barriers to mental health awareness

Despite the prevalence and impact of mental health problems in children, stigma and misconceptions are still significant barriers to mental health awareness. Children and their families may avoid seeking help due to shame, fear of being labelled, or a lack of understanding about mental health problems. Additionally, there is a widespread belief that mental health issues are not real illnesses and that children will eventually outgrow them. Such beliefs can prevent early identification and treatment, leading to further complications.

The importance of mental health awareness in children

Mental health awareness in children is essential for several reasons. Firstly, it helps children and their families understand that mental health disorders are real and that seeking help is essential. It also reduces stigma and helps children feel less isolated and ashamed, making it easier to seek help. Secondly, mental health awareness can help with early identification and intervention, reducing the severity and long-term impact of mental health disorders. This, in turn, can lead to better academic, social and emotional outcomes for children. Finally, mental health awareness in children helps create a more supportive and inclusive environment that promotes overall well-being.

How can we promote mental health awareness in children?

There are several ways to promote mental health awareness in children. Firstly, we need to provide education and resources to parents, teachers and caregivers on identifying and addressing mental health disorders in children. This can include providing mental health screenings, counselling services, and training on how to support children with mental health disorders. Secondly, we need to raise awareness and reduce stigma through public campaigns, school programmes and community events. Finally, we need to prioritise mental health funding and research to better understand the root causes of mental health problems in children and develop effective prevention and treatment strategies.

Mental health awareness in children is crucial for their overall well-being and healthy development. However, stigma and misconceptions continue to prevent children and their families from seeking help. By promoting mental health awareness, we can reduce stigma, increase early identification and intervention and promote better academic, social and emotional outcomes for children. Therefore, let us prioritise mental health awareness in children and create a more supportive and inclusive environment for all.

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Extending the online schooling experience

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It is my contention / observation, from the wings of a long-time teaching career, that ‘true education’, in its ‘wholesome best’ should reach, even over-reach, into all aspects of the lived experience. Education should neither begin nor end with the school bell.

Parents / carers commit to optimise the benefits of school-going for their children. Some are able to extend those with their support and encouragement of various extra-mural activities and augment them with cultural opportunities. There are dashes from cricket practice to choir. Corrective strategies in reading, writing, extra-maths are added to the ever expanding ‘school run’.

The online experience is arguably far more dependent on parental activation and organisational support in order to provide the above range of exposure without the traditional school framework. Their input is impressively ever-present beyond the attendant demands on time and resources.

Without straying into simplistic generalisation, I think it is true to say that every parent wishes and works towards providing the ‘best possible’ range of educational opportunities for their child. Based on this well-validated assumption, one may conscientise parents to widen their paradigm of educational exposure for their children into experiential learning. The proposed goal is to weave in the ‘bigger picture’ of life around them. Integrate learning to include divergent views, nuanced language, rear-view historical insight, contact with a local baker, security vs protection mechanisms, understanding waste, influence of the built environment on the everyday; transport…

In short, never close the door on learning ~ at a traffic light, in Checkers, in an overcrowded bus, around the table, on the way to church, after a fight, talk about a billboard on the highway, walk through a museum, make / sell popcorn together, identify the birds in your garden, prepare a family quiz for Sunday evening, page through a newspaper, plant / monitor a fruit tree of choice, scrutinise a savings account, a telephonic chat with an auntie … the possibilities – opportunities – are endless! The benefits are unquestionable! The development of capacities for insight, reflection, tolerance, compassion, expanded knowledge horizons, persistence, critical thought, responsibility… the illusive ‘soft skills’ whose absence mars the ‘educatedness’ of even the top mark achievers!

It is worth remembering that life is best filled by learning as much as you can about as much as you can, taking pride in whatever you are doing, having empathy, sharing ideas, running, being enthusiastic, mountain climbing, learning to love! This doesn’t happen within the narrow confines of the classroom / digital learning arena / on the rugby field… ‘educatedness’ comes with an embrace of the whole of life!

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Infographic – Online education prepares you for the future

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As technology continues to rapidly advance and change the way we live, learn and work, it’s important for parents to prepare their children for the future of education.

The future of education will likely involve a greater use of technology and will place a greater emphasis on skills such as creativity, critical thinking and collaboration.

To help prepare children for this future, parents can take several steps such as fostering a love of learning, developing strong study skills, encouraging technology proficiency, fostering creativity and critical thinking, promoting collaboration and by modelling empathy to them. By taking these steps, parents can help their children develop the skills and mindset they need to succeed in the ever-changing world of education.

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A tribute to matric students everywhere – celebrating triumph over adversity

In this season of prizes for top achievements and scholarships, we salute all the students whose talents lie outside the classroom.

