Combating COVID-19: Updates

Teaching STEM education from home has never been more accessible than it is today. These free online resources provide coding challenges for all ages, mathematical problems and solutions, and a variety of experiments, instructions, descriptions, guides, magazines, as well as interactive opportunities with scientists via Skype. (UNESCO)

With school closures all around the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teachers have to transition quickly to distance learning to ensure the continuation of education. Kiron Open Higher Education, who has experience with universities teaching remotely for underserved communities, is offering a free online course for teachers to help them create an online learning environment. (UNESCO)

UNESCO Education Sector’s issue notes cover key topics related to the COVID-19 education response, such as: Health and wellbeing; Continuity of learning and teaching; Gender equity and equality; Higher education and TVET; Education and culture; Education policy and planning; and others. (UNESCO)

“While efforts to provide connectivity to all must be multiplied, we now know that continued teaching and learning cannot be limited to online means”, stated Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director General. “To lessen already existing inequalities, we must also support other alternatives including the use of community radio and television broadcasts, and creativity in all ways of learning. These are solutions we are addressing with our Global Coalition partners”. (UNESCO)

The World Bank is working to support government efforts to reach young children and their families, and to ensure that early childhood development (ECD) is a priority within the response. Two very simple guidance notes were issued by the World Bank: 15 Ways to Support Young Children and their Families in the COVID-19 Response and Investing in the Early Years During COVID-19. These notes share ideas to use platforms that exist across sectors to promote better ECD outcomes. (World Bank Blogs)

The COVID-19 crisis has underscored the importance of the Commission’s mandate to reflect on how knowledge and learning need to be rethought in an increasingly uncertain and fragile world. During its special online meeting dedicated to the COVID-19 crisis, the Commission issued a Joint Statement on how education needs to be protected and transformed for our shared future. (UNESCO)

Many people feel that the coronavirus crisis will accelerate the transition to “digital capitalism”. There is a little reason to disagree, although some unpredictable politics might sweep in after the crisis. Education is a difficult market for digital companies, as well as for innovators and entrepreneurs. So the trend may be different. The article provides information about the education technology (EdTech) industry and the current digital market. (OECD Education and Skills Today)

To ensure continuity in the process of learning in the wake of COVID-19, Facebook has launched an online resource guide titled “Supporting Education Communities: An Online Learning Resources Guide”. The online resource will guide education communities on how to collaborate and continue the learning process using Facebook products, tools and programs while also providing information related to COVID-19 from authentic sources. (UNESCO Office in New Delhi)

With the end of the academic year fast approaching in many countries, one question is on the mind of every student, parent, teacher and minister: what about exams as school closures are prolonged? The fourth UNESCO COVID-19 Education Webinar shed light on the coping strategies that countries have adopted or are considering to manage high-stake exams – these include intermediate, school leaving and university entrance exams. (UNESCO)

These educational resources are available online for free access to anyone. Some of the courses might ask the user to register. The educational resources cover many subject areas including natural sciences, mathematics, engineering, arts, social science etc. to meet the needs of the wider student population. Resources will be updating from time to time. (UNESCO Office in Nairobi)

To ensure the continuation of education, the Finnish education technology company ThingLink, laureate of the 2018 UNESCO King Hamad Bin Isa-Al Khalifa Prize for the use of ICT in Education, is collaborating with the educational technology hub AR Studio to help teachers create curriculum aligned resources for online learning. The ThingLink software enables teachers to create virtual lessons, interactive videos and other educational resources. (UNESCO)

Education and learning have been at the centre of many relevant AI conferences in recent months. The coronavirus crisis has made the importance of digitalization and AI in education even more obvious. AI-powered systems could have helped teachers, students and parents navigate the range of digital learning resources out there if they were more available and ready to use. How could AI have supported learning during the coronavirus crisis? This question along with others is discussed in the article. (OECD Education and Skills Today)