Online education and educational software are booming in almost all regions worldwide, and South Africa is no exception, with growth in the educational software sector. Statista projects the online education sector in South Africa to grow 10.25% annually between 2023 and 2027.
Educational software is implemented in schools and classrooms and used at home by students trying to grasp concepts and better understand their subjects. This allows them to set a good tone for the basics of higher education and equips them for the future.
Does your child need help with math? Consider using iRainbow for grades 4 through 7 math. Sign up today.
Educational Software for Kids in South Africa
With the transformation in the education industry, educational software makes education easily accessible and makes learning more interesting for students, no matter their age. With a lower communication gap between educators and students, online educational software allows children to see concepts in a new light. Here are our picks for the top 8 educational software for kids.
1. iRainbow
Among the educational software options available in South Africa, iRainbow stands out for its user-friendly, engaging, and comprehensive approach to learning. Designed specifically for South African children, iRainbow requires no internet connection, ensuring learners can focus on their studies without the distractions of social media, online games, or cyberbullying. Parents and teachers can easily monitor learners’ progress to identify areas of strength and those needing improvement.
iRainbow delivers a personalised learning experience by allowing users to create their own avatars and select a virtual friend to guide them through the material. With its levelled approach to learning, iRainbow’s progressive curriculum breaks down concepts into small steps, preventing learners from feeling overwhelmed or bored. This software allows children to learn independently, catering to their learning styles.
Compatible with desktop computers and Android devices, with iOS compatibility coming soon, iRainbow can be accessed on various platforms for a seamless learning experience. When connected to the internet, the software automatically updates to include the latest additions to the curriculum. Proudly made in South Africa by a local team of experts, iRainbow currently offers Maths for grades 4, 5, and 6, with plans to expand to other grades and subjects soon.
Does your child need help with math? Consider using iRainbow for grades 4 through 7 math. Sign up today.
2. Mathemagics
The Mathemagics educational software has been helping students understand concepts for over 14 years and is focused on all students from preschool to grade 12. Trusted and used by over 4000 schools in South Africa, the software is approved by the Department of Education and follows the set curriculum.
This easy-to-track software allows students with learning disabilities to make education fun, holding their focus for much longer. In addition, it will enable you to track progress and see results. With step-by-step explanations and continuous evaluation of progress over short periods, this is a great educational app for preschoolers and higher grades. They also have an excellent technical support team eager to address any concerns you might have with the software. Learn at your own pace with explanations available anytime with the Mathemagics educational software.
3. Daptio
Daptio is a Cape Town-based platform that facilitates online learning. It hopes to provide personalised learning with the help of deep analytics and learning for teachers, students, and content creators. According to Snapwiz’s research, students in adaptive learning environments perform much better and earn higher achievement scores consistently.
This is the premise behind the platform that started the Together We Pass program to improve the 15% pass rate from the University of South Africa (UNISA). The founder, Tabitha Bailey, calls it “the first content-agnostic adaptive learning platform in Africa.” It has enabled students to “move away from the current one size fits all education model that is failing.”
Daptio is built uniquely, aiming to help in easing local challenges. The mobile-first platform provides content broken into chunks with small sizes to ease consumption and reduce data usage. Daptio is a great platform that helps you learn at your pace without creating a dreaded information overload. With video sections for learning and curated content, especially for a student’s current level of education and learning, it’s a good choice.
4. IQ Smart
IQ SMART is an educational software that allows students to approach learning in a fun and interactive way. With over 20 years of experience, IQ Smart is used by more than 10,000 schools and 400,000 students internationally. The educational software supports learning Mathematics, Science, Reading, and English. IQ Smart allows students to use a creative and holistic pedagogical approach to the instruction process. This will include the scope and sequence of skills designed by teachers who follow the same curriculum per the National Council of Teachers of Math, Language, and Science.
IQ Smart can be used for as little as 15 minutes daily for 3 to 4 days a week, and this can provide a 30 per cent improvement. It also offers students the ability to avail themselves of options in tertiary education and better opportunities in their careers long term due to a firm grasp of the fundamental concepts.
One of the teachers at Frank Ryan School says, “I have used IQ Smart for three years with my Grade 7 and 8 classes and am impressed with its ease of use and adaptability for students of varying ability levels. It is an invaluable tool for introducing and reinforcing concepts, and the accompanying manuals provide a wealth of supporting resource material.”
Does your child need help with math? Consider using iRainbow for grades 4 through 7 math. Sign up today.
5. Extramarks
Extramarks is a global education tech platform with a broad presence in South Africa, with more than ten years of experience in the education sector. The education platform offers coverage for students in preschool to K12 classes. World Education Summit awarded Extramarks with the Jury Award for the Best Multimedia Content for K12 education, a feather in the cap of the software. Schooladvisor.co.za has high praise for Extramarks. Its CAPS-aligned end-to-end digital learning solutions are equally helpful for teachers and learners.
Instead of forcing an international education pattern, they localise and adapt their e-learning material, and this makes it relevant to the education system in South Africa. Their continuous content updates are another benefit, and they have more than 300 educators who curate content and update it frequently. They even offer customised content on demand, so if you are an educator looking to implement it in your school, you are in luck.
