The Philippines’ geographic location is as much a boon as it is a bane. Due to its proximity to other markets in the Asia Pacific region, it has a strategic advantage in trading and creating business centers and it provides bountiful natural resources and world-renowned travel destinations.
However, the hand that gives the Philippines a wealth of resources is the same hand that can cause devastating damage during natural calamities. Being next-door-neighbors with the Pacific Ocean means that the Philippines is prone to typhoons, having an estimated 20 tropical storms pass through annually, causing disruptions in livelihood, education, and other aspects of life.
One of the most affected sectors during the rainy season is education, with schools cancelling classes consequently leading to delays in schedule. Some schools encounter more setbacks as they have to start back up at an even later time because they are used as evacuation centers or due to sustained significant damage on school property during the storm.
Because of the abrupt nature of how remote learning was implemented last year, many schools were left scrambling for a solution on how to provide quality education while adhering to health protocols. While difficult, it proved that remote learning is possible and has multiple advantages, one of which is continued education despite a global pandemic.
In order to help the education system to continue classes despite disruptions, the right infrastructure, programs, and technology need to be implemented so that students don’t fall behind in their studies. With the right tools, distance education can also be applied in the case of other disasters.
Below are some tips for schools to consider to better utilize virtual learning:
- Provide educators with the right hardware and software
Supporting teachers with the right devices and supplementing those with software and solutions greatly help in making the transition to a virtual learning medium smoother. Letting educators familiarize themselves with the tools they will be using translates to a better classroom experience that will focus more on the lesson and the education of the students instead of trying to figure out how to navigate the new platform.
- Offer technical support for teachers
Remote learning means that not all amenities and services that were easily available in school will be accessible––that includes the IT support who helped troubleshoot technical issues. One solution would be to provide teachers with basic troubleshooting lessons to improve their technical competency and allow them to act independently when they encounter issues.
- Have a backup plan
Backup doesn’t only mean backing up files for lesson materials––it also applies to schedules for classes and assignments. At times of added disruptions such as lack of power or unstable internet connectivity, an asynchronous schedule can be adapted to ensure students and teachers can first address their needs and dive back into the lesson once everyone is back on equal footing.
When the right infrastructure is in place to set up a reliable internet connection and have adequate devices, the next step would be to find suitable solutions to help enhance learning through the use of technology. Education solutions like the Lenovo Smart Classroom enable students and educators to have a collaborative learning management system (LMS) that provides a central platform for teachers and students to converge. Additionally, the Smart Classroom offers tools and services to reinforce the virtual learning experience such as providing campus Wi-Fi, interactive whiteboard, Lenovo devices, and much more.
Furthermore, gold and platinum school partners can help their teachers upskill their technical literacy through the Microsoft Certification Program. Undergoing the certification program will help educators become more familiar with Microsoft applications to have a more meaningful experience in the virtual classroom and help students to collaborate more efficiently.
The current remote setup gives us a glimpse into the future of work and learning, which are shaping up to be highly digital and collaborative. The rise of immersive learning is influencing young learners’ experience in the classroom with technology increasingly acting as an educational tool that is sure to follow into the modern workplace. With this in mind, it only highlights the relevance and importance of Lenovo’s vision of delivering Smarter Technology for All through products, solutions, software, and services.
Learn more about how to benefit from the Lenovo Smart Classroom through the Lenovo website and ask how it can be implemented in your school.
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