he transition to remote learning may still be a challenge, and as we remember last spring, nationwide, school personnel received word of having to switch from in-person to virtual instruction. Fortunately, teachers answered this call to action by accessing educational sites that offer free learning materials and various tools for crafting and executing effective lessons. By taking advantage of these options and being willing to take the next step toward the realm of educational technology, teachers seized the chance to transform a catastrophe into an opportunity for learning for everyone involved.

How Teachers Utilize E-learning

Because E-learning platforms have features and tools for lesson planning and instruction, educators saw their value as schools were shutting down, and necessitating a Plan B to finish out the scholastic year. Thus, they took it upon themselves to learn how to incorporate these features into their lessons and their assessments. They adopted a variety of online tools and even accessed virtual classrooms, similar to the one featured on the Pedagogue site, which allows for recorded lessons or live streaming.  

The Tools of the Trade

Therefore, with digital teaching and learning tools streamlining the educational process during a pandemic, teachers are now better able to track the progress of their students with much more efficiency and speed. Here are various examples of analytics apps, tools, and resources that can come in handy that are now incorporated into the “normal” operating procedures of the school day:

•       Digital Learning Software–a digital learning solution suitable for advanced analytics and integration with a SMART Notebook that enables creation of multiple lessons and various delivery features to connect you to a full spectrum of resources and content. 

•       Knewton—a set of unique programs that use learning analytics to enable students to track their performance and create personalized, learning experiences.

•       Bolt Spark LMS—a learning management system providing in-depth analysis of reports such as e-learning modules, signable documents, event invitations, and assessments shared between colleagues.

This is not including the more commonly used apps offered by Google and Microsoft, but with so many choices available, teachers might be looking at a future where the school day will carry on in spite of inclement weather, pandemic, or any other catastrophic event.

E-learning’s Communication Advantage

In addition to the instructional tools mentioned, E-learning platforms have features that facilitate communication with parents, students, guardians, and colleagues. In fact, various digital applications allow parents to find vital information with ease.

So instead of looking through backpacks for a teacher’s note, parents can simply log into a platform to access grades and comments and to send an immediate response or question to the teacher. Plus, administrators can use these platforms to send out alerts about closures as well.

Most importantly, E-learning can provide some “semblance of normalcy” amid natural or man-made disasters by giving the youngsters another means to stay connected. When they’re provided with a safe space for communication with their teachers and peers and access to their lessons, E-learning can offer the reassurance that school—no matter what form it might take—will continue, and that factor promotes hope for the future for both instructor and pupil.