Headstart cites Musaeus College as model of successful shift to e-learning in lockdown

September, 16, 2020

People, rather than the technologies deployed, are the key factor in driving a successful transition to online teaching, a leading facilitator has concluded after working with numerous schools during Sri Lanka’s COVID-19 linked lockdown.

Headstart (Pvt) Ltd., the award-winning internationally-recognised Sri Lankan e-learning solutions provider, cites as an example the success of Musaeus College’s online teaching model, powered by the Company’s involvement in teacher capability improvement.

One of the first schools in the country to adopt the virtual teaching model in the lockdown period to deliver lessons on a regular school timetable, Musaeus College’s quantifiable accomplishments include the active involvement of over 300 Primary grades to Advanced Level teachers in the tech-based teaching method, the participation of over 6,000 students from all grades via Headstart’s single online platform, the development of a substantial digital content library by the teachers themselves, and the successful completion of online examinations for the second term for the entire school, the Company said.

Headstart attributed the focus on teacher capability improvement, rather than preoccupation with tech support and hardware, as the cornerstone of Musaeus College’s success.

While providing digitised learning material to Musaeus College, Headstart’s role in fostering e-learning also encompassed assessing teachers for their tech capabilities, training them on teaching with technology, and continuous engagement for training, support, and monitoring of key performance indicators (KIPs).

Commenting on Musaeus College’s quick transition to e-learning in response to the pandemic, the Principal, Ms. Nelum Senadira said: “Our plans helped us to adapt very quickly and allowed us to begin conducting a very successful online teaching program which started from 20th March 2020. The lessons were meticulously planned according to a set timetable for all classes from Grades 1 to 13 corresponding to the needs of the syllabus. This focused approach has, we are proud to report, seen us complete the 2nd Term’s work targeting the end of 2nd term by the beginning of August.  This would not have been possible if not for the special training provided by Headstart to the master teachers and IT teachers who trained all the others, usually in the late evenings or during the weekends along with the team from Headstart.

Headstart Director/CEO Mr Hasitha Dela said: “The unwavering leadership from the Principal and Management of the school in embracing the shift to digital education, the investment commitment provided for teacher training and capability enhancement, and the dedication and adaptive mindset of the teachers to make e-learning work played a vital role in the school’s digital teaching success. Although technology for education has been available for a while, the pandemic highlighted its necessity. An institution may have the best technology and hardware but how teachers make use of this to deliver lessons is what makes the difference in a student’s learning experience. This is where Musaeus College excelled.”

Notably, when the country went into lockdown-mode due to COVID-19, Headstart made available its digital learning content platform Guru.lk containing resources of digitised material to schools and private tuition institutes whose regular classes had been suspended. This enabled these institutions to maintain their interaction with students via the platform, and keep up the learning momentum without any physical contact until the situation could return to normal.

Access to Guru.lk content is provided free-of-charge to government schools with CSR funding from the Dialog Axiata supported Nenasa initiative. Private schools or educational institutions can use the facility for a monthly fee, with private institutions enjoying the added convenience of being able to pay the fees through their Dialog, Mobitel or SLT bills, the Company said.

Headstart and Guru.lk are currently running an online initiative in more than 250 schools island-wide in partnership of Dialog Axiata, Microsoft and Commercial Bank of Ceylon, under the ‘Smart Schools’ project. More than 3,000 teachers have been trained on teaching with technology over a period of three years with the assistance of the Education Ministry and Provincial education offices under this project, which has won many accolades including an award in 2018 from Microsoft as one of the most successful programmes in the APAC region.

Headstart (Pvt) Ltd. has been developing content for the ICTA/Ministry of Education on school curricula since 2009 and is a subsidiary of Dialog Axiata. The company was a tech start-up with a project named ‘Vidunena’ under which the GCE A/L Science curriculum was provided to schools in an E Learning format, through an ICTA grant. The company now owns the largest E Learning interactive content portal in Sri Lanka with more than 650,000 learners and 8,100 plus lessons to choose from. The content knowledge pool includes university academics, teachers, business leaders, corporate trainers and soft skills trainers, and is the largest such education-related talent pool in Sri Lanka.

