You are here
KENET Web Conference Platform Transforms Online Learning Experience
- Posted on: 10 November 2023
- By: KENET
KENET has developed a custom web conferencing and collaboration platform designed to meet the specific needs of educational and research institutions in Kenya. Initially set up in 2016 to support remote teaching pilots for the University of Nairobi, Daystar University and Catholic University of Eastern Africa, the platform became crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting the emergency transition to remote teaching for university lecturers. The FREE web conferencing platform became the primary remote teaching platform for up to 340,000 classes during the pandemic.
KENET upgraded the infrastructure by investing in physical servers to support the increased demand. Recognizing the importance of supporting educators during this transition, KENET provided comprehensive and free training sessions to over 3,000 educators and IT administrators from various institutions, empowering them to navigate the digital teaching landscape effectively. The KENET web conference platform supports real-time sharing of audio, video, slides, chat, and screen. It has a learner-centered approach to online and remote learning, enabling collaboration among students in breakout rooms and offering personalized learning through constant feedback features.
Several enhancements have been made to the platform, including interactive features such as polls, emojis, multi-user whiteboard, and breakout rooms. The video conferencing option on the platform has improved the eLearning experience, allowing students to engage actively in discussions and participate in exams. The platform supports a blended timetable, offering flexibility in class attendance. Institutions like Zetech University and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) have adopted and utilized the platform for online learning, virtual meetings, and departmental events. Dr. Simon Chege from Zetech University praised the seamless integration with the Learning Management System (LMS), making it easier to access meeting details.
Zetech university has a blended timetable with a mix of physical and online classes offering flexibility in class attendance. Through the online classes conducted on the platform students in courses with a large population comfortably attend classes without the constraint of space. The integration of the Web Conferencing platform with the LMS ensures that the recording/ link can be accessed by the students after the class is done for revision and reference purposes. The platform allows lecturers to easily organize makeup classes without the constraint of location. Dr. Simon Chege, Lecturer, Department of Media, Arts and Design, Zetech University has been using KENET Web conferencing Platform to conduct online learning since the onset of Covid to date. “At the onset of Covid, Zetech University adopted online mode of learning and recommended the use of the KENET Web conferencing platform, which easily integrates with the browser to facilitate online learning. The Big Blue Button is integrated seamlessly with the Learning Management System making it easier to access meeting details from the eLearning platform,” said Dr. Chege.
Dr. Lawrence Nderu from JKUAT highlighted the platform's role in blended learning, facilitating group discussions and practical sessions. Mr. George Mwangi, University Learning Management System Administrator at JKUAT, emphasized the platform's impact in transforming the learning experience, breaking down traditional barriers and providing a user-friendly interface. The KENET Web Conference platform has played a significant role in making online learning an integral part of teaching models in educational institutions. It promotes interaction, inclusion, and personalization, going beyond replicating a physical class through video capabilities. The platform is available for free to member institutions, contributing to KENET's mission to transform learning, research, and working environments using ICT.