The need to adopt technological solutions for distance learning that will bring teachers closer to their students is big. Many studies have been made to define the way and strategy of integrating the digital age in Education and creating the digital school where we all can learn at our pace, in any way, at any time and with different means...
The essence of Education remains the same, but the diameter of the circle is increasingly changing. The Archimedean spiral in space (and not at the level) is the graph that reflects my point of view. What is now changing is the methodology and the means that bring teachers closer to their students. The love for Education is what should keep us close regardless of any distance...
There is no doubt that the relationship developed between group members when they are in the same place is strong. However, there have been huge advances recently in digital media, especially for Teachers and Students, so any distances are zeroed out without losing cohesion. Digital distance learning platforms simulate class lessons to a high degree of fidelity and quality. The educational program is now enriched and developed through innovative approaches... The teachers’ quiver is now filled with tools that offer them more free time to spend with their students in more creative activities.
Personalized learning is another important parameter that modern societies cannot neglect, given the rhythms at which they develop. Students participates actively in their personal learning and educational events, as they become the creators of their own "artifacts". Educators become collaborators and mentors, organize, inspire and create experiential activities, cultivate initiative, responsibility, critical thinking. With the diverse tools of the Student Computer, teaching is personalized, multiple representations are enhanced and research for information is promoted.
Although performance is a relative concept, measurements show fairly high levels in the performance of digitally organized classes. The motivation changes, students are positive with the new methods and therefore, more receptive to any new educational approach. Performance does not, in this case, depend on duration. Moderation (“Metron” as Cleobulus mentioned in the 6th century BC) is what determines the educational value and prepares the basis for making education a creative, enjoyable, useful and effective process.
Projects, procedures, methods and practices have been developed that ensure the efficiency of pupils and teachers. It is interesting to focus on the responsibility shown by those involved in the process of distance learning or – why not – of the Flipped Classroom, according to some methodologies. There are teachers who love new methodologies and students who are mobilized, become responsible for their own knowledge and are happy to share through tools, experiences and ways of skills acquisition.
A Digital (online) education platform can promote this approach if the following possibilities are provided:
Teachers can create easily and without any special technical knowledge their digital class, invite students via e-mail and give them specific credentials instantly and easily.
The way that this platform/environment works is close to the way educators and students are used to work in the real world.
The capabilities provided increase the value of the educational process; they do not obstruct or disrupt the creative approach.
Through this environment, educators and/or students have the ability to start dialogs by attaching files that can be archived in a specific repository and updated through reminders.
Calling the team members to have a conference call using the computer camera or an interactive surface is a very simple procedure in the environment of the digital classroom.
Video conferencing offers all those qualities and possibilities that eliminate distance and provide students with elements and functions that resemble the classroom (participation of all and/or some members, invitation of an external speaker and/or other teachers for co-teaching, dialogue rules, sharing material, simultaneous interaction in files, notes with stylus and/or keyboard, which are represented in real time on the participants' screens, and thereafter archived, quizzes, file transfer, presentation view, view of the teachers screen and students computer upon request, recording conversations after a specific automated license, etc.).
Students and teachers share but mainly interact with each other on digital "white boards", content is created instantly or has been prepared earlier ... and then it is archived for future reference.
Teachers distribute to students all types of digital material (text, spreadsheets, audio, photos, video, etc.).
Students and teachers within that environment interact not only in shared files but also in shared applications of different functions.
It is easy to configurate the repository of the provided digital educational material according to the needs of each class, in a way that facilitates the learning process.
Teachers can change students’ credentials easily even on the digital material saved in the repository.
Teachers can assign specific tasks to a group or to all students based on dates, with instructions and attached files for study and research.
Teachers have the ability not only to create assessment tests, collect students’ answers and give them feedback, but also to comment on each test, so that students learn from their errors.
Students can see in a calendar the tasks assigned and decide in which order they are going to study them.
Teachers can easily create assessment tests, in the same environment, specifying the types of exercises, the different score per question and the feedback that will be provided for each of them.
Teachers can monitor the evolution of their students' effort in the tasks assigned (they can also be informed even for the time the student has spent studying a file).
Teachers and students can create subgroups within the class group with the same capabilities mentioned above but in different – separate digital spaces.
Techers can create easily a group of parents, so that they inform each other (individually or in groups), on issues relating to the school life of students.
... and all the above are now possible ... they are already happening...
Vassilis Economou
Education & ICT Specialist, Μember of the advisory board