The company also provides E Learning content and platform solutions to corporates, institutions, the government sector and the general public under the brand name Guru.lk.

Photo caption: Students continue with digital learning after the end of the lockdown

Video Story

A Crisis If Economy Does Not Grow – Sujeewa Mudalige & Talal RafiLiberal Handling of Market Will Continue | Duminda HulangamuwaTax exemptions have not served very well for SL - IMF's Peter Breuer ‘At Hydepark’SL tourism to showcase a new era of growth at WTM 2024 in LondonExclusive Interview with Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe at Ada Derana Hyde ParkThe Nightly Business Report |17th May 2024The Nightly Business Report | 15th May 2024The Nightly Business Report | 13th May 2024The Nightly Business Report | 07 May 2024The Nightly Business Report | 30th April 2024The Nightly Business Report | 29th April 2024The Nightly Business Report | 26th April 2024The Nightly Business Report | 25th April 2024The Nightly Business Report | 22nd April 2024The Nightly Business Report | 19th April 2024The Nightly Business Report | 17th April 2024The Nightly Business Report | 16th April 2024The Nightly Business Report | 15th April 2024RICH MUST PAY MORE TAXES, IMF’S PETER BREUER & SARWAT JAHAN ‘AT HYDEPARK WITH INDEEWARI AMUWATTE’2024 Will Have More Positivity – CBSL Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe ‘@ HYDEPARKBudget 2024 - Dr. Roshan PereraWhat's happening to tourism ?SALIYA PIERIS & NALAKA GUNAWARDENE ON SL ONLINE SAFETY BILL - 'AT HYDEPARK WITH INDEEWARI AMUWATTE’Ravi Abeysuriya and Deshan Pushparajah join Indeewari Amuwatte 'At HydePark' on Ada Derana 24Former IMF-ICD director Dr. Sharmini Coorey joins Indeewari Amuwatte 'at HYDEPARK' on Ada Derana 24Dr. Priyanga Dunusinghe and Dr. Nadeem Ul Haque join Indeewari Amuwatte At HydeParkHEAD OF SOE RESTRUCTURING UNIT SURESH SHAH JOINS INDEEWARI AMUWATTE 'AT HYDEPARK' ON ADA DERANA 24Sri Lanka: Supporting Recovery and Promoting Stable & Inclusive GrowthCBSL Governor is confident that Sri Lanka will be able to achieve debt sustainability even before the timeframe envisaged through the IMF EFF programmeCSE had a bullish start for the week but later drop in prices capped early gains of the dayForeign Investors resulted a net foreign inflow of LKR 230 millionCSE continued to move upward ahead of monetary policy review meetingCSE records downward trend for second consecutive dayThe current tax policy is a rescue operation - PresidentCSE managed to secure its bull run for 2nd consecutive session in the weekCSE’s ASPI records massive gain - 20.02.2022Sri Lanka Stock Market 13.02.2023Sri Lanka Stock Market 10.02.2023Sri Lanka Stock Market 08.02.2023Sri Lanka Stock Market 03.02.2023Sri Lanka Stock Market 02.02.2023Govt needs to have a policy framework to bring about the necessary change - Ranjit PageSri Lanka Stock Market 26.01.2023Sri Lanka Stock Market 24.01.2023Sri Lanka Stock Market 20.01.2023Sri Lanka Stock Market 18.01.2023Sri Lanka Stock Market 13.01.2023Sri Lanka Stock Market 12.01.2023Alternative solutions for Sri Lanka's economic recovery - Dr. Howard Nicholas, EconomistSri Lanka Stock Market 10. 01. 