Parents, please take a few moments to congratulate the 2022 Academic Top Achievers as they head off to their well-earned celebrations. Then we ask that you return to your seats. We have a few special achievements left to acknowledge.

Let’s hear it for the average child

To the student who completes all the tasks, great and small, in his hardest subject and turns it in promptly, who studies diligently for tests and consults every additional help resource, who has never once read an online summary instead of the actual book and who nevertheless manages to earn no grade higher than a C: You have already aced the real tests. School is the only place in the world where you’re expected to excel at everything, and all at the same time. In real life, you’ll excel at what you do best and let others excel at what they do best. For the rest of your life, you will never again think of this C, but you’ll bring your character and your capacity for hard work to all your future endeavours.

While there are defined moments in the media everywhere for all students who excel beyond expectation, every single student who entered our virtual school doors, with their potential unknown, has finally arrived at the same destination to be celebrated by their friends, families and tutors.

As we digest the 2022 Matric results, listening to accolades for those who soar, our hearts are shining a light on the average kids who, like many of us, were waiting for their moment to shine.

We see you. We see your potential. We see your greatness.

We must of course, continue to honour those who defied the structural obstacles placed in their way. Many students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, overcame tremendous odds to not only write the final exams, but in some cases, to achieve exceptional results. They deserve their hard work to be recognised, their tenacity to be emulated and to be used to inspire those who are going through similar trials and tribulations.

It is so important to remember that life is not a contest, and the world is not an arena. Just by being here, unique among all others, offering contributions that no one else can give, you have already won the one prize that matters most.

In closing, we salute each and every Matriculant for their hard work and determination – congratulations on your results, and on behalf of all of us at Think Digital Academy, we wish you well for your future.

Infographic – Why students perform better in online schools

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Conventional schooling has been the norm for centuries. Now, the learning landscape has changed drastically.

Today, online learning is rapidly gaining traction across the globe, especially in South Africa. Online schooling, and online learning allows students to learn from the safety and comfort of their homes and, better yet, allows them to a large extent, work at their own pace too.

While the online learning model offers many benefits on paper, is it just as effective in practice? Let’s find out.

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How to kick-start 2023 on the right note: Advice from our support coaches

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2022 was a wonderful year. Our students impressed us with their academic and extracurricular accomplishments, their parents continued to provide unrelenting support to their children, and our online school achieved new accolades.

Before jumping into our new academic year, it’s important to take a moment to reflect on the previous year. In 2022, we collectively recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic and rebuilt ourselves. However, we also faced new socioeconomic, political and environmental obstacles.

As we step into 2023, it’s important to keep abreast of ground realities and remain optimistic at the same time. Here’s some collective advice for 2023 from a few of our Student Success Coaches at Think Digital Academy. How can you strengthen your academic performance in the upcoming year? Moreover, what’s the right way to be socially responsible in this critical year?

Keep reading. We’d love to engage in a healthy debate towards the end of the article; please share your thoughts with us!

Understand what’s happening in the world

2022 was a difficult year in many ways and a positive year in others. We faced a wide range of economic, political, environmental and social catastrophes.

At Think Digital Academy (TDA), we encourage our students to understand what’s happening in the world. As Carol Hanisch said, “The personal is political.” Our personal experiences aren’t isolated; they form the fabric of the larger society we live in.

As we understand the economic, political, social and environmental structures of the world, we’re able to take a step outside our circle of privilege and observe critical ground realities. This is extremely important. It helps us take equitable action and advocate for marginalised individuals and communities.

Understand the significance of political movements like the fight against crime, the fight against poverty and, the fight against climate change, economic disparities and other ground realities. This is the first step towards becoming a socially conscious and responsible citizen.

Create a new academic game plan

As you focus on your social growth, make some time for academic development as well. At TDA, our online Education Architects have planned the upcoming year by providing a “Termly Planner” for each Term, and each Grade, that details the lessons you could aim to cover during the academic term, to ensure a smooth, steady transition and consistent academic growth.

It’s time to reflect on your academic performance in the previous year.

Make a list of your accomplishments, strengths, weaknesses, skills and areas of improvement. Discuss the plan with your parents and/or tutors and get their input. Once you have a good grasp of where you stand and what needs to be done differently in 2023, it’s time to get to work!

Create a digital academic game plan. You can also use a physical calendar; however, a digital plan will be easier to edit and track. If you’re an FET, IGCSE or AS Level student, your academic plan should be SMART (specific, measurable, actionable, relevant and time-bound). This will help you systematically achieve your goals and secure top grades. If you’re having trouble creating a plan, feel free to consult your Student Success Coaches.

