Schoolscape sat down with Richard Knaggs, Director of Technology & Innovation from Parklands College, to learn more about the school’s experience using Snapplify’s e-learning solutions.
Recognised globally as both an Apple Distinguished School and Google Reference School, Parklands College is one of two schools in Africa to hold these prestigious titles. Their dedication to innovation, leadership, and excellence in education has positioned them at the forefront of digital solutions in the classroom.
Here’s what Richard had to say about how Snappfify Engage supports their vision.
Why Digital and Blended Learning Matter
Parklands College has long believed that technology plays an important role in preparing learners for the future.
“Our vision is to provide excellence in education, and our mission is to best prepare our learners for their futures,” says Kraggs. “We created a school where technology and innovation are an integral part of our culture, allowing learners to have authentic e-learning experiences with real-world applications.”
Blended learning allows learners to engage meaningfully, discover their passions, and develop the necessary 21st-century skills.
How Snapplify Supports Parklands College’s Educational Goals
Snapplify has simplified e-learning at Parkland College by providing a single-aggregated digital platform where learners can access their textbooks and digital resources.
Before this, learners had to navigate multiple apps and websites. With Snapplify Engage, everything is in one place.
“Snapplify’s support for Apple technologies was critical for us, as an Apple Distinguished school,” Kraggs explained. “Every learner and every teacher has an Apple device for learning.”
Additionally, the Snapplify platform:
- Supports teacher-made content
- Offers multimodal resources – such as audio, video, and interactive resources.
The E-Learning Features Parklands College Finds Most Valuable
According to Knaggs, the features that make the most impact include:
- A single point of access for all e-learning content.
- Snapplify insights, which gives the school data on how learners and teachers use the digital content.
- Purchasing textbooks and booklist setups from within the platform.
The platform is super functional, and allows the school to be proactive in meeting learners needs and optimizing digital learning and engagement.
Inside The Classroom: What Do The Teachers Say?
Parklands College teachers have shared their experiences about using Snapplify e-learning:
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“Having free access to all the textbooks was like walking into a virtual library where learners could easily search their subjects from the comfort of their couches.”
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“As an educator, having all my textbooks in one place, which is easily accessible and user friendly, makes teaching in a technology-rich environment so much easier. For the learners, not having to walk around with heavy backpacks is an added bonus.”
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“Snapplify really helped with teaching Technology subjects virtually, especially with the theory. By highlighting the important points, learners could take notes efficiently.”
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“I can seamlessly view the textbook on screen, together with other material, which helps to enhance the textbook material. Without Snapplify, this wouldn’t be possible.”
The Benefits of Snapplify A Digital Library
Snapplify’s digital library feature has streamlined Parklands:
- 24/7 accessibility from anywhere.
- No risk of book loss or theft.
- Unlimited lifespan of e-books, which saves resources and time.
- Automatic returns – no need for cataloguing or manual processing.
How Parents Benefit
Purchasing e-learning material and hardcopy textbooks has never been easier for Parklands parents. The simplified procurement process also benefits from bulk pricing and a streamlined system that saves time.
Seamless Integration with School IT Systems
Snapplify integrates easily with Google Workspace, allowing Parklands to efficiently manage user accounts, group assignments, and resource lists.
“Integration between Snapplify and Google lets us easily add users, organize them by grade, and manage resources,” says Knaggs.
Knaggs also highlights Snapplify’s support team as fast and convenient, and ensures that the e-learning platform always performs well:
“Their team is always on call — via email or live chat — and response times are incredibly fast. They always go out of their way to assist.”
Why Parklands Recommends Snapplify
When asked if Parklands would recommend Snapplify, Knaggs was quick to respond!
“Absolutely. Snapplify is an innovator in providing personalized digital learning. They have consistently proved their commitment to education and to engaging with our specific needs.”
Furthermore, Knaggs highlighted Snapplify’s support for schools during Covid-19 pandemic by offering free textbooks to ensure learning continued. He praised the inclusive and cross-platform design that supports every device.
Final Thoughts from Schoolscape
Parklands College’s experience is a testament to how Snapplify’s e-learning solutions can encourage schools to improve accessibility, embrace innovation, and provide the best-possible digital learning experience.
They even offer a free entry level service, to find out more:
Sign up for Engage for free here or visit their website here