2023Sri Lanka Stock Market 09.01.2023Sri Lanka Stock Market 04.01.2023Sri Lanka Stock Market 03.01.2023IMF bailout package can be approved by the global lender in January 2023 by which time Sri Lanka would have secured creditor assurances from countries including India and China – CBSL GovernorADA DERANA POST-BUDGET DISCUSSION ON 'RECOVERING FROM CRISIS, REGAINING STABILITY'CSE Chairman says they expect to introduce a host of new financial instruments to the Colombo Bourse by mid-2023Sri Lanka’s Turnaround Strategies and the Role of the International CommunityPresident Ranil addresses Sri Lankan diaspora in UKUSAID ADMINISTRATOR SAMANTHA POWER WITH INDEEWARI AMUWATTE AT HYDEPARK ON ADA DERANA 24PETROLEUM ENGINEER SALIYA WICKRAMASURIYA JOINS INDEEWARI AMUWATTE AT HYDEPARK ON ADA DERANA 24US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung Joins Indeewari Amuwatte at Hydepark on Ada Derana 24Press Conference on Current Economic SituationSri Lanka may take weeks to hire debt advisers, Sabry saysExpert Panel of Industrialists Join Indeewari Amuwatte @HydeparkExperts Discuss How to Best Address Sri Lanka’s Economic Situation with Indeewari Amuwatte @HYDEPARK@Hyde Park with Indeewari Amuwatta | Srimathi ShivashankarHow can Sri Lanka reset and revive its economy while finding solutions to address a health crisis?CBSL Governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal Joins Indeewari Amuwatte @HYDEPARKU.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alaina B. Teplitz says that Sri Lanka should choose its partners based on openness, transparency and true investments rather than loans.We're not taking anything away from investors - SEC ChairmanEconomic Freedom of Sri LankaCSE Chairman Dumith Fernando Joins Indeewari Amuwatte @Hydepark on Ada Derana 24Inaugural speech by His Excellency President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at Sri Lanka Economic Summit 2020US SEC. of State Mike Pompeo Joins Indeewari Amuwatte @Hydepark on Ada Derana 24Foreign Secretary Joins Indeewari Amuwatte @HYDEPARK on Ada Derana 24GET REAL - Senior Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Dr. Nandalal WeerasingheMAS joins global efforts to contain spread of COVID-19Preventing Disruptions to Economic Activity amidst the Spread of the COVID-19 PandemicDUMITH FERNANDO JOINS INDEEWARI AMUWATTE @HYDEPARK ON ADA DERANA 24FORMER CBSL GOVERNOR AJITH NIVARD CABRAAL JOINS INDEEWARI AMUWATTE @HYDEPARK ON ADA DERANA 24BE BOLD! DR. MARK MOBIUS TELLS SRI LANKASri Lanka urgently needs a nation branding strategy that will help the island nation be a game-changer - Dr. Udaya IndrarathnaLotus Tower officially declared openAgreement signed to develop East container terminal at Colombo PortUpdate from Washington: US Foreign Policy towards China and South Asia and what it means for Sri LankaEaster Day attacks are a blow in the economy at large, not just tourism industryILO Launches Report on the Future of Work in Sri LankaMacroeconomic Impact of the Budget 2019Fiscal Impact of the Budget 2019Harry Jayawardena @ KPMG's post Budget ForumDissecting Budget 2019Sri Lanka Economic Association – Annual Sessions 2018Land reclamation for Port City completedSri Lanka Targeting 3 Million Tourists in 2019Susantha Ratnayake bids farewell to JKH, Balendra junior in as ChairmanThe economy cannot operate isolation - PallewattaDo we have the money to pay our obligations coming due next year? Answer is yes.CBSL Governor Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy, addressing 22nd Annual General Meeting of the ACGMr. Ranjit Page addressing the 2nd Annual General Meeting of the Sri Lanka Retailers’ AssociationCentral Bank issues a new series of coinsUS$ 184 million spent to defend Rupee - CBSL GovernorSri Lanka PM Ranil ‘Concerned on rebalancing of the Global Order’ at World Economic Forum on ASEANSri Lanka Economic Summit 2018 - Keynote Address Mr. Arun M Kumar - Chairman and CEO, KPMG IndiaSL at risk of exchange rate crisis - NomuraSumal Perera suggests Dhammika Perera should be the Next Presidential Candidate at Fireside ChatSL's IT/BPM Marks $1.2 Bn in Revenue - EDBContent creators