Teachers and the tech

                                                                                              Teachers and the tech

Well, I say oh yes! It's the teachers with the tech.

With the lockdown and COVID 19, nationwide school closure that happened rapidly leaving everyone very less or let's say no time to even be prepared or plan a strategy for the further continuation of teaching-learning. Though the dedicated teachers and resilient educators ensuring learning don't stop, found ways with their eagerness to adapt in the new situation. 

Very few teachers were fortunate enough to be using institutionally supported technologies with regular monitoring and guidance provided by the school. While we can't unsee that it might have been overwhelming for many of us with the sudden change and need to use technology. But by the help of an active group of people and educational organizations who voluntarily supported and mentored teachers gain the new skill; motivated and prepared them to continue the learning process through various available means. So the teacher's with the tech with newly discovered sides such as;

• Self-Assured: Before this situation, teachers might have thought they can't do it or it's not their cup of tea. Let's say for many of us using technology was more of a choice. But with the need of time and context, we are able to discover this brand new side of theirs, where they ultimately have to believe themselves. This has even led to risen their self-esteem giving them hope and belief on themselves.

• Going Remote: Not that anything can beat or replace face to face learning however given the current circumstances remote learning has been a very important tool for teachers. It has been an alternate way to conventional education approach and unknowingly helped teachers adapt to a different pedagogical practice and understanding of teaching-learning.

• Using various online tools: It's not that the online tools certainly emerged or have been designed. In fact, those were available for a long time but now has been the time for many teachers to dig into it meticulously. It has created an opportunity to become able to use many available online tools not limited only to the tech-savvy ones.

• 21st-century learners:  This COVID 19 has unknowingly created an opportunity especially for teachers where they forced (positively) to learn the ICT skills. It has further helped teachers to build their own communities to share and enrich teaching resources and practice collaborating for personal growth.

Even for the ones who do not have access to any particular LMS is even taking it forward with the help of various social media tools such as creating groups in Viber and Facebook. The televisions and radios broadcasting edu-materials to address the reach of those far away from internet access. This indeed has changed the perspective use of social media as an education tool. 

So from an optimist perspective, I see that we have explored many different ways to continue learning, amidst the chaos and uncertainty.