FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 2024
Roel A Andrade
The coronavirus - a virus that has taken the entire world hostage. A virus that has shut down all activities of humans and sent global economies crashing. COVID-19 has changed the world . A world where Disney is out of magic and Paris is no more romantic. A world where the great wall of China is no more a fortress and in a world where hugs and kisses suddenly become weapons and not visiting your loved ones becomes an act of love a world where money can’t buy you the oxygen you need and the heroes on big screen are not the heroes in real life. But most importantly this virus has left over 1.2 billion children without education. 1.2 billion children sitting at home waiting for their new academic year to start or waiting to continue from where they left off .
Amidst this virus a new trend has occurred that saves the lives of these 1.2 billion children. Online classes. A trend where students sitting in the comfort and safety of their home can gain the knowledge taught in their schools, colleges and universities. A trend that changed from Zumba classes to Zoom classes.
Education has changed dramatically, with the distinctive rise of e-learning, whereby teaching is undertaken remotely and on digital platforms.
This begs the question as to how is the education sector is responding to the current situation.
In response to the current situation there are various Ed platforms that have stood out like BYJU’s learning app a Bangalore-based educational technology and online tutoring firm founded in 2011, which is now the world’s most highly valued ed tech company. The next question we must address is whether this learning online will be a step to the future or will vanish one day as the virus does?
While some believe that this unplanned and rapid online learning will result in a poor user experience that is unconducive to sustained growth while others believe that the integration of information technology in education will eventually become the thoracic spine of the backbone.
But how effective is e-learning?
For those who do have access to the right technology, there is evidence that learning online can be more effective in a number of ways. Some research shows that on average, students retain 25-60% more material when learning online compared to only 8-10% in a classroom. This is mostly due to the students being able to learn faster online; e-learning requires 40-60% less time to learn than in a traditional classroom setting because students can learn at their own pace, going back and re-reading, skipping, or accelerating through concepts as they choose.
Nevertheless , the effectiveness of online learning varies amongst age groups. The younger ones need a more structured environment for better learning as they get distracted more easily. To get the full benefit of online learning, there needs to be a concerted effort to provide this structure and go beyond replicating a physical class/lecture through video capabilities, instead, using a range of collaboration tools and engagement methods that promote “inclusion, personalization and intelligence”
It is clear that this pandemic has utterly disrupted an education system that many assert was already losing its relevance.
In his book, 21 lessons for the 21st century, scholar Yuval Noah Harari outlines how schools continue to focus on traditional academic skills and rote learning, rather than on skills such as critical thinking and adaptability, which will be more important for success in the future. Could the move to online learning be the catalyst to create a new, more effective method of educating students? While some worry that the hasty nature of the transition online may have hindered this goal, others plan to make e-learning part of their ‘new normal’ after experiencing the benefits first-hand.
What has been made clear through this pandemic is the importance of disseminating knowledge across borders, companies, and all parts of society. If online learning technology can play a role here, it is incumbent upon all of us to explore its full potential.
