Technologies made the learning process easier during COVID-19, but teaching should be prioritized more, knowing the inequality students face during the challenging time. Closures of schools, learning spaces, and restrictions on gatherings have led educational institutes to choose online learning. Online learning may help with continuing the learning process, but not all students have the privilege of experiencing remote learning without any obstacles or difficulties.
More than 1.2 billion children in 186 countries got affected by the closures of schools due to the pandemic. Many wonders whether the adoption of online learning will continue to be there in the post-pandemic and how it will pact the education market worldwide. While online platforms, tools have made communication, distributing tasks, providing feedbacks easier, they also have paved a path of uncertainty in various ways. We are overlooking that many people do not have the means to access online education technologies. Supporting students during remote learning is not all about technology, but it is about using the right teaching method.
Technology can provide learning opportunities when students cannot physically be present in classrooms. Unfortunately, there are many barriers to successful remote and online learning driven by technology.
-
Table of Contents
Value the teaching profession
Teachers are working hard to prepare notes, lessons for their online classes. On top of that, they are putting their effort into making the classes more engaging so that students can focus on their lessons. Even they have a family that they have to support, children to look after, and have responsibilities. This is why teachers should get more support. Technologies cannot help students alone. Technologies may help teachers design lessons, but they can never replace teachers.
-
Support free and open-source technologies
More students and students should be introduced to free and open sources and digital tools so they can get their work done at a pocket-friendly price. Such resources will help students use technologies at anytime and anywhere. When they have free and open resources, students will no longer need to spend money on online writing services by asking them “do my assignment”.
-
Counseling students
During a hard time of COVID-19, students are struggling to deal with the situation. The current situation is bringing mental anxiety and stress among people. There are symptoms of depressions among students. This is making it hard for students to focus on lessons, assignments ad during classes. Technologies cannot just help students who are under stress. Since it is not possible to counsel students in front or visit houses, they need to be trained to help students online.
The counselors must keep track of student’s mental health and analyze how they are doing, what they are facing and what they can do in their free time. Children are used to social life. But suddenly, that being gone out of their life, they need all the help they can.
-
Alternative teaching options for low-income students
Students with low income come with disadvantages like not having enough resources to get access to the internet or laptop. Not all families have enough income to easily access the monthly internet package. Or students like them; teachers should be more flexible like assigning assignments that do not require the need of the internet. Teachers can send audio clips of the classes to these students to ensure they do not miss out on any lessons.
-
Proper training to teachers for handling software
Teachers are human beings too and if they are not aware of how to use this learning software, proper guidance should be given to them. It will help them to engage with the students without worrying about what button he/she has to press next. Training sessions should be handles to help teachers learn about all the features of the academic software. Recently one of the teachers in India was bullied by his students for not being able to handle online classes properly.
Despite trying his best to learn the method of online teaching, he ends up in tears for his students. The lessons must be recorded so that organizations or school authorities can take proper actions. Support teachers to use technology and blended methods of teaching and learning.
-
Recognition of the hard work of teachers
Just like all heroes in the world, teachers are also fighting a heavy battle. Those who are in the teaching business can only understand how difficult it is to hold the attention of all students. Remote learning makes the job tougher since it is hard to understand who is not focusing.
But they are doing their level best to connect with the students, engage in rich discussions, encouraging students to share ideas, and doing all these through online software is not an easy job. So it is high time their effort and expertise get appreciated.
Recognition of the work of teachers and their expertise can provide the support they need to rise up to meet the current challenges presented by the pandemic and enhance collaboration amongst their peers. Supporting collaborative types of professional learning between teachers and cultivating teacher networks can enable them to learn from each other and provide leadership to their peers.
WRAPPING UP,
More support and professional learning opportunities should be given to teachers. It will reduce disruption for children in low and middle-income countries. This is why it is important to focus on influencing and training teachers to help them get adjusted to remote learning rather than focusing on technological solutions. It will create new possibilities for learning and teaching in the future.
