The Corona Virus pandemic is sweeping across the globe with fatalities reported in several countries. With close to 200,000 cases and close to 10,000 deaths, governments are employing drastic measures to counter its impact. The easiest way so far to avoid spread of this virus is by minimizing crowds.
This has
already been implemented outside Africa for example where the English premier
league has been halted and in the US where some primaries have been postponed.
Flights across the globe are being halted and travel between countries reduced
to essential travel only. In fact, some airlines have altogether stopped flights
until further notice.
This is not good news for schools since we are in the middle of the term. This week, our neighbor Kenya decided that all schools should close. There is a general mood that Uganda may also opt for the same measure. As a teacher of ICT, the physical closure of a school should not stop learning from going on. In this article, I share just some of the technologies you could use to conduct lessons from the comfort of your home with your students in their homes.
Use Facebook Live
If you have a
facebook account, you could create a page where you will share your lessons
live. Your students could follow you and watch you live at an agreed time as
you teach just like you do in class.
Facebook live
will even give you statistics of how many students are watching, just like the
attendance book would do. The comments section would be used by the students to
post their questions or even answer questions as you ask them during the live
session.
WhatsApp groups
Another option
would be for a teacher to start a WhatsApp group. Chatting in the group will
allow you use Video, Audio, Text and also other resources to enhance delivery
of a lesson.
Students can also pose and answer questions during the session. You could send them an assignment which can then be sent back using the same platform either individually or in the group.
Start a blog
For a more
permanent delivery of your sessions, a blog would be ideal. Facebook Live and
Whatsapp sessions are ideally temporary engagements. With a blog (Which you
could even get free on WordPress) you could write and post your content which
can be accessed at anyone’s time of convenience.
Your blog could have a menu indicating the various topics and the sub-topics as sub menus. WordPress is so powerful that you could even create user accounts for each of your students and build online assessments for your class.
Do you know any other technology teachers can use? Use the comments section below to give us your idea.
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Stephen Dumba is the co-ordinator Central Region ICT Teachers Association of Uganda. Besides teaching, he is a veteran Computer Repair Technician and a Web Designer
+256 772 111 223 / +256 752 111 223
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