EDUCATION IN THE NEW NORM Based on notes from Dr. Michael M. Alba President, Far Eastern University
What is the new norm in education? Far Eastern University president Dr. Michael Alba sees two distinct phases in the new norm. First is a short- to medium-term covid-contemporaneous norm, to be followed by a more enduring postcovid norm once a vaccine is found. He cites an article in The Economist magazine that sees the covid-contemporaneous norm ending as early as September this year for North America and Europe, and January next year for the rest of the world—if all goes well with the Oxford University vaccine, which is the most advanced among the 180 vaccines under development. However, at least for the next six months, while a vaccine is unavailable, not just education but virtually all aspects of daily life will be in a twilight zone, an uncharted territory beset by uncertainty, fear, illness, and limited economic activity. Covid-contemporaneous education In traditional school settings, the physical classroom is an enclosed space with poor air circulation (usually due to air-conditioning), and classes are held over long periods—conditions that have been identified as conducive to the spread of the virus. Definitely, until mass vaccination can ensure public safety, remote learning appears to be the only viable option for continued education. The challenge for educators now is how to offer an immersive, engaging, and transformative schooling experience away from school. Fortunately, FEU is well-placed to deliver a quality remote learning schooling experience because, according to Alba: “We were one of the first adopters of the Canvas learning management system in the Philippines and have used it
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