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COVID-19 HAS BROUGHT US
A WHOLE NEW WORLD Now what are we going to do with it?
I
t has certainly been quite a year for all the learners attending school in South Africa this year, and even worldwide. They have all had to adapt and overcome the many challenges Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown have brought.
Teachers have also had to learn new technology skills very quickly. Before the pandemic, many teachers in the country had not received substantive formal technology training. The decision to shut down schools forced teachers to adapt and innovate to ensure that learning continued, despite the challenges. It amplified the key role that teachers already play in South Africa’s schools. They have emerged as key players in digital skills development and sustainability. To assist them, the Basic Education Department created a comprehensive Covid-19 guideline for teachers that addressed health aspects, as well as the teaching resources they could use when teaching from home. This is how South African teachers responded to teaching during lockdown: • Even with little to no previous experience, they adapted to online learning platforms while learning how to use learning management systems during the pandemic. • They taught their learners using platforms such as Zoom, WhatsApp and Google messaging services that allow video calls. • Schools created WhatsApp learning groups to take pictures of book pages and send them to parents. Learners received teaching material through their smartphone apps, enabling classes to continue. A complementary WhatsApp portal was also launched by the Department of Basic Education that provided teachers with information about Covid-19 and educational material.
Radio and television were other mediums used by teachers to supplement learning as most learners had access to them. Access to radio and television by learners was higher compared with any other technological medium of learning.
