Introduction
In the early months of 2020, the corona virus changed how students are educated all over the world. It gives a glimpse of the future of education focusing on how e-learning could enhance learning experience outside the classroom. The corona virus also known as COVID-19 is spreading at an alarming rate across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, United States and Africa. Although countries have taken swift actions to curtail its spread by imposing lock downs and movement restrictions, the death toll is still on the rise. As at March 2020, the virus has killed over 37,000 people and infected about 780, 000 worldwide.This infectious disease is able to spread from person to person, with infected people experiencing mild to moderate respiratory illness.
By March, the OECD estimated that 421 million students could be affected due to the closures of schools in over 30 countries. Many countries are on a lock down and people are advised to practice social distancing or stay indoors. Millions of people have become dependent on the internet to keep in touch with friends, work and learn. The need for the online space has again been demonstrated in times of global crises such as this. Work is still ongoing as people are working remotely and having meetings online and teachers are administering learning to students through alternative e-learning platforms. This pandemic has led to compulsory home schooling and therefore prompts more innovations in education.
The Wake of an e-Learning revolution
Educational institutions around the world have begun to respond to the lock down and social distancing by shifting towards e-learning. In fact, the pandemic has necessitated a boom in online education. It became a catalyst for educational institutions to rethink and redesign innovative ways to administer teaching and learning. Many years ago, there were concerns about the impact technology could have on young people’s learning and development, especially through constant usage in the home and school. Ironically, technology is now being used to ensure that education is not disrupted, and learning continues. Interestingly, current studies have shown that technology can be used to support learning. [][]
The pandemic is testing the readiness of educational institutions to deal with a crisis that requires remote learning. Many educational institutions in the global south seem to be prepared for this eventuality. For instance, In the United States, a national online platform was launched for primary and secondary school students at home and free online courses for higher education were made available.. Some schools in Nigeria are leveraging online learning platforms like Google classroom, a platform where the teacher provides reading resources and explanatory videos that the students can watch anytime. Online games and applications are now being used to engage and interact with students to keep them busy at home.
The need for e-Learning in times like this cannot be over emphasized as it offers highly effective learning environments where students are in control of their learning and can learn at their own pace with flexible scheduling and the possibility of use of any device available such as computers, tablets, phones, and laptops. Teachers can give direct feedback on assessments and discussions can occur between students and their teachers. e-Learning has become an invaluable resource for teachers who can use this medium to share knowledge with their students. It encourages a student focused approach whereby teachers can tailor their teaching to the individuality of the students. There are many online resources that can be used to support learning in primary and secondary education level. For example, a Learning Management System (LMS) like Moodle helps teachers to keep track of their students’ progress while students learn new concepts at their own pace and gain ownership of their experiences. In these times of social distancing, the LMS has proven itself useful for teachers and students.
Exposing Nigeria’s Educational Digital Divide
The need to digitalize work and learning due to COVID-19 is driving digital transformation and exposing the differences between people and communities at an incredible rate. A compulsory lock down enforced by Nigerian Government from 30th March 2020 to manage the pandemic within major metropolises has refocused conversations on eLearning. With schools shut down, some have easily transitioned to e-Learning as teachers have begun to use online resources to continue students’ learning. However, for schools located in the rural areas who do not have consistent access to technology, continuing learning have proven difficult. There are therefore concerns about how students in rural areas can continue learning if the pandemic goes on for an extended period.
This brings to fore the issues that surrounds the digital divide in education in Nigeria with problems such as inadequate technological facilities and equipment, lack of trained teachers who are digitally literate, lack of electricity, high cost of data plans and so on. It is disheartening that the digital divide will disrupt learning for most students in Nigeria because the quality of teaching during this pandemic will be heavily dependent on the level and quality of digital access by both the students’, parents and teachers. For some students, e-learning will be easy on personal tablets and computers, while students in rural areas will rely on learning via WhatsApp or email, or nothing at all.
As classes are transitioning online, students could be exempted from learning opportunities because of lack of access to digital devices or cost of data plans. A pro-active government would provide hi-tech and low-tech solutions to ensure the continuity of learning for all students, with special focus on low-tech solutions for under privileged students because no child should be left behind. In the future, if quality education is dictated by access to the latest technologies, the digital divide could be more extreme.
A Call for Collaborations in the Right Direction
For e-Learning to be effective, schools must consider whether all students have access to internet, an electronic device such as a computer and parental supervision in their homes. Also, partnerships between educational stakeholders – including government, school administrators, education professionals, Social sector organizations and technology providers is crucial in ensuring the continuity of education in a crisis. COVID-19 has shown the devastating effects that the digital divide can have on education. Educational innovation goes beyond government-funded or non-profit projects; corporations heavily invested in providing innovative solutions to the education sector can contribute to providing opportunities for the underprivileged during pandemic situations, for example Microsoft and Google. However, is this enough to curtail the digital divide in education? Unless the Nigerian government is willing to implement policy changes to reduce the digital divide, it could become more extreme if there is a reoccurring pandemic in the future. E-Learning is not just worthwhile during the CONVID-19 lockdown, it can contribute greatly to overturning severe structural weakness within society. The versatility of e-Learning can transform the quality of education and may become the key to lifelong learning.
By Dr Aderonke Folorunsho
