Ways To Compensate Loss Of Education

COVID-19 has had a huge impact on the world of education. Institutions at all levels were forced to shut for prolonged periods, meaning that course provision was much more likely to be 100% virtual. The traditional student experience, in turn, changed dramatically. Of course, all students have different learning styles. Some may even be new to the medium of virtual learning, so they’ve had to adapt to these unexpected circumstances. Thankfully, there are actions that students can take independently to compensate for any potential learning loss. The COVID-19 pandemic has created the largest disruption of education systems the history has ever witnessed. Nearly 1.6 billion learners in more than 190 countries and all continents have been affected. Closures of schools and other learning spaces have impacted 94 per cent of the world’s student population, up to 99 per cent in low and lower-middle income countries. The crisis is exacerbating pre-existing education disparities by reducing the opportunities for many of the most vulnerable children, youth, and adults – those living in poor or rural areas, girls, refugees, persons with disabilities and forcibly displaced persons – to continue their learning. Learning losses also threaten to extend beyond this generation and erase decades of progress, not least in support of girls and young women’s educational access and retention. Some 23.8 million additional children and youth (from pre-primary to tertiary) may drop out or not have access to school next year due to the pandemic’s economic impact alone. Similarly, the education disruption has had, and will continue to have, substantial effects beyond education. Closures of educational institutions hamper the provision of essential services to children and communities, including access to nutritious food, affect the ability of many parents to work, and increase risks of violence against women and girls. As fiscal pressures increase, and development assistance comes under strain, the financing of education could also face major challenges, exacerbating massive pre-COVID-19 education funding gaps. For low income countries and lower-middle-income countries, for instance, that gap had reached a staggering $148 billion annually and it could now increase by up to one-third. On the other hand, this crisis 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 /platforms supporting education continuity. We have also been reminded of the essential role of teachers and that government and other key partners have an ongoing duty of care to education personnel. But these changes have also highlighted that the promising future of learning, and the accelerated changes in modes of delivering quality education, cannot be separated from the imperative of leaving no one behind. This is true for children and youth affected by a lack of resources or enabling environment to access learning. It is true for the teaching profession and their need for better training in new methods of education delivery, as well as support. The COVID-19 crisis and the unparalleled education disruption is far from over. As many as 100 countries have yet to announce a date for schools to reopen and across the world, governments, unions, parents and children are grappling with when and how to approach the next phase. Countries have started planning to reopen schools nationwide, either based on grade level and by prioritizing exam classes, or through localized openings in regions with fewer cases of the virus. However, given the continued virulence of the virus, the majority of countries surveyed in May–June 2020 had yet to decide on a reopening date. These decisions carry enormous social and economic implications and will have lasting effects on educators, on children and youth, on their parents – especially women – and indeed on societies as a whole. We may compensate the loss by using following means:
1. Maximize the Benefits of Your Online Classes: It is necessary to contact teachers through online lessons. It right of a student to ask questions to teachers. And don’t be embarrassed to ask them frequently in the virtual learning environment either: very often, you will be asking a question that other students need answered too. Course tutors are grateful to receive relevant questions, they help them deliver a more informative lesson, and they make classes more engaging and interactive. Similarly, if you feel the format of your online class could be adapted to better meet your needs, why not make a suggestion? For example, if you like to make written notes during classes, maybe you’d benefit from a copy of the slides in advance to print and annotate. You’ll find that course tutors are willing to do what they can to accommodate your particular learning style.
2. Commit to a Reading List : Reading widely is a time-tested way to build your knowledge on specific subjects. Your reading list doesn’t need to consist of heavy tomes either, although it can if you want it too. An easier way to diversify and develop your reading material is to incorporate a mixture of mediums: journal articles, industry magazines, social media posts and academic books. This activity can be made pleasurable so it doesn’t become just another responsibility to manage. One way to make it so is to follow experts in your field of study and save the articles they share. Commit to reading one a day while you enjoy your morning coffee. Alternatively, you could take a book to the park and spend half an hour reading in fresh air, enjoying a much-needed screen break.If you’re not sure where to start with an extracurricular reading list, you can always consult your course tutors. They’re able to provide recommendations that are relevant to your field of study. Rather than just passively reading, try to respond to what you read as well; this makes the process more educationally valuable. You could start a blog, for example, and set the target of writing one short post each day reflecting on what you’ve read. Sharing the blog publically may be a good way to keep yourself accountable, and it could even reach some influential or interesting people in your network, stimulating a dialogue.
The COVID-19 crisis and the unparalleled education disruption is far from over. As many as 100 countries have yet to announce a date for schools to reopen and across the world, governments, unions, parents and children are grappling with when and how to approach the next phase.
3. Learn from your Peers : One of the things students seem to miss the most about pre-pandemic learning is the opportunity to connect with their peers and discuss what they are studying. Although classrooms are closed, there are still opportunities to learn from, and share ideas with, likeminded people. Thanks to platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, online group conversations are easily organized. These events don’t have to be university-endorsed, either. Why not contact some people from your course and see if they’d like to join an unofficial “study support” group? At EU Business School, when the pandemic hit students transitioned to a new on-campus hybrid learning approach, combining the best of digital and face-to-face learning. Maintaining an interactive environment where students could continue to work with, and learn from, their peers was a priority. Using Moodle, the word´s leading e-learning platform, enabled collaboration and conversation to continue. With an international student body, being able to learn from each other’s unique perspectives, to grow a diverse and global network, was an important aspect of the student experience. Forming relationships with your classmates, even at a distance, has multiple benefits. They may become important contacts in your future career. They’re likely to inspire you with ideas you hadn’t considered. Lastly, they are best placed to provide the emotional support you need on difficult days when you’re finding your studies especially challenging.
4. Incorporate Learning into Leisure : If you have a demanding schedule, the prospect of adding more educational activities into your daily routine may be off-putting. However, there are ways to make learning feel like leisure. When it comes to television time at night, look for an engaging documentary related to your field of study. When you’re out walking your dog, take advantage of the time to listen to a podcast by experts in your field. Try to resist the idea that learning only occurs when you’re reading and writing official course materials. A learning log where you scribble down insights gleaned from alternative mediums will soon show you that there are many ways to study a subject. The best approach incorporates a range of strategies, therefore keeping you motivated and engaged.
5. Supplement Learning with Events and Courses : In response to the worldwide scramble to embrace virtual learning, there are now more online courses available than ever before. If you’d like to enhance your knowledge on a particular element of your course, it’s likely that you’ll be able to find a resource online to support your learning. Check the LinkedIn feeds of influencers in your field of interest. You may also find that there are interesting online talks or conferences that are free to attend. If you’ve identified a particular weakness in your skills and knowledge; for example, in essay-writing or in research, it’s possible to find a private tutor who can help you improve in these areas. Depending on local restrictions, you could meet your tutor online or in-person.
( The author is a teacher at Boys Higher Secondary School Brakpora Anantnag. Views are his own)
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