In such current climate concerns there is a need to look at providing education through other channels. Face to face and blended learning may need to be replaced by online learning. Here are a few tools to consider using when connecting with learners. These resources are either free, or commonly available through work or higher education channels.
- ZOOM Meetings & Chat
- Microsoft Teams meeting & video conferencing
- Google Hangouts
- Google Slides
- Record a Powerpoint presentation then ‘create a video’ and upload into YouTube or other video repository. The video can be shared or kept private to allow further discussion.
- Social media platforms such as Twitter of Facebook.
- Powtoon
- Prezi
Here is an excellent post from ICE Blog on Teaching remotely in response to COVID19 10 tips to improve your digital classroom.
I’m using a WhatsApp business app to provide a pan-African critical care nursing knowledge exchange. It’s really a test rig to convince the African Federation Critical Care Nurses to start web-based activities that enable professional interaction within a closed group. WhatsApp reigns supreme in Africa but seems to be misunderstood in or lacking in credibility in the UK?
So many tools such as Slack, Facebook, Whatsapp and other apps to communicate. I wonder if professional organisations prefer to keep discussion within their own platforms for safety, ownership and confidentiality? Whatever works for each group seems a sensible choice
It will be interesting to see the official advice is given via a webinar about switching to online methods this afternoon. If anyone is reading this and works – teaches in resource limited environments I’d recommend using the most popular app in any particular country and try not to introduce new software as it invariably excludes people. I’ve tried to persuade many colleagues in countries in Africa to use Twitter but I failed completely. Ironically, I tried to persuade a group of post-grad Nurses doing a stand alone module in UK to use WhatsApp and very few have used the resource! Despite everything I’ve said I’m now going to investigate Microsoft Teams!
Use of different social media within groups, never mind countries differs. Trying to keep up with younger generation methods of communication will also be a challenge. The current pandemic will no doubt change the way we work and educate with the mass shift to online tools.