After the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world in March 2020, human life changed dramatically. One of the sectors that were hugely affected is the education sector, as millions of school-going children had to continue learning outside school. This unexpected change pushed the world to start thinking of alternative ways of conducting education. As different strategies were being used, the world got a foretaste of how teaching and learning could be transformed for better or worse in the future.
Lockdowns in different countries led to partial school closures. Consequently, there were several strategies implemented to ensure learning continues. Some common strategies implemented include:
Technology Became the Fore Thing
Initially, governments and school managers did not prioritize technology in education. However, it has emerged as a critical tool to ensure learning continues. In addition, studies have revealed that the global pandemic has acted as a catalyst for educational institutions to start looking for innovative solutions to age-old challenges.
In some instances, teachers and students were forced to embrace technology for the first time. The use of technology gives education a new meaning. For example, it provides room for online classes where teachers and students collaborate and discuss without necessarily being at the same location.
Implementation of digital technology in education has pushed teachers to rethink their pedagogic practices. They have to find ways of keeping students engaged and continually motivated to learn on the online learning platforms.
Synchronous
In this type of online learning, the teacher talks to the pupils as though they were in a physical classroom. Real-time live lessons usually resemble the typical class setting. However, studies suggest that it is not sustainable for several weeks or months. They also reveal that students and teachers are usually tired and frustrated at the end of the day.
Asynchronous
On the other hand, in asynchronous learning, the lessons are pre-recorded. Education experts argue that this approach is more suitable and practical. It usually comes in the form of instructions, voice recordings, and videos. These resources give the students the flexibility to complete their tasks conveniently as per their schedules.
For example, if you want to study a language, you will discover that each language has various levels.
Online Pedagogical Approaches
Studies into online learning have revealed that the majority of teachers prefer face-to-face classroom teaching. The main reason they want to avoid online classes is that they could have less excitement. Nevertheless, good teaching usually yields good conversations, which can also take place online. For this to happen, teachers involved need to have an excellent understanding of effective pedagogical practices.
There are different types of online lessons which all fall under two categories:
There Is a Need for Balance
As a result, some education professionals suggest that there needs to be a balance between the two forms of digital learning. For instance, the strategies applied should include live teacher-student lessons and independent flipped learning instructions.
Learner's age is also a crucial factor to consider when planning pedagogical strategies. For example, when it comes to younger children, learning is effective with a teacher in the classroom. In such cases, live classroom sessions are more appropriate when introducing new material. After that, you can follow that up with pre-recorded presentations followed by an exercise.
For older students, asynchronous learning is preferable. The older students are expected to have the ability to learn new material on their own, guided by self-study materials. However, student maturity becomes critical as there is no guarantee that they will engage with the material.
In both online learning approaches, digital technology is important. Teachers must be equipped with the necessary digital skills to use the software and hardware for lesson preparation effectively. On the other hand, students and parents also need to have the technical know-how to be able to interact with the new learning systems.
Does One Size Fit All?
In matters of online learning, one size does not fit all! Therefore, it is important to understand the differences when considering online pedagogical practices. Teachers also have to ensure that their online presentations are not dry.
For instance, they should bring out their personality in their online presentations and include humor and tonal variations. In addition, they need to do their best to keep their students engaged and motivated.
