3 ways COVID has changed education for the better

 

As millions more Americans are vaccinated against COVID-19 every day, many are now wondering what society will look like in a post-COVID world. While the virus may stay with us in some form, many things will go back to normal. However, it’s less certain which of the adaptations we’ve collectively made over the previous year will fade along with the virus, and which might represent a “new normal” that we’ll take with us into the future. The American educational system, having seen dramatic impacts to educators, parents, and students as a result of the virus, is no different.

COVID-19 has represented a tremendous hardship for millions of Americans. However, that doesn’t mean that some good won’t come out of it, particularly as it relates to our students’ education. Over the past year, my organization, the Foundation for Teaching Economics (FTE), has reacted, experimented, and adapted to the realities of education in the time of COVID-19, in order to fulfill our mission of providing economics classes and curriculum to high school teachers and students.

Our experience points to three positive trends COVID-19 has set in motion within the American education system: educators will become more receptive to innovation, students will be able to access learning opportunities with fewer barriers than before, and educators will have more online tools to connect with their students.

Education should be first and foremost about the student’s learning experience and outcomes. However, innovation in public education that benefits student learning has tended to come in fits and starts. COVID-19, by forcing almost all public schools online, supercharged the dissemination of beneficial learning technologies throughout the country. As daily instruction moved out of the classroom and into the home, it forced us to be more thoughtful about using these new tools to meet students where they are, rather than asking them to adapt to pre-existing methods. We now have more opportunities to individualize instruction, rather than defaulting to a one-size-fits-all approach. We are also more aware of the obstacles that sometimes trip up students seeking a quality education— whether related to a lack of parental support or a bad internet connection at home—and seeking solutions to these challenges.

Fortunately, the pandemic has also opened up more opportunities for students to engage with education than ever before. Virtual education is less wedded to a specific location or certain times of the day, meaning that students don’t always need to be physically in the classroom each and every day. At FTE, the virtual element allows us to serve more students and teachers from all over the country, creating a more diverse student body, thanks to reduced travel costs. Of course, challenges remain with online education. Some subjects, like physical education, are awkward when taught remotely and the lack of in-person interaction can lead to students feeling socially isolated and lonely. We must remember that the internet is not a substitute for education; to use it effectively, teachers need support in mastering the tools of online education.

Because of these challenges, educators have learned to be more effective in communicating and connecting with students online. Prior to COVID-19, virtual education was less than widespread— meaning that some educators were naturally worried whether their style would work virtually. At FTE, we’ve now introduced more than a thousand teachers to resources on how to use technology to make their virtual economics classroom more interactive and interesting.  Online platforms, such as Nearpod or Pear Deck, enable teachers make their presentations interactive and provide the means to check student understanding in real-time. This real-time feedback and use of activities can be a game-changer as educators constantly look to connect with students in their virtual classrooms. 

The American educational system has sometimes been criticized for being resistant to change. Fortunately, the past year has shown that the system is capable of adopting incredibly innovative solutions, including a dramatic increase in the use of technology, in order to meet the needs of our students. While technology and virtual education isn’t a panacea, as we now approach a return to normalcy, I hope that educators, parents, and children will maintain the open-minded approach that proved so vital over the past year. If we can lock in the lessons of COVID-19, the system as a whole will be all the better for it going forward. 

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3D Technology: The Future Of Education

Bipin Dama, Founder and CEO of Saras-3D, Inc speaks with BW Businessworld about studying from home, student engagement and the advantages of 3D learning. 

Saras-3D is the natural progression in the study from home (SFH) reality. This helps teachers digitally engage students, empowering students to learn faster and more deeply through the power of active learning. Through virtual hands-on learning, students actively learn through the topic rather than passively learning about it. Instead of merely reading information or passively watching a video (both are useful), you can now also “interact” with 3D simulations. “Scaled models” depict a topic the way it exists in real life, helping students experience the material through direct interactions. This can only be achieved by using 3D technology. The ultimate result is two-fold. Students master skills swiftly. While parents relax, knowing their children are engaged, actively reaching their academic goals.

