In the realm of chess, the right guidance can shape future champions, and with the integration of a chess LMS, Eight Times Eight Chess Academy is dedicated to empowering young minds worldwide through the game of chess.
Eight times Eight Chess Academy: The beginning
Eight Times Eight Chess Academy was founded by six accomplished international-level chess players. These founders, who have proudly represented India in prestigious competitions such as the World Under 19 Chess Championship and the Commonwealth Games, share a deep passion for the game and a commitment to empowering young minds.
Their mission is to nurture champions both on and off the board. The academy provides interactive and personalized lessons aimed at fostering cognitive growth and life skills in children aged 5 to 15. By integrating Wise, a Chess LMS, Eight Times Eight has significantly enhanced its educational offerings, overcoming previous challenges and creating a more engaging learning environment.
Overcoming Challenges with Wise Chess LMS
Before adopting Wise, Eight Times Eight faced several hurdles in managing their classes. Assessments and homework were shared via WhatsApp, leading to communication gaps between tutors and students. Additionally, manually assigning Zoom links for classes often resulted in clashes and confusion. The founder noted, “Giving out assessments and homework was a challenge as we had to share it through WhatsApp, and there was no communication between the tutor and the students.”
The Benefits of using an LMS integrated with Zoom
The transition to Wise brought about a host of beneficial features that streamlined operations. The integration of Zoom as the backend for sessions made the process user-friendly, while dynamic link allotment simplified class management. Arijith M, one of the co-founders, highlighted, “One of the most important features was Wise’s Zoom integration; it made the sessions very user-friendly.”
A Smooth Onboarding Experience on Wise Chess LMS
In contrast to their previous LMS experience, which was chaotic, onboarding with Wise proved to be smooth and efficient. The use of an OTP for login helped students who often forget their passwords, making access easier.
“We have used a different LMS before but the onboarding process there was a mess. The onboarding experience with Wise was very smooth, contrary to what we had expected,” said Arijith.
Enhancing Student Engagement
Wise as a chess LMS has transformed student engagement at Eight Times Eight through several key features:
- Engagement through Discussions: The discussion feature fosters interaction among students and tutors, enhancing engagement in our courses.
- Performance Leaderboard: By tracking student progress, this gamification element introduces a friendly competitive spirit that motivates students. Points and badges for attending sessions has contributed to increasing the attendance in our live sessions.
Arijith remarked on the positive impact of these features: “The bonding among students and tutors has significantly increased after adopting Wise. Discussions have created an interactive atmosphere in batches.”
Increased Instructor Efficiency: They focus more on teaching
Instructors benefit from Wise’s calendar feature, allowing them to plan sessions effectively while assigning and reviewing homework directly through the portal. On Wise attendance is automated in Zoom sessions. This streamlining of administrative tasks enables educators to focus more on teaching.
Interestingly, something similar was reported by Image classes’ founder when talking about the use of Wise as an LMS for their Coaching Centre.
Growth Through Wise LMS
Since implementing Wise LMS, Eight Times Eight has experienced remarkable growth. The academy has seen increased attendance in sessions and higher completion rates for assessments, driven by the competitive spirit fostered by leaderboard, badges and other gamification features on Wise. As Arijith stated, “Wise is the best choice if you want to increase student engagement. It significantly helps in smoothing your operational flow as well.”
Eight Times Eight Chess Academy exemplifies how leveraging a Chess LMS can enhance student experience in chess training. By prioritizing accessibility and quality education while utilizing an innovative LMS for engagement and management, they are paving the way for future generations of chess enthusiasts. As they continue to expand their reach and impact, other educational institutions can draw inspiration from their journey toward making chess truly accessible for all.