Make time for personal growth

Your personal growth is extremely important, especially as you step into a new year with a wide range of exciting new opportunities at your feet! Explore your interests, hobbies, pursuits and passions. Participate in competitions like Spelling Bee, Chess, debating, essay writing, and so on. Find a skill you would like to develop and join one of our live, online clubs. We have many to choose from – Art, Anime, Pilates, Yoga, History, Maths, Movement, Drama and many more. With over 15 clubs to choose from, there’s definitely something for everyone – explore at least one of them and develop a new skill.

Personal growth also includes ethical and moral development. Practice empathy, learn the importance of being responsible and treat people with respect and kindness.

Have a check-and-balance system in place

Procrastination and complacency are extremely common among students. You may set impressive new goals for 2023. However, as the year progresses, you may become a little less diligent.

Make sure you have a good check-and-balance system in place. If you become passive and stop checking your goals off the list, hold yourself accountable. You can ask an older friend, family member or tutor to help you out with this.

Consistency will ultimately help you ensure that 2023 is a successful academic year. There’s nothing wrong with taking breaks. However, make sure you don’t lose track of your goals entirely. If you’re looking for more advice for 2023 from your Student Success Coaches, we’re always here to help.

At TDA, we equip our students with the knowledge, skills and tools they need to succeed year in and year out. 2023 is a fresh start! Let’s make the most of it!

Explore the following resources to get started:

How to stay productive over the holidays

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As the festive season and school holidays are under way, our students are already well on their way to making memories with their friends and loved ones. While some are on vacation, others might still have weekend getaways, outdoor excursions, sporting activities and other adventures lined up.

We strongly encourage students to spend time with their loved ones over the break. As you enjoy the holidays, make sure you do so productively! What do we mean by this? In this article, we’ll discuss five ways to have a productive break.

1. Reflect on the year and set new goals

As you wave 2022 goodbye and make way for 2023, make sure you take some time to reflect on the year and set new goals. Was your academic performance up to par in 2022? Did you focus on your personal growth? Did you socialise with your friends? What about your extracurricular growth?

Analyse the year from every standpoint to determine whether you had a productive year. We also recommend creating a list of ways you can make 2023 even more productive. How can you improve your academic performance? Should you develop new skills? Our Clubs and Societies are a good place to acquire and learn new skills. Are there certain activities and hobbies you should explore? Do you want to start playing new sports?

Make a comprehensive list of everything that you want to achieve. While it should be thorough, it should also be realistic at the same time.

2. Organise your study space

Does your learning space need some TLC? At Think Digital Academy we encourage our students to pay close attention to their study space. You spend a good chunk of your day working through your online classes from this space. If it’s in disarray, you’ll struggle to have a productive learning experience.

A tidy, clean, minimalist and organised space will help you feel motivated and uplifted. If your study space isn’t up to the par, start a mini makeover! Clean it up, redo the space around your working desk if you have to, add some bursts of colour to the space, and accessorise it. As you breathe life into your study space, you’ll feel more invigorated.

Avoid going overboard. As you accessorise your space, avoid adding gadgets, or any other distractive elements to it. Once you spruce up your study station, you’ll see the difference for yourself.

3. Create a new schedule for the upcoming term

It’s time for a new term! As you enjoy the holiday festivities, take some time to create a schedule for the upcoming term. You should ideally do this before the New Year.

Based on your new lessons and timings, set up a robust schedule that helps you stay on track. Your Termly Planner will help you to break up your lessons into a schedule that works for you. You can opt for a digital calendar or create a physical schedule in a notebook or on a whiteboard in your room.

If you opt for a digital schedule, make sure you sync it across your devices (smartphone, desktop computer, laptop and tablet). This will help you access and edit your schedule whenever you want. It’s the best way to stay on top of everything in 2023!

4. Get an academic head start

You may shudder at the thought of being told to study over the holiday break. No, we won’t ask you to do that. However, we strongly recommend getting a head start.

Go over your curriculum for the upcoming term and review some of the chapters, topics, or subtopics that appear difficult. You can also watch a video or two to head a head start and begin a great term! Get a good grasp of the introductory concepts so you can breeze through the first few lessons.

At Think Digital Academy, we have comprehensive online learning tools. Your learner dashboard includes a wide range of educational resources, including videos, eBooks, past papers, worksheets, lesson activities and so much more.

Utilise these resources to learn the ropes. This little measure will go a long way in helping you feel prepared when working through your recorded lessons. Feel free to jot down any questions if you want. You can ask your online tutors for assistance and get any initial confusion you may have cleared up.

5. Listen to podcasts

If you don’t want to study over the holiday break, you don’t have to! If you want to enjoy your break, you have every right to. You earned it!

