Education During Pandemic
Aarushi Nair
Ambassador, AnitaB.org | LinkedIn Top Voice, AI and Quantum Computing | Data Scientist | Computer Science Engineering Student | #GirlsWhoCode #WomenInTech #WomenInSTEM #InclusiveTech #WomenoftheFuture #GHC24 #GHCI24
Education sector is the sector which is not confined to the boundaries of classrooms but extends into home, community and all around the world. Information is not bound in books only it is available everywhere. Education sector, which has always been placed for real-life, physical interaction, has been among the hardest hit during this Pandemic Situation of #COVID19. Considering this situation and conditions as hundreds of millions of students around the world struggle to study at home, it remains to be seen how educators and the sector on a whole will deal with the new learn-at-home reality. As in adopting such practices teachers play an important role in engaging students and motivating them for studying using new learning techniques.
The #pandemic has stimulated innovation within the education sector. We have seen innovative approaches in support of education and training continuity: from radio and television to take-home packages. Distance learning solutions were developed thanks to quick responses by governments and partners all over the world supporting education continuity. In areas with limited connectivity, governments have used more traditional distance learning modalities, often a mix of educational television and radio programming, and the distribution of print materials.
Some countries are developing tools and resources for learners with disabilities and their parents. This requires enhancing accessibility features, such as audio narration, sign language video, and simplified text, as well as provision of assistive devices and, in some cases, reasonable accommodation.
We have also been reminded of the essential role of teachers and that governments and other key partners have an ongoing duty of care to education personnel.
From the onset of the pandemic, teachers were immediately tasked with implementing distance learning modalities, often without sufficient guidance, training, or resources. In many contexts, teacher professional development has moved online or been disseminated via telephone and video applications. Web-based class meetings and messaging applications have become useful tools and new ways of communicating with their learners and the education community.
In responding to the present circumstances, it is time we explore the benefit of common technologies. The federal government’s recent announcement of funding to support the use of digital solutions in community responses to COVID-19 is a promising step.
Technology cannot prevent the onset of the pandemics; however, it can help prevent the spread, educate, warn, and empower those on the ground to be aware of the situation, and noticeably lessen the impact. Today, with converging technologies like mobile, cloud, analytics, robotics, AI/ML, 4G/5G, and high-speed internet, it has become possible to test several innovative approaches to pandemic response.
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Big data and artificial intelligence (AI) have helped facilitate COVID-19 preparedness and the tracking of people, and so the spread of infection, in several countries. Tools such as migration maps, which use mobile phones, mobile payment applications, and social media to collect real-time data on the location of people, allowed Chinese authorities to track the movement of people who had visited the Wuhan market, the pandemic's epicentre.
Digital health technology can facilitate pandemic strategy and response in ways that are difficult to achieve manually. Countries such as South Korea have integrated digital technology into government-coordinated containment and mitigation processes—including surveillance, testing, contact tracing, and strict quarantine—which could be associated with the early flattening of their incidence curves.
In order to reduce false information, companies like Google, Facebook, and YouTube are working tirelessly to guide people to the right, verifiable information such as that published by WHO or local authorities and government. By making accurate information available to everybody, a transparent scenario can be created and the people can be informed about the right steps to take.
Wireless thermometer guns and other similar infrared body temperature measuring devices have become the most important medical equipment that are being used at checkpoints of offices, airports, hotels, hospitals, train stations, shops, and other public places.
As pandemics or other calamities keep threatening the business world, working from home ensures business continuity as well as facilitates social distancing. Remote working is a blessing that comes due to technology and is one of the greatest solutions that helps us in social distancing.
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