The Power of Blogging – Opening Dynamic Digital Doorways for African Businesses
William Jackson, M.Ed, My Quest to Teach and One Africa Forum Twitter @myquesttoteach Clubhouse @myquesttoteach Zakaria Laajily, student attending Hangzhou Dianzi University and One Africa Forum Twitter @Zakaria_lj Blogging, Micro-Blogging, Video Blogging Podcasting and Audio-blogging (Clubhouse) are dynamic digital doorways to engagement, opening the mind to manipulating the new possibilities in business, sharing thoughts created by the will to be better in life. The power of individual thinking can literally influence the lives of thousands. No culture is left untouched from dynamic digital platforms because anyone literally can blog. Africans are using diverse platforms, apps and tools to share their business interests
and goals.
Social engagements are continuously changing because of access to the Internet that allows for continuous exchanges in communication. Traditional processes of communication have adapted from verbal exchanges on cell phones to the infusion of digital tools and platforms that allow for exchanges of information that are continuous and streaming. Skills ranging from traditional Blogging (writing), Vblogging (video), Podcasting (audio and video), Instagramming (video and photos), SnapChatting, Tik Toc, Periscope, Facebook Live (video) and Clubhouse (audio). The list continues to grow that requires skills that seem to need a higher educational degree but only requires the desire and passion to create content. As a past instructor teaching Educational Technology, Social Media and STEAM from 2004 to 2017 at Edward Waters University, college and university students need to be educated in
the use of these platforms to prepare them for future careers of business and technology.
Digital skills-sets are needed when addressing digital content that can provide needed exposure to show skills that help in obtaining and keeping a business operational. Even African educators should know how to use, apply and integrate social and digital tools in their teaching. They are preparing future business leaders and entrepreneurs. More Africans are using their smart phones for business as infrastructures are growing and more stable. Africans in several years will be some of the highest users of digital tools, apps and platforms.
They will even be competing with China in the amount of phone purchased and used.
African educational leaders are learning that project based learning and developing thought leadership, critical and higher order thinking that each generation of school age children as content creators will need as they begin their careers that require an online presence. Digital content is not just the traditional text blogging, it contains photos, video, and other elements. There needs to be interaction with content because millions of Africans are creating businesses as entrepreneurs and this is good for Africa as a continent. The African society is a knowledge-based society, where reading, comprehension, creativity, integration and innovation of diverse technologies is seamless and transparent. There is a need for skills of acquiring information, applying knowledge and understanding the relevancy of information. Youth, teens and young adults need to be taught how information is empowering when applied in life.
“The Power of Blogging – Opening Dynamic Digital Doorways for African Businesses,” shows that blogging is not dead as some people imply. It is transforming to embrace digital a way
of thinking, growing social engagements that allow for direct communication.
The growth of the One Africa Forum (https://www.facebook.com/OneAfricaforum)
will be proving classes, workshops and discussion on how technology will be transforming Africa in education, in business, in commerce and the increased influence globally. Digital influencers like William Jackson, United States (Twitter @myquesttoteach) and Zakaria Laajily, Morocco (Twitter @Zakaria_lj) are building content on blog
platforms like One Africa Forum and Africa On The Blog (https://africaontheblog.org)
Digital doorways are growing, from virtual reality, 3D and 4D rendering on holograms and creating new forms specifically for African needs. African students need to be aware of their place in digital careers and not settle for the bear minimum of “jobs.” Africa is the home of fertile grounds and natural beauty in land, digital technologies are sowing influencers and investing in students to ensure the sustainability of African businesses, careers research, exploration, creativity and digital innovation in diverse careers. Technology provides great chances to develop thought leaders, digital innovators, empowered educators, and social activities. The only limits are the limitations to dream, dreams carry the mind to new realities for new careers not even created yet. Digital doorways are waiting to be created so each generation can walk through and be engaged and making innovative changes with the use of technology. African students can be the orchestrators of change that build communities, influence critical thinking and change the narrative and vision of how people see African people to be productive and contributory in the world. William and Zakaria are associated with One Africa Forum
https://www.facebook.com/OneAfricaforum
William Jackson and Zakaria laajily are content creators focusing on Africa and the 54 nations of the continent. They are digital innovators for their respective brands. My Quest To Teach – William and Zakaria’s developing brand by that will be announced soon. William and Zakaria are contributors to One Africa Forum, Education Conference rooms on Clubhouse, and developing platforms providing conferences, workshops and trainings.