LEARNING TOOLS

If there’s something good that the pandemic has brought us, it is undoubtedly the digitalization of education.

- Jewel Sta. Ana

Some may disagree about the effectiveness of remote learning, but one thing is for sure —online education is here to stay. As institutions of learning ease their way to face to-face classes, school administrations recognize the need for a hybrid setup as one of the keys to improving the Philippines’ education system. Let’s look at some of the innovations that optimize how academic professionals are teaching — and students learning — in the comfort of their own homes.

INTERACTIVE TOOLS

Apart from network connectivity and the availability of gadgets, one of the main obstacles to online learning is the limited interaction between students and teachers. To make online classes more engaging to students, professors adopt various digital Interactive tools in their class discussions.

Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) helps teachers edit their live stream or recorded videos. It allows them to unleash their creativity by including photos, background music, and even backdrop videos related to the subject matter that they are discussing with their students online. OBS users may utilize plugins for flexible customization. Students may also use this software for interactive presentations of their reports, thesis, and research papers.

Other interactive tools that aid in building student-teacher engagement are interactive activity and quiz builders such as Rolljak and Kahoot. The former offers free to a paid subscription for implementing enrichment activities and quizzes online. It allows students to talk in timed breakout rooms, sketch and scribble on an assigned topic, and provide constructive criticism through equal and anonymous peer evaluation.