We are living in an era where learning is not only about being able to read, write and count but about creativity, collaboration, critical thinking and communication.
Educational institutions are having to adapt and develop new ways of teaching and learning that reflect this ever changing world. 21st Century learning is learner-centred, personalized, visibly relevant, data-rich and interdependent.
Due to the challenges in the Africa education sector the rural learners in Africa are being left behind in the new ways of learning. Through Ruzivo Smart Learning platform; Higherlife Foundation is fighting exclusion of the rural student and giving them access to 21st Century learning approaches in order to develop informed future leaders that can move Africa forward.
Through re-engineering traditional teacher-learner roles by making the learner the data–holder and decision maker and the teacher a guide and facilitator, Ruzivo is ensuring learner centred learning. Designed with the learner in mind, through its gamification, Ruzivo is nurturing the role of play, informal learning and creativity in today’s learning.
With Ruzivo digital learning, learning is personalized allowing each learner to work at their own pace without their teacher and get immediate feedback on completed exercises. “With Ruzivo I can study without my teacher and learn on my own what I struggled to understand in class,” says Angel Madzivire of Senondo Primary, Gwanda, Zimbabwe.
With a vast array of exercises and subjects available like Shona and Ndebele, Ruzivo has content that is relevant and tailored to meet the needs of Zimbabwean students anywhere. “My pupils used to perform below average but now with the diverse, wide range questions, syllabus based content on Ruzivo, there is marked improvement. Mark my words the pass rate will double from last year’s!” expressed Canann Kawina, a grade 7 teacher from Mupambe primary, Binga, Zimbabwe.
By having rich digital content aligned to the Zimbabwean curricula, Ruzivo is making quality education accessible to a larger group of students who ideally have no access across Zimbabwe. Learners in remote areas such as Binga and Gwanda are now learning using computers and tablet PC’s, allowing them to pit themselves against private school learners in Zimbabwe. “Ruzivo introduced me to computers and tablets that I did not know how to use and so because of Ruzivo I am now super!” joyfully expressed Mahlatsi Moyo, a grade 7 student from Jahunda primary in Gwanda, Zimbabwe.
Through its rich data sources which learners can also access after school, Ruzivo supports traditional classroom learning expressed Mrs. Mkandhla from Jahunda Primaru school in Gwanda when she said; “The exercises are well researched and set from simple to complex to reinforce learning”. It’s easy to understand concept notes and easy to do exercises have allowed learners across Zimbabwe to be enlightened and to gain more knowledge.
“I have discovered that Ruzivo is waking up our minds”, stated Rachel Ncube a student at St Christopher Primary School in Gwanda while Sandiso Mpofu another student of St Christophers Primary, said “Through Ruzivo I have discovered many things that I did not know”.
The Ruzivo platform is not only informing but inspiring learners to dream big and look beyond their circumstances by allowing them inclusive and equitable quality 21st Century education. “One child came up with a concept that we had not even coined as teachers because of the information they accessed from Ruzivo!” added Mr Kawina of Mupambe Primary school, Binga.
“I become very happy when I see Ruzivo personnel as I wish that one day I will also be able to help people like they. Ruzivo is making me work even harder every day!” voiced Shallom Muleya of Mupambe Primary, Binga.
To find out more about Ruzivo smart learning please visit: www.ruzivodigitallearning.co.zw
