Education Innovation due to Corona
View(s):The only word we hear these days is Corona. It is all people talk about, think about and even dream about!
The impact that it will have on the world is enormous, but they question that persists is if the changed will be positive or negative. Education too will be impacted.
Swift and Decisive Action
With the coronavirus spreading rapidly across the world, countries have taken swift and decisive actions to mitigate the development of a full-blown pandemic. In the past weeks, there have been multiple announcements suspending attendance at schools and universities. As of March 13, it is estimated over 421 million children are affected due to school closures announced or implemented in 39 countries.
Although it is too early to judge how reactions to COVID-19 will affect education systems around the world, there are signs suggesting that it could have a lasting impact on the trajectory of learning innovation and digitization.
Education Innovation
The slow pace of change in academic institutions globally has always been a bone of contention, as even us in Sri Lanka complain daily about the education system. However, COVID-19 has become a reason for educational institutions worldwide to search for innovative solutions in a relatively short period of time.
To help slow the virus’ spread, students in Hong Kong started to learning at home, in February, via interactive apps. In China, 120 million Chinese got access to learning material through live television broadcasts.
Other simpler – yet no less creative – solutions were implemented around the globe. In one Nigerian school, standard asynchronous online learning tools (such as reading material via Google Classroom), were augmented with synchronous face-to-face video instruction, to help preempt school closures.
Online learning through social media
Sri Lankan schools, universities and even tuition teachers have taken innovative measures and started teaching via online platforms including whatsapp, facebook and Instagram!
Similarly, local artists, fitness trainers and even musicians have started posting live feeds to teach and entertain us and we give our heartiest thanks for such initiatives!