The Blue Couch is Eiffel Corp’s very first Podcast Channel.

We discuss pertinent topics around Technology, Education and Innovation. Given the fact that we are Fanatical about Learning, we aim to deliver realtime information about the world of education and technology.

The Blue Couch is home for current and future leaders in learning.

In this episode of The Blue Couch, we are joined by Renee Patrick, a Facilitator, Moderator, and Business Coach with over 20 years of experience in facilitation and coaching. With sound knowledge around human dynamics, we invited her to The Blue Couch to share her thoughts and experiences around unlearning old mindsets and habits, especially during this pandemic.

We discuss the journey of change and its importance to each of us, particularly when we are faced with unprecedented and unfavourable circumstances that require an almost immediate paradigm shift such as these.

In this episode of The Blue Couch, we are joined by colleague Elvis Kafilongo, Strategic Solutions Manager.

Elvis shares an undying passion for education as a whole and we found it pertinent to welcome him back to the show to find out his thoughts on eLearning in Africa post the pandemic. We discuss hybrid education and its meaning as well as some of the impediments in broader Africa that hinder the cultivation of the eLearning transition.

In this episode of The Blue Couch, we are joined by John Nyamane, Authoring Tools Specialist for Eiffel Corp. He imparts his knowledge and expertise pertaining to the use and understanding of Authoring tools.

We discuss the various types of Authoring tools and how to effectively use them to create an environment that fosters both learning and teaching in the e-learning space.

In this episode of The Blue Couch, we are joined by Dr Sibongile Simelane from the Tshwane University of Technology. She shares her invaluable insight on the digital transformation which she has been facilitating since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Sibongile helps us to understand the challenges, opportunities, and radical shifts that have had to take place, thoroughly, specifically at TUT.

In this episode of The Blue Couch, we speak to our rising star Mongalo Makhatho, from Eiffel Corp, who started her journey as a Graduate Intern and is now a Sales Executive, about her journey and understanding of MOOCS.

We explore some of the benefits that MOOCS have to offer and how one can effectively use such platforms towards self-development and acquiring new skills.

You don’t want to miss the shared experiences discussed in this episode.

In this episode of The Blue Couch, we celebrate Women, not just any women but the Women who have absorbed and owned the Education space and have worked their way up the ladder in a world formerly dominated by men. With all the challenges women face, The Blue Couch opened up its platform to allow Dr. Van Staden and Professor Schellack, who share their rise in the Education sector.

[Please note that the views of expressed on this episode do not represent and are not those of Eiffel Corp but are shared narratives from our Guests]

In this episode of The Blue Couch, we are joined our Instructional Designer, Chanel Long. She explains the purpose of Multimedia in Education, why this is paramount to enhancing your course and creating an interactive course for your student.

We also discuss various tools available to us to begin this journey.

If you are in need of any tips and tools, listen to this episode.

Is Technology Changing the Way We Learn and Teach?

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a great need for us to relook at the way we are accustomed to learning and teaching. We have now cultivated a new way of thinking, enabling us to start the integration between education and technology.

In this episode, we have the privilege of speaking to the Managing Director of Gravitas Education, Ewan Retief, who brings his 22 years of experience in Multimedia and Instructional Design to the show and shares invaluable insight on how we can augment the learning and teaching process through the use of design.

For a significant number of years, the Traditional classroom that is Teacher-centered is no longer fitting in what we see becoming the norm due to this pandemic.
In many ways, this has shaped and forged the way forward for the Education space. By understanding the use of various digital tools and new ways of learning and teaching, we can easily make this transition.

 

In this episode, we discuss all things Automation and what this means for the future of education. We are joined by Professor Mzukisi from the University of Johannesburg who shares his knowledge and research findings on this broad topic.

Automation in Education

The Fourth Industrial Revolution has infiltrated our minds, subsequently, provoking our thoughts and somewhat making it a prerequisite to understand what it is, and what is aims to augment and, in some cases, to replace.

What creates the fear we see? Do the various and often controversial conversations include the discussions on the impact and effectiveness automation would have within the Fourth Industrial Revolution?

In this episode of The Blue Couch, we unpack the topic of automation. Firstly, we establish what it actually is;  secondly what it means and more specifically its impact within the education space. We are joined by Professor Mzukisi from the University of Johannesburg, who tackles this topic and shares his knowledge with us on all things ‘Automation in the Education’ sector.

We discuss important topics around Technology, Education and Innovation. Given the fact that we are Fanatical about Learning, we aim to deliver realtime information about the world of education and technology.

The Blue Couch is home for current and future leaders in learning.

More about our guest speaker:
We were honoured to have Prof Mzukisi, Associate Professor & Vice Dean: Teaching and Learning in the Faculty of Law, from the University of Johannesburg, join us in this episode of our podcast. Prof Mzukisi is also a member of the South African Young Academy of Science (SAYAS).
Prof Mzukisi is an expert in Information and Communications Technology Law, a Law 4IR professional, a researcher and a teacher. He holds a demonstrated history of working in the higher education industry.
His expertise and skills include E-Learning, ODeL, Research and Lecturing. Prof Mzukisi is a strong education professional with a Doctoral (LLD) Degree in IT Law, Masters (LLM) Degree in IT Law, Law Degree (LLB), Certificate in Labour Dispute Resolution and Certificate of Emerging Leaders (University of Johannesburg).

Online collaboration has become a necessity in today’s world. The current pandemic has steered us into a direction that demands us to adapt and transform quickly.

Working collaboratively in the online space has been the topic of every meeting for most organisations of late. The ability to integrate ‘normal’, everyday work with an online space has become critical for all employees and students. It is a necessity if organisations are to stay above water during these uncertain times of COVID-19.

It is apparent that we need to equip ourselves with the necessary knowledge of the digital tools at our disposal. Leveraging these tools will enable us to improve communication, bolster service delivery and engage students.

Episode 3 of The Blue Couch discusses how to encourage online collaboration with our expert guests.  Join us as professionals share the importance of online collaboration within our institutions (and organisations) as we transition to online learning.