To keep productivity intact, listen to educational and motivational podcasts. Here are some great options:

  • Stuff You Should Know
  • Made to Thrive by Steve Stavs
  • TED Talks Daily
  • StarTalk with Neil deGrasse Tyson
  • Life Kit
  • History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps
  • Entrepreneurial Thought Leaders
  • Brain Science
  • Grammar Girl
  • Stuff to Blow Your Mind
  • Startup Nation
  • 60 Seconds Health
  • 60 Seconds Science
  • Astronomy 161
  • The Infinite Monkey Cage

If you’re interested in switching from conventional schooling to online schooling, Think Digital Academy should be your top choice. Established in 2017, our school has been providing a quality online education to students for over 6 years.

We’re excited to have you on board! Let’s start securing a better, brighter future for your children.

Sign up to explore our FREE two week trial.

Top 4 reasons why parents school their children online

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According to a recent study, the number of students being schooled online has doubled in the last decade. Overall, if current national growth in online schooling continues as many educational experts expect, we could see those figures growing at an accelerated rate over the next 5 years. This has many asking the question, ‘Why do parents choose to home-school or school their children online?”.

To answer that question, the team of online school experts at Think Digital Academy, has put together the top 4 reasons why parents decide to home-school or school their children online. Let’s take a look:

Negative school environment

Sometimes the educational environment our children are exposed to in traditional schools isn’t as positive as we would like. With bullying, unprofessional instructors and negligent headmasters, today’s students face a lot of stress. With online schooling, the learning environment is positive and controlled by the parent.

Higher quality education

Today’s schools are often overcrowded and that can lead to many students not receiving a quality education. Teachers are overloaded with paperwork and they can get burned out very easily. With online schooling, children get a higher quality education because all the lessons are pre-recorded and taught by highly qualified subject matter experts. Parents have more control over what their children are learning and they recognise the valuable skills that their children are taught, which better prepare them for university.

Support a high-performance athlete or learning disabled child

Children with booming sporting or cultural careers, or children with learning disabilities or physical handicaps don’t typically thrive in public schools. Many schools have very limited resources and time when it comes to children with special needs. This makes an online school environment that much more effective for children with learning disabilities or physical handicaps, giving them more opportunities to learn and grow.

Improved social interactions

While many parents believe the myth that children who are schooled online aren’t as socially interactive as students who attend a traditional school, it is just the opposite. Online schooled children develop much more advanced social skills than public school students. Online schooling offers less bullying and peer pressure.

Online schooling improves both the emotional and psychological development of children and strengthens family connections with their siblings. Children gain a greater sense of awareness of the world around them, while developing a stronger sense of civic responsibility.

Contact Think Digital Academy

To learn more about the importance of online schooling and how an independent online school can provide your child with a much better education, contact us on WhatsApp, email or give us a call.

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How to prepare for the online schooling transition: A guide for parents

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There’s no such thing as too much research

The conventional to online schooling transition shouldn’t be taken lightly. This is a big decision. As a parent, invest time, energy and effort into finalising things. There’s no such thing as too much research.

We recommend taking some time to understand how online learning will benefit your child. Which online schooling features should you look for in an institution? Moreover, how will this transition affect you as a parent?

Many parents make the mistake of doing minimal research and diving head-first into this transition. Avoid making this mistake. Prepare yourself and gain more insight into making the switch. This will help you choose the right institution and begin this journey on a good note.

Use this checklist during the research process:

1. What are the benefits of switching to online learning?

Flexibility – working at your own pace, safety, convenience, the ability to tailor your child’s learning according to their needs, strengths and weaknesses, etc.

2. Which online school is right for my children?

Prioritise experience and faculty expertise. The institution should have at least 5 years of experience and a qualified, experienced, skilled, trained and empathetic faculty. They should also use a recognised, accredited and well-rounded curriculum. Additionally, they must equip students with top-notch resources and tools.

3. Can I resume work/chores while my child attends online school?

The answer to this question is imperative. Choose an online school that completely takes the reins so that you, as a parent, don’t have to intervene continuously. At Think Digital Academy, you can rest assured knowing that we teach, while you parent. You should be able to resume work/chores without being required to check in on your child. To make this task easier, we’ve designed a parent tool that enables you to monitor your child’s progress easily and effortlessly. Our weekly activity reports are emailed directly to your inbox every Monday morning. This report details your child’s activity on the system and tracks their progress. All you need to do is check that they’re making positive progress. Many institutions don’t offer parental leeway, so dig deeper and find one that does.

Create two schedules: one for your child and one for yourself

As you switch to online schooling, you should have scheduling down to a tee: both for your child and yourself. Start by creating a balanced schedule for your child. Once their pre-recorded lessons end for the day, they should enjoy a handful of activities that promote personal and social growth.

Allocate some time for sports, skill-building, extracurricular activities, hobbies, excursions, socialisation with friends and/or family and so on. At Think Digital, we’ve created an opportunity for students to join a selection of live, virtual Clubs and Societies to ensure that skill-building continues even outside the online learning environment. This will help your child have an active learning experience following their classes.

