Publish at November 26 2020 Updated February 04 2022
Distance learning certainly did not appear with the covid-19 pandemic, far from it. Yet, this teaching that remained more marginal had to be used in a hurry by a majority of professors who had never considered their course in a virtual classroom. They had to get used to everything: from the technique to the homework. A colossal effort on the part of the entire teaching staff, who also had to work on developing collaboration between students and teachers without physical presence. How did they do it?
Many having never had to experience this method of teaching, it was necessary to both improvise and stay true to the curriculum. Multiple Quebec teachers revealed their strategies in this Le Devoir article. Some have quite noted the surrealistic side of learning each at home, getting to know each other's environment. Others decided to start each class with a fun activity. Attendance was an important issue, and most set up devices so that learners could contact them and vice versa. It was also essential for some to establish from the start a netiquette so that respect was expected even without being on school premises. Others created closed groups on Facebook to give each other news, share, and provide reminders.
Of course, technological tools were very helpful in building connection. Indeed, they were needed to communicate, share assignments, assess, etc. Platforms like Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams or lesser known ones like Jamboard allow students and teachers to work and collaborate on assignments. Moreover, with the 2020 pandemic, it was clearly necessary for schools to find responses quickly, not always being able to rely on devices specifically designed for the classroom.
This has some education editorialists arguing that the time has come to have more collaborative tools in educational solutions. Especially in contexts where hybrid learning will be more prevalent. Companies such as Lenovo have actually been bragging since the early days of the health crisis about working on software along these lines.
It has to be said that there are more and more applications for the various didactic aspects. This American article (How to Engage Students in Remote Learning) reminds us of all the current ones for personalized teaching, for creating interactive online discussions, for collaborating or debating together. By the way, an American university succeeded with a virtual classroom solution to teach a course on surgery with a robot and have lively conversations related to health care. In addition, there are tools to conduct brainstorming sessions with learners.
Wouldn't this unforeseen major situation be a boon to education and students? Indeed, despite the chaos and uncertainties of teaching approaches during a health crisis, it appears that collaboration was possible to implement, even at a distance. Learners witnessed firsthand the different synchronous and asynchronous approaches to communicating that technological tools offer us. They learned how to use various apps, interact with others through a digital device, etc.
For the World Economic Forum, out of this troubled time may come a generation that has acquired, perhaps sooner than expected, skills and experiences that will match the realities of tomorrow. The online collaboration will always be a bonus on a planet where international exchanges are frequent. It's not at all impossible that a significant number of young learners will later have a job that requires them to work with teams virtually. Not to mention that we are not immune to other health crises. So covid-19 has potentially enabled future citizens to learn to work even if they are confined or separated by distance.
Illustration:Frank Romero on Unsplash
References:
Baillargeon, Normand. "Taming The Virtual Classroom." Le Devoir. Last updated November 14, 2020.
https://www.ledevoir.com/opinion/chroniques/589718/apprivoiser-la-classe-virtuelle
"Collaborative Learning in Times of Social Distancing." Barco. Last updated July 7, 2020.
https://www.barco.com/en/news/2020-07-07-collaborative-learning-in-times-of-social-distancing
Corey, Dana. "Collaboration Tools for the Future of Online Learning." Technology Solutions That Drive Education. Last updated August 6, 2020.
https://edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2020/08/collaboration-tools-future-online-learning
"Engage Students in Remote Learning." TechnoKids Blog. Last updated August 2, 2020.
https://www.technokids.com/blog/teaching-strategies/engage-students-remote-learning/
Gehl, Nick. "How to Brainstorm and Collaborate with Students Online." The Art of Education University. Last updated August 30, 2020.
https://theartofeducation.edu/2020/09/02/how-to-brainstorm-and-collaborate-with-students-online/
Henderson, Richard. "Closing the Gap in Distance Learning - A Virtual Tool Kit from Lenovo and Our Partners." Lenovo StoryHub. Last updated March 23, 2020.
https://news.lenovo.com/closing-the-gap-in-distance-learning-a-virtual-tool-kit-from-lenovo-and-our-partners
"JAD: Creating A Group Spirit Before You Begin." Course: I teach from a distance. Accessed November 20, 2020.
https://jenseigneadistance.teluq.ca/mod/page/view.php?id=207
Kerravala, Zeus. "Why Collaboration Tools Must Integrate with Learning Management." EWEEK. Last updated September 18, 2020.
https://www.eweek.com/cloud/why-collaboration-tools-must-integrate-with-learning-management-for-schools
Lambert, Arianna. "Jamboard - a Tool for Learning Together at a Distance." The Heart and Art of Teaching and Learning. Last updated April 29, 2020.
https://heartandart.ca/?p=8741
Libbrecht, Angelique. "Maintaining cooperation in the remote classroom." Les Cahiers Pédagogiques. Last updated April 29, 2020.
https://www.cahiers-pedagogiques.com/Maintenir-de-la-cooperation-dans-la-classe-a-distance
Lynch, Matthew. "How Distance Learning Fosters Global Collaboration." The Tech Edvocate. Last updated September 2, 2020.
https://www.thetechedvocate.org/how-distance-learning-fosters-global-collaboration/
Miranda, Guille. "The Unexpected Benefits of Virtual Education." World Economic Forum. Last updated September 21, 2020.
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/09/unexpected-benefits-virtual-education/
"Successful Collaboration with Remote Learning." ViewSonic Library. Last updated August 11, 2020.
https://www.viewsonic.com/library/education/successful-collaboration-with-remote-learning/
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