The TSSFL Technology Stack (formerly known as TSSFL Open Discussion Forums) is an innovative platform focused on transforming education, research, problem-solving, and business management through the power of digital technologies (see the list of integrated technologies by scrolling down). Recognizing the global challenges facing education, especially in developing countries, and the evolving needs of businesses, the TSSFL team has created a comprehensive ecosystem of integrated open-source software and web-based tools to enhance teaching, learning, research, and business operations.
At the core of the TSSFL Technology Stack is the vision to provide a technologically unconstrained environment that stimulates open discussions, collaborative problem-solving, and systematic documentation. For businesses, this translates to streamlined communication between individuals, efficient operations management, and data-driven decision-making. The platform offers a wide range of features and functionalities, including:
- Presentation, data analysis, and visualization tools to make sense of complex concepts and data
- Simulation and modeling capabilities to explore physical and mathematical phenomena
- Real-time teaching and learning tools for seamless remote and hybrid instruction
- Robust research collaboration and data analysis capabilities
- Tools for business communication, operations management, data collection and sharing, data analysis for business insights, record keeping, and report generation
With a strong focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) fields, as well as business applications, the TSSFL Technology Stack is designed to inspire open dialogue (for example, through articles, problem-solving discussions, systematic documentation, real-time teaching, and research), foster cross-disciplinary collaboration, and ultimately, contribute to the development and application of knowledge that can make a tangible impact on local and global challenges.
Quickly navigate and explore these features/tools/integrations:
- Project Numeracy
- Generative AI for Texts and Images
- Google Gemini
- ChatGPT
- PyScript: Python in the Browser
- Zoom Video Conferencing Integration.
- Probability and Statistics calculation and visualization tool
- Integration with Numbas Interactive e-Assessment Tool.
- TSSFL Stack, ODK Collect, and Google Drive Integration to Collect, Store, Manage, Process and Analyze Research Data.
- GNU Debugger for rapid software development.
- SageMath Cloud for computing and visualizations with code examples for Python and R, etc.
- SageMath computing engine with Sage and Macaulay2 examples (SageMath software is very extensive, intended to completely replace Mathematica, Maple, Matlab, and Magma software).
- GeoGebra software for interactive geometry, algebra, statistics, and calculus. Six GeoGebra web-based applications are integrated.
- Desmos Calculator for graphing functions, plotting data, evaluating equations, calculus, transformations, and for performing other tasks.
- A dedicated R programming compute engine.
- SymPy for symbolic computations. SymPy aims to to completely replace the proprietary Mathematica.
- Capabilities to embed any interactive PhET simulations.
- Embeddable Google Colaboratory notebooks for data science, AI and Machine Learning research, or for just any task that can be carried out with Python programming language.
- LaTeX and MathJax software systems for documents preparation, see this post, check this one.
- TSSFL Stack LaTeX files access to Overleaf for rapid document preparation and collaborations.
- Embedding interactive Plotly graphs/charts.
- Embedding interactive GeoGebra applets.
- TSSFL Stack allows embedding of Interactive Highcharts charts and editor.
- Embeddable editable Google spreadsheets.
- Embeddable editable Google Forms and Surveys.
However, TSSFL Stack natively supports opinion polls/surveys. - Embeddable Google Quizzes with instant feedback, automatic marking, and grading.
- Embeddable Google Slides just like power point presentations.
- Embeddable Google Documents (similar to Microsoft word).
- YouTube videos (see this example too) embedding including support for YouTube live-streaming.
Even the playlists:
- TED video embedding.
- Support Instagram, Facebook and Twitter video/media embedding.
- PDF documents embedding (see here too).
- Supports all type of images and animations (see here too), gif, etc.
- Audio embedding, for example from SoundCloud:
- See TSSFL Stack inbuilt front-end features and capabilities.
- TSSFL Stack is natively integrated with a real-time chat system.
TSSFL Stack is already integrated with Zoom. TSSFL Stack supports Google Hangouts, Google Meet, and more than 500 other media/video embedding. TSSFL Stack can, however, seamlessly be integrated with Cisco Webex and BigBlueButton (BBB) via SDK, APIs, LTI, or Containers for live virtual meetings.
Whether you land on the forum as a guest or as a registered member, you can carry out Python, R, Sage, Macaulay2, Octave, Maxima (and other) programming and computational tasks right away from this forum. We have, however, integrated via API the GeoGebra Software and the Desmos Calculator to help improve STEAM teaching and learning experiences.
Unquestionably, TSSFL Stack in its current state can be used more capably to engage students in teaching and learning activities from early grade to university level. The forum achieves this objective by providing anywhere, anytime distributed learning opportunities with zero requirements in installing, configuring, or upgrading the technological learning tools on the user side.
With TSSFL Stack, we can create and embed Google Colaboratory notebooks (and all kinds of Google docs). We can create and embed as many notebooks as we want, see an example here. Google Colaboratory is a great tool for data science and AI research,
or for just any task that can be carried out with Python programming language. TSSFL Stack can, however, seamlessly be integrated with Zoom and Cisco Webex via APIs. The platform is currently integrated with YouTube, and any YouTube (even Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram) live streaming can be synchronized with TSSFL Stack without any problem.
However, anyone can load LaTeX files attached to this forum posts into Overleaf with a single click, and edit, customize or start building on it to produce an intended pdf document.
You can find out more about TSSFL Stack by visiting Welcome To TSSFL Stack post and About Us page.
All these tools can be variably used on the fly to teach in a live (physical or virtual) classroom, in computing, and in learning and developing prototypes for various technological and software solutions. TSSFL Stack aims to provide anyone with an opportunity and technologically unconstrained environment to learn, carry out research and computational tasks, or educational activities with flexibility in time, location, and communication model. The platform brings together distantly located individuals while initiating and nurturing life-long collaborations in learning and problem-solving.
These technologies can greatly enhance interaction, speed, flow, and accuracy of instructional materials to increase performance and optimize teaching and learning outcomes, and impactful research that can provide answers to various developmental challenges.
Furthermore, the aforementioned technological integrations are on standby and ready to be deployed out of the box in real-time to address numerous bottlenecks that are often encountered in teaching and research:
- Firstly, TSSFL Stack overrides the burden of software installation, configuration, maintenance, and upgrades since numerous learning and research tools are natively integrated into it.
- Secondly, TSSFL Stack employs a flexible approach, highly unconstrained by time, location, technology, and communication model to organize information and communication technologies, and formulate an instructional design that can advance oriented, focused, active, open teaching & learning, and research processes.
- Thirdly, these tools aid to provide meaningful interpretations of models and research data to alleviate rote learning, cramming, and reproductive learning which make many students and graduates unable to assimilate the acquired knowledge to face and solve problems in contexts different from those of instructions delivery. In addition, these tools help to enhance understanding by making abstract concepts easy, hence motivating learners to approach and solve real-life problems more confidently.
Our hope is that TSSFL Stack will stimulate and establish an impactful take-off of technology-assisted learning and research in Tanzania, Africa, and beyond while virtually bringing together distantly located individuals, initiating and nurturing the life-long collaborations in learning, research, and problem-solving.
Recently, a number of participants during a series of virtual workshops of the Abram Gannibal Project have been using Sage and Macaulay2 computing interface embedded at TSSFL Stack to carry out various computational tasks as part of training exercises.
We like to share TSSFL Stack news with you. We love talking to colleagues, friends, and all those who support us in various ways. We value your questions, comments, problems, suggestions, or anything that may contribute to further TSSFL Stack advancements.
Thank you for being with Us,
TSSFL Stack Team