The world is still reeling from the novel coronavirus pandemic that has left severe repercussions for the Pakistani economy. One particular sector that has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic is the education sector.
Social distancing orders led to the closure of schools, which could have led to a huge loss in the educational prospects of students, had it not been for the cushion known as e-learning.
E-learning refers to the transmission of educational curriculum via an online platform, usually the internet. Online education provides the perfect opportunity to gain knowledge and become educated from the comfort of your own home.
How E-Learning is Facilitating Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Since the closure of schools in Pakistan in March 2020, students have been able to save their academic year with the help of online learning. Schools have leveraged a number of online learning tools, such as the video conferencing application Zoom, Skype, and Microsoft Teams for conducting socially distanced online classes.
In addition, the assignment of online study tools such as solved past papers, lecture videos, book notes, and practice MCQs allow students to gain complete exam preparation and understanding of concepts while studying from the comfort of their home.
That being said, the implementation of e-learning in Pakistan during the pandemic hasn’t been without its hindrances. Students who live in rural areas often experience connectivity issues and slow internet access. At the same time, there is a significant learning curve for both teachers and students who do not have experience with distance learning platforms and methodologies.
The Future of E-Learning in Pakistan Post COVID-19
If this pandemic has proven anything about the education system, it is that there is a great benefit of leveraging online education methodologies. Distance learning gives students the opportunity to study from the comfort of their homes, at their own learning pace, using high quality study resources such as lecture videos and book notes.
However, if e-learning is to have an effective future moving forward, there is a great need to solve the issues that are currently hindering its prosperity. Firstly, the issue of poor internet connectivity must be solved in order to have a smooth and hassle free experience.
Providing Training for E-Learning Methodologies
In addition to this, students should be given the opportunity to become more accustomed to using online education tools and platforms. This involves providing training to both teachers and students, and encouraging the use of online study tools even in the classroom once schools are operational again.
There are plenty of ways to infuse e-learning measures into the traditional classroom setting. Some ways include:
Assigning practice quizzes as homework to be completed online
Giving self-study sessions with online video lectures
Encouraging the use of online exam preparation resources such as solved past papers and notes
Asking students to conduct online research for chapters before teaching it in class
These are small measures that can greatly help students become more comfortable with online education methods.
Making Technology Accessible for Students in Pakistan
Aside from this, the government must play a role to make technology more accessible to students in Pakistan, especially for those coming from lower income backgrounds. Funding schools and investing in computer labs, laptops, and improving internet connection is a great place to start.
These measures will not only help elevate students' education prospects to an international standard, but can also help them leverage the way of the future with e-learning. And if there is ever another such crisis such as this COVID-19 pandemic, schools, teachers, and students will be prepared for a smooth and effective transition to distance learning.
The future of e-learning post COVID-19 has the potential to be bright, as long as everyone can play their part to improve its usability in Pakistan.
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