Their e-learning solutions are compatible with most devices, which helps overcome the infrastructure constraints you’ll likely face.
6. Inspireware
Inspireware educational software covers the Learning Outcomes and Assessment Standards set by the South African National Curriculum Statement. They pride themselves on being the future of education. The software caters to three primary learning styles, visual, kinaesthetic, and auditory. Their multi-platform software can be used on various devices and helps students in primary and high schools.
They offer animations to explain topics visually, making them extremely simple to grasp. This helps students retain more information. It also teaches via simulations and activities, which guide students to see the changes and phenomena. This is a bonus for schools or students who need access to labs and equipment. They also strive to gamify education, reinforcing significant concepts in a fun way. The assessments are carried out as a combination of static questions and interactive puzzles. They are marked instantly and can be tracked by educators. This allows them to keep track of student’s progress and provide additional support when needed. Vodacom also lists Inspireware as an excellent online career guide that supports learners and engages in their strengths and weaknesses to identify the right job and study choices.
7. Compu-IQ
Compu-IQ offers students education software for multiple levels. From preschool to grade 12, this software covers the different aspects of the child’s academic growth and learning. You can learn at your own pace and use this software to understand concepts and brush up on the basics. This is a great way to prepare for classes, get additional help for complex topics, and even improve perceptual skills. The courses are available in English and Afrikaans. Preschool programs consist of perceptual skills, English phonics, and Afrikaans phonics. Reading and language development is the next step with Compu-IQ. Math programs are available for primary as well as high school students.
Compu-IQ software is currently implemented across several schools, but even individual students can use it for personalised learning. With over 15 years of experience internationally, Compu-IQ is a great provider of multimedia education. You can use this educational software for remediation tuition, an extension of topics covered in school and even use the exercises to broaden your understanding of the subject. Rivonia Primary School, a user of this software, deems it the most popular computer learning software.
8. GetAhead by EvaluNet
Guaranteed to help students understand schoolwork and better their results, GetAhead offers you the freedom to browse through lessons at your convenience. With software that teaches English, Afrikaans, Maths, and Natural Sciences, this educational software is based entirely on the South African CAPS curriculum. The interactive curriculum-based activities make learning both fun and easy. With contextual feedback for continuous improvement, the student can access hints, explanations, and visual cues that lead to better results overall. It is available for students from grades 1 to 7 and gives a great learning experience to all.
Does your child need help with math? Consider using iRainbow for grades 4 through 7 math. Sign up today.
Why Educational Software is a Crucial Part of Learning
It is commonly thought that educational software helps students across all age groups. Technology has revolutionised education, making it available for all. It lets users quickly grasp concepts and listen to ideas until they understand them well, making for better overall learners. A J-PAL review states that out of 30 studies associated with computer-assisted learning programs, 20 reported statistically better effects in learning, a 66 per cent improvement.
But what are the main reasons we should make it a point to implement educational software as a part of our daily learning? And what benefits do they offer students, teachers, and institutions? Let us take a look at some significant advantages.
Benefits of educational software in South Africa
Clear Content
The software can revolutionise how ideas and content are created and, more importantly, presented to students. Digital content can adjust to an individual learner’s skill and knowledge and quickly adapt to different generations of learners. With the help of visual information, animations make concepts more straightforward, and AI-based prediction of a student’s skill level can provide personalised content that helps students learn better and makes learning pleasurable.
Better Communication
The introduction of educational software facilitated accessible and open communication between all involved in the learning process. Using portals, forums, and interactive elements makes it a cakewalk to maintain a strong bond with learners. The parties involved also have all the equipment to facilitate the communication process much more quickly.
This helps create an adequate and effective system that brings the issues of different parties to light. Instructors can clear any queries regarding course guidelines and techniques. Parents and instructors have access to the student’s performance reports.
Better Data
With educational software, information is readily available. Students no longer have to browse multiple sources; everything is available in a common repository. The focus on related data and analysis and prediction of facts makes it a trustworthy source of information. Since data is curated and reviewed by multiple educators over different periods, the data tends to be up to date. What’s more, it is also easy to update the information, unlike traditional textbooks or e-books. This frees the learning process from any doubts about the validity of the content available.
Effective and Consistent Learning
Educational software allows students and administrators to increase their efficiency. Students can focus better and learn at their own pace, making it a safe haven for knowledge. They can revise concepts multiple times until they are convinced they have a firm grasp of the topic. This sets an excellent tone for future learning and makes it relevant for their vocations. It also allows them to track their progress, clear any doubts, and move forward confidently. Educational software recognises the student’s skill level and gives appropriate content, making it easier to learn with them in the long run.
Administrators and parents are tuned in and can shape decisions and policies that benefit students. They can keep track of the work done by students, their progress, scores on the interactive test, and so on. It also helps those institutions without laboratories or other facilities to provide excellent education despite their infrastructure constraints.
Why iRainbow is Our Top Pick
While all software options offer valuable learning experiences, iRainbow goes the extra mile to ensure students have a productive and engaging journey. Its focus on a personalised experience, timely updates, no online distractions and a commitment to catering to students across all skill levels making iRainbow a standout platform in the South African educational landscape.
Does your child need help with math? Consider using iRainbow for grades 4 through 7 math. Sign up today.