Similarly, set up a schedule for yourself. Break your day into slots. Fit work and leisure into these slots. Your day should already be planned out in advance, so that you don’t feel rushed and panicked every day.

A streamlined schedule will help you breeze through work, run errands, catch up with friends/family, spend quality time with your children, help them with their schoolwork/revision, take some time out for yourself, etc.

The online schooling transition becomes very simple and manageable when everything is seamlessly and skilfully planned in advance. Do this and the first few weeks will become much easier.

Speak with the personnel beforehand

At Think Digital Academy, we help parents prepare for the transition to online schooling. Our Student Success Coaches will walk you through what you should expect. A virtual dashboard tour is offered beforehand which will give you a good glimpse into what you can expect when you enter your “online campus”. They’ll also discuss common mistakes parents often make during the first few months of the switch. As you get a glimpse of how the first few weeks will pan out, you can prepare accordingly.

We also recommend reaching out to other parents who have already switched to the online schooling model. The longer it has been, the better! They’ll offer excellent guidance and share individualised tips based on their unique experiences.

If you still feel unprepared, online forums are an excellent resource.

If you have any unique questions or concerns, pop one of our friendly Success Coaches a WhatsApp +27 071 408 4677. Our online support community is very active, so you can rest assured that you’ll get the support you seek.

Another great option for if you recently made the switch and want to find support in your new online community, is to join various Facebook groups. As you interact with other parents, you’ll understand how they navigate the switch in a way that’s effective and efficient for them.

Ready to make the switch to online schooling for your children? At Think Digital Academy, we offer the South African CAPS, British International and American GED curricula to students across the globe. As South Africa’s first, favourite and 2x award-winning online school, we’re trusted by thousands of parents.

With 6+ years of experience, we’re committed to helping students excel. By providing quality online schooling options for working parents, we help parents heave a big sigh of relief when it comes to their children’s education. Whether you’re working from home, rushing to the office in the morning, or running errands all day, you can rest assured that your children will receive a quality education from home.

Thank you for trusting us; we look forward to giving your children the support, tools, and guidance they need to succeed.

Explore our FREE two week trial and see for yourself.

How online schooling can help children with anxiety

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More children than ever before are suffering from anxiety and mental health disorders, and this can put them at a severe disadvantage in the schooling system. While many children suffer from occasional shyness when presented with a new situation, some young people suffer from overwhelming and persistent fear when in social situations, including in the classroom.

This can result in a host of problems that can negatively impact a child’s academic attainment.

Children and adolescents with anxiety disorders struggle to focus, and experience a fear of attending school. They may also experience other physical symptoms associated with their condition including rapid breathing, restlessness, stomach aches and headaches. If your child is a sufferer, it may be very distressing to have to send them to school every day knowing how much they are struggling.

Fortunately for both children and parents alike, online schooling, which can be done from anywhere, presents an excellent alternative education provision.

How does online schooling help anxious children?

Online schools benefit children suffering from anxiety in several ways. Children can make progress at their own pace, in their favourite place, learning in an environment that is free from any distractions or problematic behaviour. While virtual classrooms give anxious youngsters social interaction, which is essential, even for children with anxiety, the experience is considerably less stressful than in-person teaching.

Anxious students can benefit from a more personalised and tailored learning programme, building up their confidence and helping them to catch up with anything that they have missed in their brick and mortar school.

Can my child do online schooling from home?

Some parents wonder whether taking their child out of their school and teaching them themselves at home is the answer when they suffer from anxiety. While this may work for the youngest children, it becomes considerably more problematic when dealing with older children. Parents rarely have the knowledge or skill to teach all subjects at higher levels such as Grade 10 – 12 or IGCSE – AS levels.

The advantage of schooling them online with Think Digital Academy is that parents do not need to take the burden and responsibility of teaching their children themselves. The lessons are all recorded by qualified teachers who are masters in their subjects. This means that parents can do just that, parent, and still feel at ease that their children are being taught by subject matter experts.

Enrolment at an online school such as Think Digital Academy, ensures that young people who are working towards their major exams can benefit from outstanding teaching from skilled and qualified teachers so that they can receive school leaving certificates that stand them in good stead to achieve their future goals.

Fitting learning around treatment

If your child suffers from severe anxiety they may need professional treatment and therapy. While undergoing this treatment process, children must be in a supportive and safe environment where they can focus on recovery. They must, however, also continue studying so that they don’t miss out on vital learning time.

Online schooling fits seamlessly around treatment so that students receiving help for their anxiety can continue to learn, work towards their qualifications and make progress so that they can return to conventional education in the future should they wish to do so.

Choosing an online school

If you’re wondering how to choose an online school for your anxious child, contact Think Digital Academy to find out more about how South Africa’s first, favourite and award winning online school can benefit your child.

