Today is the first anniversary of the COVID-19 global lockdown. All aspects of our existence were affected personally, professionally and commercially. By now, many of us could have easily gathered enough resources to write a book about how our lives were transformed. In this article I will focus on education. I’m certain that no one feels like celebrating anything in this matter, however, while positively slopped, we always try to accommodate, adapt, improve and thrive to move forward from whatever point of reference is given to us at the moment of presence. It is one of the positive elements of our human intelligence.
New Year’s Eve, 2019/20. Celebration and festivities all over the world. Every year, same repetitive motions of going out or staying in, enjoying the countdown and even if for a few moments, forgetting our lives’ dares and feeling the shared bliss of welcoming the new year with a child-like, trustful contentment, full of hope and dreams. In that moment, did anyone suspect finding ourselves in what seemed as one of the greatest inconveniences of our existence? I’m talking about walking into a local supermarket and finding out that there is no toilet paper! At this point, let’s not go any further down this rabbit hole so we can stay on track.
Before COVID, for the longest time, we took for granted the fact that we were able to gather in one room and partake in a learning experience consisting of a live teacher addressing a live audience. The students were able to interact freely, the teachers were able to interact freely, both for the purpose of greater efficiency and further development. The on-line concept was alive and well but it was no more than an option.
Suddenly we were faced with a new reality. There was no choice anymore. The curriculum had to be delivered only on on-line basis. Looking back, I must say that I am truly amazed with the way we were able to mobilize and answer the call of the times. Of course, there were challenges, hurdles and occasional stumbles but with the right perspective, one could say that certain challenges could contribute to the beauty of being alive. At first I was positively surprised with the way we were able to carry on but then my perception hovered more towards “not surprised and yet still amazed.” Humanity can work together and accomplish incredible things. Just think about it. A thousand years ago, would anyone even dream of having a mechanical egg slicer?
Someone once said: If you want to ruin someone’s life, make sure that they don’t have to worry about anything. Challenges make us grow, they enable us. Before COVID, a vast majority of educators embraced the traditional teaching model, in-class, and in-person. The lockdown put us in a done-deal situation in which we simply had to find means to deliver the content the on-line way, on sink or swim basis and we had to do it fast. In result, we not only have found our own effective ways to address the challenges but many of us discovered certain talents within ourselves which (the talents) otherwise would have no chances to surface.
Last year’s events significantly changed the world of education.
Here is our new point of reference, wherever exactly the “here” is.
Let’s shake the dust and keep walking.
We only know our strength when tested. Thanks, Walter.