Page 35 - Gazette1_63

\ EPTS GAZETTE

The Coronavirus outbreak has changed each of our lives in many ways, but one of the most
drastic changes for students is the shift from studying in a classroom to online. As part of the
effort to contain the spread of the virus, schools all around the world are closing down. In fact,
these nationwide closures are impacting over 91% of the world’s student population, according
to UNESCO. Therefore, schools are forced to consider other alternatives, and online learning
has been the most popular.

Numerous schools and universities are continuing their classes on online platforms in two
different ways. The first way is done by using video chat applications so that teachers and stu-
dents are able to see each other. This is a live event where everyone in the class can interact. If
students have questions, they can ask the teacher directly and get immediate answers. Another
way that students are receiving an education is through distance education, which is the use
of online resources with educational material. This allows students to study on their own, as
opposed to making live conference calls with a teacher.

Many challenges are inevitable in this new form of education, with one of the most serious
challenges being the income restriction for some families. Several tools required for online
education, such as computers, are quite expensive and some families are unable to afford them.
Moreover, many regions in the world still don’t have access to the internet, so the students are
forced to miss out on their education until the situation gets better. This will likely cause the
educational equality gap to widen if access to education continues to be controlled by access to
technology.

Another difficult challenge is for the teachers and students to adapt their usual teaching and
learning style. Some teachers may not feel comfortable using the new technology, or they might
find it difficult to convert the activities that they already planned, such as group activities and
quizzes, into a form that can be done online. On the other hand, students who are not so good
at using technology might fall behind in their classes. Other students might find it difficult to
concentrate when they are not in the usual learning environment. In addition, there are many
minor problems, such as loud noises from the surroundings, that can disturb lessons online.

Although there are drawbacks to the rapid change in education, there are also many benefits.
For example, this is a perfect time for you to try out online courses, if you haven’t already, and
see if you like it or not. Who knows? You might find out that you enjoy it, or that you learn
better in your own environment. This may help you to decide whether or not you should take
more online courses in the future, since they are much cheaper and can be done from long
distances. In light of the pandemic, many new online resources have popped up all over the
internet. Companies are providing free online courses to encourage students to continue learn-
ing at home. Many websites, such as “Unesco” and “Openculture”, have also created lists of free
online courses for anyone who is interested. Even top universities like Harvard are offering free
online courses for students all around the world, including us (through https://online-learning.
harvard.edu/catalog). If you are not sure what job you want, or what you should major in, these
online courses can give you the opportunity to try learning different things in order to find out
what you like.

34