Explore our FREE two week trial and see for yourself.

Infographic – How to support your introverted child’s education

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Introverted kids have an inner world that is alive and present for them. They engage with the deeper aspects of life.

Online education can benefit introverts who find in person school overwhelming. It also allows you to work closely with your child to develop a personalised education plan, to give them the best online education (British, South African or American curricula).

Here are some tips on how to support your introverted child’s education.

Infographic on how to support your introverted child's education

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A time management guide for first-time online schoolers

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If you recently started online schooling, congratulations! Making the switch from conventional to online schooling isn’t easy for most parents and students. They feel hesitant about switching from the only schooling model they’ve ever known: conventional learning.

In 2022, however, online learning is rapidly gaining traction for its efficacy. Students who attend some of the most prestigious online schools, secure top grades and enjoy a healthy school-life balance.

As a first-time online learner, make sure you start building three critical soft skills: time management, responsibility and organisation. In this article, we’ll focus on the first skill. Our education specialists will talk you through three steps to manage your time exceptionally well as you attend school online. Let’s get straight into the juicy stuff!

Plan ahead

“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail” — Benjamin Franklin

Successful online schooling is contingent on excellent planning. If you’re not too fond of planning, you’ll have to develop this skill. Planning ahead goes a long way in helping students keep their studies, extracurricular life, social life and personal life on track. We recommend downloading an academic planning app on your phone. Sync it across your tablet, laptop and computer to ensure easy, quick access. Some of our favourite school planning tools and apps are: MyHomework, iStudies, Routine Planner and School Planner.

Start planning! Lay out your schedule in advance. We recommend planning at least a week in advance. Of course, you’ll make changes along the way. However, planning ahead will help you get a good foundation and add some basic structure to your day. This is a great way to avoid wasting time and procrastinating. You’re less likely to veer off track when you have a set of tasks lined up for the day. Use your Termly Planner to assist in planning your weeks efficiently.

Most apps have an accountability feature. This lets you check off chores for the day. If there are delays or you can’t check off certain tasks, your streak will be affected. Setting up a schedule is half the battle. Sticking to it is the real legwork! You may struggle in the first few days. During this period, don’t hesitate to reach out to your Student Success Coaches for some extra encouragement and assistance.

At Think Digital Academy, we have a team of MA/MSc/PhD qualified subject matter experts to deliver learning content in the most engaging and interesting ways. As you reach out to your online tutors or Success Coaches, you’ll get the guidance, support, and insight you need to follow your schedule more closely and avoid setbacks. Remember, help is right around the corner. As long as you ask for it, it will be provided. Make the most of it!

Minimise distractions in your space

It’s 2022. We’re bombarded with one distraction after the other: Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Fortnite, etc. The list goes on. As an online student, make sure you take control and reduce as many distractions as possible. This isn’t easy. However, it’s definitely doable. Start with physical distractions.

If you’re viewing your classes in your bedroom, make sure your space doesn’t include any distractions you’d feel compelled to reach for mid-lesson. The best approach is to set up your study station elsewhere.

We recommend setting up a study room. You can control what goes in this room, which is slightly tricky to achieve when you attend online school in your bedroom. You can’t possibly get rid of every distraction from your bedroom. However, your study space should be focused and minimal for the most part.

Make sure there are no gadgets, games, or non-academic books in sight (novels, etc.). Your study space should only include school-related items (books, stationery, essentials for lesson activities, etc.). As you reduce distractions, you’ll notice an increase in your overall focus and productivity levels.

Switch to a reputable online school

Time management is a difficult skill to master on your own, especially if you’re a young student. At Think Digital Academy we provide you with some great time management tools such as a Termly Planner (which provides a breakdown of all the lessons that should be completed each term) to help students hone their skills. Switching to a reputable online school is a great way to get help with a skill that you’re struggling to develop independently.

We also provide our students with access to a vast online library of educational resources such as videos, readers, textbooks, study guides, worksheets, activities and more.

Keeping the lessons fun and engaging boosts knowledge absorption and retention, and performance.

If you’re ready to start making the switch, explore our FREE two week trial.

It’s time to start securing a better, brighter future.

Top tips for making the most of online learning

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There are so many unanswered questions for parents who are considering making the move to online schooling. On top of the usual parental concerns, you’re now having to face the reality that your children really want to be doing some (or all) of their learning from home, in front of a screen.

If you are keeping up with the real time changes in South Africa and all around the world, there is a growing likelihood that online learning has become the popular reality.

Here’s what you can do to cope with the change:

Convey calm

Most importantly, encourage your child to talk to you about what they are feeling and respond with empathy and understanding. We need to show our children that we’re here for them. Children are receptive to learning when they feel safe and secure.

