Online teaching tools. Image credit: yourtrainingedge.com

COVID-19 (Coronavirus Education): Online technology tools for the education of out-school student | E-learning tools for the sidelined school children due to coronavirus pandemic

Not less than 36 countries have totally or partly closed schools amidst coronavirus pandemic, leaving millions of children and students to be out-of-school. More schools are closing as the virus continues to spread among the population. Overseas examinations preparation and taking have also been disrupted and cases are being made to postpone fixed international examinations.

See also How to continue education amidst coronavirus pandemic

Some universities in the US have started online learning for their students in virtual classrooms to replace in-person classroom learning.

Any university which intends to offer an online education program to students needs amidst viable online technology tools to make the program engaging and to look real.

Let’s consider a good number of these e-learning tools.

Cloud technology tools

Using cloud technology tools online can set quizzes and mark completed feedback answers on taught topics as the case with a classroom, enhancing evaluation of previous knowledge. The students feel confident even when ‘e-learning’ independently from home.

Many online tools that allow teachers to engage with students remotely abound and that should be incorporated into the teaching and learning process and instill confidence in students, external circumstances affecting schools notwithstanding.

With e-learning tool like Microsoft Office 365 tool, teachers can set up classes on Team and assign classwork to students on OneNote Document which also allow marking of the completed assignment.

Google Classroom can upload resources for students, set deadlines, submit completed an assignment for marking and send back the corrections, allowing you to ensure that they have studied the topic. Google Meet can check students’ attendance

Another online technology assessment tool that enables one to set and answer exam questions is Edpuzzle. It creates room for sending questions and receiving answers to answered questions

Technology tools enable teachers to spot students who are struggling in learning certain areas or those who need an extra push – just as he or she would in the classroom.

Flipped classroom learning

Schools should consider using flipped classrooms for learning if the virus outbreak disruptions look likely to continue for now.

A flipped classroom is a type of blended learning where students are introduced to lesson content to work independently at home in form of homework and practice working through it in the classroom at school in form of classwork. It is the reverse of the more common practice of introducing new content at school and then assigning the students homework for completion.

It is not about bringing homework to school and taking schoolwork home.

In this blended learning approach, face-to-face interaction is mixed with an independent study–usually by the use of e-learning tools. In a common Flipped Classroom scenario, students might watch pre-recorded videos at home to become grounded with and at least some background knowledge, and then having compiled his questions, come to school to do the homework.

The teacher can use specific content-related websites and YouTube videos to teach, give examples and exercises or provide information to teach the students and encourage them to be independent in the flipped classroom.