How to use a good crisis: COVID 19 and the turning point for education

ADvTECH Group • September 4, 2020

The follow-up

In my previous blog, I concluded by quoting Winston Churchill saying, “never let a good crisis go to waste”. This pandemic has devastated the lives of millions and dealt a blow to the world economy. It has also had a profound impact on schools and the education journey of our children.

In his book Stratosphere, Michael Fullan tells us that the time has arrived for schools to take the next step and move to a ‘future-relevant’ school model. We know as parents and teachers that the current way that we are doing school is not preparing our children for the kind of world they are living in and are going to have to find work in. Fullan says that there is now a perfect combination of technology, learning theory and change management. This combination will allow us to move forward if we are willing to change the way we teach. An important point that he makes about technology is that it must be “ubiquitous”, that is it must be everywhere and invisible. Think about the devices in your homes, especially phones and tablets. You probably do not even think about how advanced they are and how often you look at the screen or use it in your daily life. What Fullan is saying it should be expected for our children to do the same in their learning each day.

One of the most common experiences of teachers trying to use technology in their classes is that technology often gets in the way of learning. You take your class into the lab, and everyone is excited because you are going to use the computers to learn about volcanoes using a simulation. Within seconds you see a forest of hands. “Mam my computer won’t switch on”, “I’ve forgotten my password”, “My mouse/keyboard does not work”. If we tell the kids to bring their own devices then you get; “My WiFi is not connecting”, “Mam the simulation won’t work on my device”, “I cannot access the app store?” The lesson process is disrupted. By the time all the problems have been solved, the lesson is nearly over.

These kinds of experiences have led to teachers avoiding the use of technology or only using it in shallow gimmicky ways. Technology should rather than as a tool to make students sit up and become entranced and excited about their learning.

iPads overcame many of these problems, they switch on immediately and are not likely to have software or hardware failures. This still left the issue of teachers lacking confidence and experience in using technology in their classes made worse by their early experience of frustration. You also need a proper system for managing devices at school to avoid many of the problems of using them.

The pandemic has changed this. The technology implementation that took me six years to achieve as a leader in my previous school was achieved in two weeks in my current one. Teachers and parents have had enough positive experiences that the resistance to using technology has reduced. Parents have also experienced their children benefiting from asynchronous learning (where students do the work in their own time rather than at a set time with their peers). Parents are more willing to consider online schooling as a real option for their kids.

So, where does this leave us? Evolve Online School plans to take advantage of all benefits of technology to redesign the way children learn. We do not have to inherit any weaknesses from the existing system. Still, we can start from the ground up and build a new system that includes the latest advances in technology. We can embrace all the research that has been done into how children learn and build their confidence and skills. We can move away from one size fits all solutions. Most importantly, we have no buildings so we can make the costs much more affordable so that more parents can provide a quality education for their kids.

There is now a perfect opportunity for Evolve Online to make sure that the crisis we are experiencing can lead to improvements in learning. We can increase the number of children who can be properly prepared for their futures. Learning without limits can be a real experience and not just a slogan.

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What Top IEB Achievers Do Differently: Lessons from an Evolve Online Top Performer

February 24, 2026

At Evolve Online, we did a deep dive into: “What does it really take to succeed in an online IEB school?” I recently sat down with one of our stellar Grade 12 students of 2025 and his family. Their insights provided a window into the inner workings of success in an online academic setting. While there is no magical formula for success, what stood out were the core elements of mindset, discipline, structure, and support working harmoniously. Here are the key takeaways from our conversation with this high-achieving Evolve Online family. 1. Success Starts with Self-Discipline and Ownership A recurring theme in our discussion was the importance of self-discipline in online learning. Top achievers at Evolve Online take charge by: Paying attention to instructions Keeping track of deadlines Being proactive in preparing for assessments Taking ownership of their learning journey The key message? Online learning thrives on responsibility. Students who proactively engage and take the lead excel. 2. Technology Is Key when studying: Technology Access = Freedom for studying Our top achievers emphasised the necessity of reliable technology Investing in high-quality laptops Ensuring stable internet connectivity, not one but two Internet providers are used as a backup to eliminate wi-fi issues. Having backup power solutions in place Their rationale was simple: Smooth technology leads to focused learning. By eliminating technical obstacles, students can concentrate on their studies with confidence, join their live online classes and interact with their teachers through Teams seamlessly without delay or disruption. 3. Use Past Papers Wisely A successful technique was their strategic use of past exam papers. Top performers: Leaned heavily on past IEB papers for study Emphasised practice over rote memorisation Mastered exam techniques and time management Built stamina through realistic practice scenarios While textbooks remain valuable, AI-powered educational platforms and mainly past papers are the real teachers, guiding students on how to think, write, and succeed in exams. The top achiever completed over 30 past papers! 4. Motivation and Support Go Hand in Hand Intrinsic motivation was a common trait among high achievers. While support is crucial, students must be driven by personal desire to succeed. Parents cited the importance of assessing: Availability for supervision Readiness for independent learning Need for additional support A balanced support structure, combined with personal effort, creates an environment where students can flourish. 5. Quality Teaching Makes a Difference Students highlighted the impact of their teachers at Evolve Online who: Provided constructive feedback Offered extra revision sessions Were accessible during assessments Maintained consistent standards across subjects Subjects such as Afrikaans and Accounting thrived with additional support and clear communication. Quality teaching remains paramount, whether in-person or online. 6. Balance for Sustainability Success is not just about academics. Students spoke of the importance of: Balancing studies with hobbies Knowing when to take breaks Developing time-management skills beyond school Maintaining balance prevents burnout and supports long-term academic consistency, especially in the demanding Grade 12 year. Perhaps the most powerful reminder from this discussion is that our greatest insights come directly from those living the experience. Listening to students and their families reflect honestly on what helped them succeed and where they struggled allows us to refine our practice with clarity and purpose. As we continue to evolve, these voices guide us toward stronger systems, better support, and a learning environment that truly prepares students not just for exams, but for life beyond school.