Make a plan that helps achieve outcomes

In the world of learning, “outcomes” is a word used quite often; it refers to the learning goals that students are meant to achieve. Whether learning takes place online or face to face, it’s all about students achieving the outcomes that will set them up for success. The outcome might be to understand a topic, develop a skill, or for students to socially develop and connect with the community they’re in. Get clear on what these outcomes are for your child, based on what they want to learn, what their learning goals are and how you as a parent can support them. If you do eventually give in and make the switch online make sure you know:

  1. What your child’s learning goals are (AKA outcomes)
  2. What other outcomes your child should be focused on, such as improving their critical thinking skills or ability to collaborate with others
  3. What the expectations of you, as a parent are, for helping your child make progress towards these outcomes

Many parents have decided to supplement what their school provides, with additional online learning experiences. It’s important to keep outcomes in mind if you select learning technology for your child; identify the outcome your child needs to achieve and make sure there is evidence that the product you choose has a positive impact on the outcome you’ve identified. At Think Digital Academy we’ve done the hard work for you, so that you can enjoy the online learning journey with your child. We’ve already designed and developed the content so that it aligns 100% with the learning outcomes.

Create routine

Students usually work best within a routine. Work with your child to set the expectations for completing schoolwork.

  1. Ensure you know the expectations that the school has for completing their lessons online and how the teachers or Student Success Coaches can be reached. TDA students will find a list of their Success Coaches on their dashboards under the “Who to Contact” tab. Preview lessons, assignments and don’t miss any lessons. For TDA parents and students, we’ve made this task stress free and simple by providing students with a “Termly Planner” which can be used as a check list and planner for working through the term lessons. Parents can also easily check how their child is doing, by reading through the student “Weekly Activity Report” every Monday morning.
  2. Prepare a schedule of what needs to be completed each day/week. Part of effective scheduling is building breaks into the day and not trying to put too much learning into one block. A general rule of thumb is 30 to 50 minutes of learning and then a break for older students. Learning should take place in smaller chunks for younger students.
  3. If you are working from home, make sure your child knows when you are available and unavailable to help them. Setting clear boundaries is essential for your sanity and for your child’s self-esteem.
  4. Embrace the fact that online learning does not mean your child only learns in front of a computer. Given that educators must focus on achieving a variety of outcomes, you should expect that activities will be adjusted based on the best way to achieve each outcome. Activities might range from being given several links to follow at the student’s own pace, being asked to do some practice work or completing work independently.
  5. Review and reflect on the day by asking your child to show you what they worked on and ask them a few questions about what they learned. This isn’t you “checking” their work; it’s simply you showing an interest in what they’ve done and learnt.

Help your child believe they can do it

Everyone is going to experience setbacks and frustrations. It’s key to try and see those moments as useful markers on a journey towards learning, rather than signs that it is time to give up. If students struggle with a task or assessment, use statements such as:

  • Tell me what you’ve tried so far.
  • What else can you try?
  • What have you learned so far?

Remember to model this, as much as you can, for your child; if you get frustrated and shut down when something unexpected happens (e.g., the technology doesn’t work like you think it will), your child may think that some things really are just too hard.

Help your child see the value

You may become accustomed to hearing the phrase that teachers have heard millions of times, “Why do I have to learn this?” It’s hard to stay motivated when you don’t see the value of what you are doing. Try to help your child connect what they are learning to things that are important to them. This might mean connecting learning to their interests (e.g., “Well, if you understand averages you can follow your favourite footballer’s performance”) or, helping them understand ways in which they could use what they are learning to help themselves or their friends and family (e.g., “could you use this lesson on photosynthesis to help us decide where it would be best to put our indoor plant?”). Students who learn to take charge of their own learning are often more successful.

Ensure there is a focus on individual progress and feedback

Every school will have a slightly different approach in terms of how they assess students. This will be even more true as schools grapple with online learning. As a parent, you need to make sure that your child’s knowledge and skills are being tracked in a meaningful and productive way. This should be a depiction of their individual progress (not how they compare to their friends). Ask your child’s school how progress will be shared with your child and with you.

At TDA, parents receive a “Weekly Activity Report” which details all activity completed on the system by your student. In addition to this, students also receive quarterly and annual reports. It’s essential that parent’s or tutors receive regular feedback on how their students are doing. Further to this, parents receive a copy of each completed assessment which allows for remedial intervention if necessary. This is an integral tool for measuring progress. No one can improve if we aren’t given regular, immediate information on what we did well and how we can get better. It’s important for you to recognise that feedback doesn’t have to be evaluative or for termly results; it can be as simple as a supportive check-in.

