Seamless Offline-to-Online Learning Transition through Waffle
In any modern LMS and/or online learning mechanism, the key challenge developers face is providing instructors and students with the tools they need to achieve a seamless transition between offline and online work. There is often no replacement — or a very poor, difficult-to-use replacement — for certain elements of the learning process when it comes to using online learning tools. For instance, complex equations and scientific notation are only supported in a limited capacity on the Online Assessment Tool, and are not supported on Google Classroom and Canvas LMS. The aforementioned LMSs are also ill-equipped to seamlessly incorporate handwritten answers in online assessments, making the transition from offline classrooms to online learning full of impediments and oftentimes difficult.
The developers behind Waffle have identified and addressed key challenges that some of the most commonly used LMS faced during the total transition from offline classrooms to online learning during the Covid-19 outbreak. A proactive solution-provider in seamless offline/online learning transition, Waffle houses an optimal combination of several key features that made for a gentle learning curve for instructors and students as they switched from in-person to digitized education.
Handwritten Work Submission for Students
Waffle makes assignment submission much simpler by allowing students to capture handwritten work and add it directly to their submissions through the Waffle app. This feature caters to the full range of potential problems students may have to solve, giving them the flexibility to choose between typed out answers and handwritten work based on their comfort level, the nature of the question, and so on. Waffle’s in-built image capture for handwritten student work is especially useful for answers that involve hand-drawn diagrams.
Mathematical Typesetting Keyboard
Waffle has also developed a bespoke on-screen keyboard that provides full support for mathematical and scientific notation. Using an intuitive user interface and natural typesetting, Waffle’s on-screen keyboard provides users with the full range of LaTex expressions without needing knowledge of any LaTex commands or scripts . This is further supported with autocomplete suggestions, streamlining the process of digitally inputting scientific notation for instructors and learners alike.
Image Upload and Copy-Paste for Instructors
In an effort to further incorporate current practises into the digital learning experience, Waffle enables instructors to copy-paste questions from existing pdf/word documents onto the Waffle interface. Instructors can also upload screenshots of questions onto the Waffle interface seamlessly. These features allow instructors to make use of previously collated question banks and worksheets, and saves them from the hassle of structuring assessments from scratch on the new interface.
Class Management Tools
The Waffle interface is also equipped with a range of different class management tools that allow for streamlined communication between all users. In addition to the Announcement feature, instructors can also use Waffle’s two-way, direct messaging channel to communicate with students and parents alike. The direct messaging feature on the Waffle platform therefore introduces enhanced transparency and involvement of parents in their children’s learning journey, whilst maintaining the privacy of instructors. Waffle also alerts users of new communication through a built-in email notification system, which is especially useful for users who are not accustomed to checking emails regularly, such as younger students. Furthermore, Waffle also hosts forums through which students can interact with one another, enriching the learning experience and improving student engagement.
With further online learning products in its pipeline, Waffle is rapidly evolving to meet the growing needs of a sector that has, for the most part, totally transitioned to an online method of learning. One year on, the gaps in the modern LMS that lead to incomplete and patchy transitions to online learning have had substantial effects on learning outcomes for students. Waffle’s platform allows all students and teachers — regardless of age, digital agility, and background — maximum flexibility by catering to a range of different preferences in how offline work is onboarded to the online interface and streamlining communication between users. This allows Waffle users to slope a gentle learning curve as the new norm of online education continues to settle in.
