WAMBUGU: We have overdue homework on e-learning

Education is one of the sectors that have been severely affected by the Covid-19 crisis, as learning was halted midstream. 

To cope, some learning institutions scurried to put together some form of virtual learning. Many others remain helpless.

Unfortunately, e-learning cannot be cobbled up overnight. It’s a complicated undertaking. Besides building the supportive infrastructure, it takes time to create an online curriculum and to prepare teachers and their supporting cast to deliver it.

It requires schools to forge ways of supporting students, inspiring, and motivating them. The pandemic has provided a primer on the importance of e-learning and the scope of challenges.

We don’t need to wait for another pandemic to mainstream e-learning. Floods, riots, insecurity, and such-like challenges are opportunities to keep learners safe at home without limiting their right to education. Besides, e-learning is becoming a necessity.

GROWING DEMAND

Globally, e-learning has writ large in the last three months. The demand for virtual tutoring, video conferencing tools, or online learning software has grown exponentially. E-learning platforms like BYJU’S, are now the world’s most demanded.

Some people argue that e-learning may not be as efficient as traditional education. For courses that do not require practical or laboratory sessions, educationists say e-learning increases information retention and takes fewer resources to deliver.

A sturdy learning platform is not going to be the elixir for e-learning. The quality and suitability of learning is central to its success.

Merely putting PowerPoint decks and heaps of handouts online will only give virtual learning a bad name, induce learner fatigue and lower information retention.

I’m not suggesting that schools migrate from offline to online in one fell swoop. It is a gradual, calculated process that works well when blended with residential education. Digital tools are complements, not substitutes for face to face learning.

ADEQUATE RESOURCES

E-learning is a resource-guzzling endeavour. Without the requisite hardware, software, and steadfast Internet access, students, especially those low-resourced enclaves, will struggle to board the e-learning bus.

Teachers, too, need to retool. They need to be supported by the necessary information, communication technologies. Parents are pivotal to this process and must have a seat at the e-learning discussions. 

Here is my point: e-learning is no longer a nice-to-have, it is an imperative. Unfortunately, most institutions are behind the curve and must rev up to catch up.

Those that fail to read the signs of the times are invariably writing their obituaries in the business of education.

Mr Wambugu is an informatician. Email: Twitter: @samwambugu2