Just when we thought the “dark ages” aren’t going to happen in our lifetime, we are indeed got caught by surprise.
Most of us are lucky we did not live during the time of the infamous Black Death (bubonic plague). Nor lived during World War II where millions perished.
Life then was difficult, and we could just be thankful we live in the present time. You couldn’t just imagine how life was back then.
How did they survive with all the bombs and tanks blasting around them?
Where did they get food when there was none in their own kitchens?
How about the children who were forced to stop schooling due to the unfortunate events during that time?
The impact of COVID-19 on the educational system
There are also many things happening right now including the COVID-19 pandemic. It has undeniably created a huge blow to our daily lives.
A lot of businesses closed or temporarily shut down. Events, big and small alike, got either postponed or cancelled. Schools have to close down earlier than usual. Major school events and graduation rites have to be postponed as well.
Until the total cases drop and we see more recoveries, we have no choice but to deal with the pandemic for a few more months.
So, what can this mean for our educational sector? In this critical period, educators all over the world should think about the best learning alternatives.
Education and the younger generation
We are living in a world where anything “instant” is the norm. We have the Internet, our mobile phones and gadgets to help us get through the ongoing quarantine. There are also apps that kids use while they are out of school to kill boredom and encourage learning.
This is also the generation where it is normal to see grade-schoolers with smartphones. Basically, technology plays an important role in this generation. This is also the generation where most of them experience FOBA (Fear of Being Alone) and FOMO (Fear of Missing Out).
However, being one of the so-called Gen Z is not all bad. In fact, it has paved the way for the increasing awareness of important issues that aren’t paid attention to before.
Thanks to the younger generation, we have been more aware of the importance of mental health. We have been more conscious of the environment and our surroundings. At some point, the older generation can learn something from the youth of today.
And then there are what we call the “Generation Alpha”. These are the children of the original “millennials” who were born between 1981 and 1996. They are not yet aware of the impact of the ongoing pandemic. But they surely will feel the effect in the years to come.
A report by the World Economic Forum revealed that 65 percent of today’s pre-school kids will have jobs that are non-existent as of the moment. This means we have to prepare the future generation in life as early as now.
More so, this is why alternative ways of learning are important especially in unforeseen circumstances.
How COVID-19 can teach us to be better educators
For one thing, we already have more resources unlike before. As mentioned, we have the Internet and all of the important technological advances we need in our lives.
It is about how we can utilize it to improve our educational system. Here are some things we can learn in this critical time for the younger generation.
Redefining today’s educators
Gone are the traditional chalkboard learning that most adults got used to back in their school days.
More and more children nowadays have more access to technology such as smartphones and tablets. Some studies say that early use of gadgets among children can hamper learning. However, these can be a good learning aid as long as used the right way. In fact, a lot of schools already utilize gadgets as learning aids for their young students.
Teaching kids important life skills
We should teach children that good grades are just a bonus. What’s more important are the lessons they learn and how they can apply it to their everyday lives. More and more employers often look for emotional intelligence and life skills than high grades.
Utilizing technology especially on unforeseen events
One example is the ongoing global pandemic. It has caught all of us off-guard, unprepared for its devastating consequences. This is how technology can help in such uncertain times. If there are online courses for college students, why not apply it to the younger students’ curriculum?
We are all connected regardless of age and educational attainment. COVID-19 has already claimed thousands of lives. However, there is always a silver lining in all kinds of situations.
We had no choice but to come up with ways to improve our lives despite the unfortunate situation going on. Such ingenious ways can help us and future generations in terms of education among other things.