By learning through exploration, students are engaged just as profoundly as they would be learning in a real-life laboratory. We also utilize virtual labs and 3D videos with online learning fundamentals such as quizzes and analytics. This way, students are guided through multiple media to understand each concept thoroughly. To stay engaged while they study from home, students need a way to mimic real-world learning experiences. Genius 3D Learning uses 3D simulations and virtual hands-on learning methods. This empowers students to interact with the material and play with scaled models that depict concepts the way they exist in real life. 

This technique is based on stereoscopy, a technology that combines special eyeglasses with a booster box to create a three-dimensional, interactive experience. Students can learn twice as fast through interacting with realistic, scaled models because they learn through doing rather than simply learning about concepts. This leads to deeper understanding and better recall. In fact, many students are already using this technology to master competitive exams like JEE and NEET. 

Genius 3D Learning does not require an internet connection to access the learning content. Everything a student needs to succeed is included with Genius 3D Learning bundles. Students often lack access to devices, a reliable internet connection, or a dedicated quiet place to study. The 2017-2018 report from National Sample Survey Office (NSSO) showed that only 24 per cent of the Indian population had reliable internet access, leaving most students behind. 

When the pandemic first began, most of us thought the school closures would be short-term. But as students continue to study from home, more parents are seeing the need for tools to help their children learn effectively. The pressure is compounded when students are simultaneously preparing for competitive college entrance exams like JEE and NEET. As a study from home continues to be a lasting situation, more people are searching for long-term solutions.

By creating a solution that does not require the internet to access the learning material, a high bandwidth internet connection is no longer the dividing line for who does and does not get access to digital education. This is how we are democratizing a high-quality education across the country. 

Even after the pandemic, parents will still want to give their children the tools they need to study from home effectively. The pandemic has made us all aware of how difficult it is to study from home. The students who can do it effectively will have a distinct advantage. When schools have permanently reopened, teachers will find Genius 3D Learning the perfect tool to guide their students' understanding, imagination, and retention.

Innovation and creativity tend to peak during times of disruption. It is now apparent that the way we educate our children is ripe for innovation. This moment is an opportunity for educators to take the time to identify what is and is not working, look at problems as steps toward a solution and prioritize the most important steps to tackle. The current reality should propel us to find new ways to reach students beyond the traditional education model. 

It is also a moment for parents (a child’s first educators) to rethink the way their children learn. During this time, they are finding strategic ways to best support them to reach their full potential. This can make stressors more manageable while also carving out a way to rebuild things better than before.

During these stressful times, it is also essential for educators to focus on taking extra good care of themselves. The expectations of teachers are demanding and can feel isolating. We should connect with other educators, learn from each other. Realize we are not going through this alone, and you do not need to take everything on by yourself.

Source: http://bweducation.businessworld.in

UPSC recruitment: Final result of CDS Examination (I) 2020 declared, check here

The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) on Monday (May 24, 2021) declared the final result of the Combined Defence Services Examination (I), 2020. 

The UPSC selected 147 candidates on the basis of the written exam and interviews held by the Services Selection Board of the Ministry of Defence. However, marks of the candidates will be available within 15 days from the date of declaration of final results on the Commission's website for 30 days.

It selected 96 candidates for admission to the Officers Training Academy, Chennai, for the 113th Short Service Commission Course (for Men) and 51 candidates for Officers Training Academy, Chennai, 27th Short Service Commission Women (Non-Technical) Course.

The UPSC said that the list of 113th Short Service Commission Course (for Men) also includes the names of the candidates who were recommended earlier on the basis of the result of the same examination for admission to Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, Naval Academy, Ezhimala, Kerala and Air Force Academy,  Hyderabad (Pre-Flying) Training Course(s). 

Click here for results:

Candidates can also obtain information regarding results by accessing to UPSC website http://www.upsc.gov.in.