can now monetize via YouTube in Sri Lanka!There are about 20 other reports like of the bond scam - Auditor GeneralA rapid development in coming 18 months - PMEconomic growth cannot be achieved with a small marketSL Rupee should be allowed to float – IMFSri Lanka highly important in terms of business in South Asia - Petri PeltonenSri Lanka blessed with rich natural resources we can only dream about - Harri KämäräinenGovt planning new national economic strategy – Prof. Lalith SamarakoonSri Lanka rupee hits record lowMonetary Board decides to reduce SLFR by 25 bpsEU delegation highlights need for further progress on human rightsTourism Minister requests diplomats to invite countrymen to visit SLSri Lanka statistics office withdraws GDP dataJapan-Sri Lanka Business Forum held under President's patronageEvening with a Corporate Leader : Mr Dhammika PereraThere is scarcity of talent - Kathy Tingate, Director HR, Microsoft Asia PacificGas cylinder prices to be increased?Budget Openness: Sri Lanka Needs Higher StandardsStock Market continues strong start to the year with the second listing of 2018United States GSP program expires on Dec 31President to request Russia to withdraw tea banJAT Holdings could go public in SingaporeLVL Energy Fund announces Rs. 1.2 billion IPO to fund its strategic growth and expansionWe still haven't found all the dead bodies - PMA budget office to be established in parliament by the end of 2018 - Minister EranWe have a serious concern about debt distress – CBSL GovernorPetroleum Minister Arjuna Ranatunga explains cause for fuel shortageAnika Wijesuriya has fled country due to threats - AG's DeptSri Lanka and Finland to ink agreement on digitalizationMorison PLC unveiled to mark new eraDSL Enterprises joins with Little Hearts social welfare projectPM inaugurates largest naval vessel to be produced in SLAG's dept grills PTL legal officers over litigation errorPresident declares open star class hotel in Nuwara EliyaFormer CB Governor questioned on Greek bond investmentsNew Inland Revenue Bill to be tabled on FridayRevelations at treasury bond commission by former EPF SuperintendentBOI should be closed down - Justice MinisterAloysius asked to hand over personal electronic devices to bond commissionSri Lanka Customs launches online payment platform for declarationsSri Lanka’s tallest building gets shaky from the startBeneficiaries of EPF will have to pay taxes - BandulaWe need an export oriented economy - PMRavi Karunanayake on why he switched from finance to foreign affairsSL looking to import fabric to meet new demand due to GSP+ - Felix Fernando18% duty on fish exports to be lifted under GSP+GSP+ is granted to encourage govt. towards reforms - Tung-Lai MargueNew tax revenue proposal to increase government coffers - RaviDHL is committed to enhancing its investments in SLHambantota port deal is a major plus, will benefit country - CB GovernorDerana launches Derana SME Club with IDBWe will bring in new legislation – PMSL’s first A320 touches down at BIAAll securities issued by the government are absolutely safe – CB GovernorSri Lanka spending Rs 35 billion to import milk powder - HarshaGoogle internet balloon plan hits a legal snag - HarinLAUGFS Creates History at HambantotaFinance Minister calls CB Governor a hospital attendant - VIDEOEPF can buy over all companies in Sri Lanka, says Premier – VIDEOHandunnetti questions how Perpetual Treasuries gained heavenly wisdom – VIDEOLondon Stock Exchange Group opens new technology facility in Sri Lanka - VIDEO
The requested content cannot be found
A Crisis If Economy Does Not Grow – Sujeewa Mudalige & Talal Rafi

Stock Market

Exchange Rates