By Lucian Tailor
CEO of NEDECO Electronics LTD
According to research, interruptions in the smooth flow of education can cause serious problems in the social and psychological development of children, disproportionately affecting students from poorer areas or students who do not have access to the necessary technological tools to continue their education online. It is also worth noting that the economic impact of the suspension of schools translates into a reduction in global GDP of 1.5% per year for the rest of the century, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Critical to efforts to keep educational institutions running smoothly is the use of technological solutions that enable distance learning. With the outbreak of the pandemic, the majority of private and public educational institutions in Cyprus turned to Microsoft solutions, which they had direct access to through Microsoft Office. However, there is a plethora of options that are specifically designed to support distance education and have significant comparative advantages over the most widely used ones.
One of these products is Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise's Rainbow Classroom, which provides the ability to create an integrated digital learning environment. With built-in tools such as the operation of separate study groups and their simultaneous monitoring by the teaching staff, screen sharing, as well as the exchange of audio and written files, messages, videos and images in real time, it brings the classroom to the computer screen. At the same time, Rainbow Classroom automatically records attendance, freeing teachers' hands and allowing them to devote more time to lesson delivery. Moreover, it fully complies with GDPR, as it encrypts all internal communications made through the application, while its great advantage lies in the fact that its functions can be easily adapted to meet the different needs of users.
Another useful tool for the needs of teleclasses are digital interactive whiteboards, such as the Clevertouch board. Through the whiteboard, users can enrich the course with drawings, texts, news, live streaming content, images and videos from any source, as well as download and integrate Android applications. Featuring 4K resolution, Android operating system, Windows, Mac OS X, MacOS and Chromebook compatibility, and providing the ability to wirelessly view content from a PC or smartphone and tablet, this solution can be used with equal ease in both an online classroom and
a business meeting, enhancing communication between participants and productivity.
Distance learning is a trend that is gaining momentum amidst a pandemic. Due to the flexibility offered by technology, students can attend their course wherever and whenever they want, significantly reducing the cost of studying and allowing them to easily combine education with other commitments or even work.
At the same time, in the case of tutorials, a major advantage offered by technology is time savings for parents, as they do not have to transport their children to class. Through the solutions now available on the market, users can create a complete digital classroom, with the highest security standards and integrated specialized communication tools, which can be adapted to the different needs of each teacher, employee or student. The challenge today is how to capitalise on the leap forward in terms of the use of technology in education, by enriching the traditional teaching model with more digital tools that respond to the new era.
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
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