Provide opportunities for developing soft skills and social skills

Whether it’s communication, collaboration or critical thinking – acquiring and developing these skills is just as important as enhancing knowledge. Much of your child’s learning is about having fun and connecting with new ideas. TDA has built skills development into activities (e.g., problem solving, self-management, social responsibility, etc.); but you can further help ensure that you are fostering skills development outside of what the lesson material is providing.

You can use technology to take virtual field trips to museums or foreign countries, play interactive games and video call with friends and family. Or you can develop these skills without technology – have siblings work together to solve a problem (e.g., how can you earn enough money to buy that new video game) or have your child plan a new layout of their bedroom to maximise space.

Look after your own wellbeing

This is probably easier said than done, but try not to put too much pressure on yourself. You don’t have to become a professional educator; you are a parent. Communicate with your child, empathise with each other and, try to take some time for yourself. Adjusting to a new way of learning isn’t easy for anyone, but we’ll navigate it together. Here at TDA, we have a whole team of people who love chatting and are only a call, mail or WhatsApp away from offering you all the support that you need!

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Why not try our online learning environment by enroling for our free 14 day trial.

Infographic – The compelling benefits of online learning for the skeptical parent

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For the longest time our only option for schooling was traditional brick and mortar schools. However, with progressing technology online education has never been more viable:

The compelling benefits of online learning for the skeptical parent

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How does online schooling make children more disciplined?

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The benefits of online learning are extensive.

We would list them, but we have a word limit we’d likely hit before we finished.

Most things that are this good for you are either very boring, very difficult or very hard to achieve. Like consuming copious amounts of plain old water, rigorous exercise and an unbroken eight hours of sleep a night.

Online learning though, is none of those things. And here’s why.

As online schooling becomes the preferred choice for many parents across South Africa and the rest of the world, its benefits have been actively circulating the web. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, parents are interested in exploring how online learning can help their children grow academically and non-academically. They’re also curious about the flexibility online schooling has to offer to parents.

In this article, we’ll cover a common facet of online schooling: discipline. You may have heard that switching from conventional school to South Africa’s 2x award-winning online school, will help your child become more disciplined in their academics as well as all round. You may also have wondered whether there’s any truth to this statement.

A strong focus on scheduling and consistency

Online schooling offers a lot of flexibility to students. Unlike conventional school, online school helps students absorb and retain more knowledge in a shorter time span. This is largely because students are able to tailor their learning and schedules to something that fits their needs best. For example, they have the ability to move ahead when something is grasped quickly and similarly, they can select to spend more time on something with which they struggle.

Since the lessons have been designed to keep students captivated and engaged; the high-definition videos, strong visuals, narrated information and engaging quizzes, each child is engaged with the content for a longer time span. In other words, they learn more actively, attentively and retentively. As a result, students don’t have to spend hours in the classroom; focused learning helps them reap the benefits of a flexible schedule.

This flexibility comes with a lot of responsibility, which is instilled in students from the get-go. At Think Digital Academy, our lesson methodology experts and instructional designers along with our MA/PhD qualified subject specialist teachers are particularly focused on inculcating an attitude of enquiry, discipline and responsibility in students. Students are encouraged to follow a schedule they’ve set up for themselves, ensure consistency and adopt a disciplined approach to their studies and non-academic life.

Success coaching

At Think Digital Academy, our Student Success Coaches are available to all students at all times during operating hours. We provide weekly activity reports and copies of assessments completed by the students to all our parents to ensure that each student is on track. This assists parents and students to provide the support and guidance they need to feel their best, perform optimally and overcome common academic and non-academic hurdles with ease and adroitness moving forward.

Students can get distracted easily. We live in a world that involves active social media use, which can trigger a lack of discipline in students. With procrastination, complacency, and nonchalance on the rise, students often neglect their studies and adopt a laidback approach to life. We counter these effects by providing parents with a detailed weekly activity report, detailing all of the student’s activity on the dashboard. This includes times logged in and out, time spent on lessons, lessons watched, quizzes / assessments completed and results obtained. This keeps the students accountable for work completed as well as academic progress and achievement which, as a result, focuses on the importance of ensuring discipline in every stage of life: academic, personal and social.

Skill-building activities

The right activities can help shape a student’s mindset. Unfortunately, many institutions select activities that simply keep students preoccupied instead of offering valuable lessons.

Our lesson activities include skill-building activities that help students develop essential skills like discipline, responsibility, honesty, hard work, commitment and resilience among others.

Instead of simply being told about the value of discipline, students get a chance to exercise self-discipline in their daily online school routines. This helps them become more disciplined in different facets of their life.

At Think Digital Academy, we provide a quality South African CAPS, British International and American GED online education across four schools: Early Childhood (ages 5 to 6), Primary (ages 7 to 13) and High school (ages 14 to 18). Explore our online schooling programmes to get started.

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If you have not joined us yet, why not enrol for our free 14 day trial to explore our e-learning environment.