The Digital Transformation
in the Education Sector
Table of Contents
Impact of COVID-19 on the Educational System
The arrival of the Coronavirus in early 2020 surprised the entire WORLD.
The confinement measures forced not only many companies to continue working from home, but also schools and universities. ONLINE classes became the only possible alternative in the educational system.
Unfortunately, many educational centers failed in their attempt due to a lack of technical and human resources. They got, at best, a digital adaptation but they fell far short of what we should understand by
Digital transformation.
Complete analisis
We will start with the definition and implementation of a new operational model.
From the TEACHING point of view we will work on:
- How do you want “teacher and students” to work
(your relationship model, during and outside of class) - How should the preparation, presentation, teaching and revision of the classes be?
- What lengths and dynamics should classes and post-class assignments have?
- Model to implement exams, tests, quizzes, questions, exercises, and practices, works, etc.
- Whether individual or in groups
- Etc
From the LOGISTIC AND TECHNICAL point of view, we will emphasize:
- Disposición de material y de tecnología adecuada para hacer y preparar las clases, o las sesiones previstas.
- La interacción con los demás sistemas del centro educativo.
Notable nuances: face-to-face vs online classes
We know that it is not the same to do a face-to-face class as one online, especially in some age groups.
- The smallest require continuous, direct and visual attention throughout the session (class) by the teacher.
- On the other hand, the elderly can have some autonomy during the class, maintaining some rules both in order and respect for others, as well as the achievement of objectives, and the teacher can present quite continuously and with practical examples that complement the theory under reasonable control of time.
Wanting to explain subjects through a screen does not only imply a visually appealing presentation, or a very synthetic or intuitive or graphic one, but rather to see in real time, the reactions and behaviors of the students.
You have to know how to manage doubts and questions, a fact that is already quite complicated in face-to-face classrooms.
Support material for the Teacher / Instructor
For a teacher to organize and take a class online, there are demands that go far beyond having a PC.
In addition, you must have a good internet connection and several screens. From the start we suggest 3:
- One for the exhibition of the contents (duly prepared by the teacher, teaching), in which it is readable by the students (girls and boys of any age!)
- A white board visible by the students (possible floating action depending on the content and the subject,
- One to have on the part of the educator, a broad vision of all the students (what they do, if they are attentive to the subject, etc.): it should be a bigger screen (?)
ConsulCat:
We can help adapt the ergonomics of the teacher's work, so that his teaching work is more pleasant, both for him and for his students.
Teaching model
Obviously, a crucial and fundamental part of the analysis consists in considering the pedagogical method used by the educational center, since the differences are very important in each of them.
In Europe and other parts of the world, we find the following modern teaching methods:
- Multiple intelligences
- Global method
- Montessori
- Neuroeducation
- Projects
- Etc.
All these pedagogical methods are elaborated to work within a specific framework, involving the face-to-face mode of teaching classes. Therefore, from the moment we replace this face-to-face modality with a distance one, such as online education, we put the result of the method in question, since it was not designed to work this way from the beginning.
At ConsulCat we are agnostic to the pedagogical method used by the educational center and what we propose is an accompaniment, to evaluate the consequences that may derive from these changes.
For example, going from a “face-to-face” modality to “online” means a whole series of role changes:
- That the teacher goes from being a teacher to a task / homework manager
- That parents go from being parents to “teacher assistants”
We propose a flexible methodology to respond effectively to the demands of your specific teaching model, providing solutions to satisfy the different groups involved (teachers, students and parents), in the face of all these changes.
ConsulCat:
At ConsulCat, we put an important focus on synergies, so that 1 + 1 is always equal to or greater than 3.
1 The educational center has educational skills.
+
1 We have consulting skills in the digital world.
3 Working together, allows us to create solutions that can "transform" the current "face-to-face" model, to arrive at a new "digital" model.
Technological Tools for Teaching
Then, depending on the teaching method used, it is necessary to determine which are the most appropriate tools to apply to each class, center, group of students, etc.
There are several types of tools for distance learning, as we can see below:
Office Suites
LMS Learning Platforms
Shared whiteboards
Office Suites
Microsoft and Google, two technology giants, have solutions for the world of Education:
Microsoft: With its Microsoft Office 365 solution for Schools.
Google: With its G-Suite for Education solution.
Both solutions are comparable, since they have very similar tools, such as:
- The creation of documents (texts, spreadsheets, presentations, etc.)
- Send and receive emails
- Follow up on tasks and duties between teachers and students
- Collaboration with teachers and students
- Group video calls (Skype for Microsoft and Meet for Google)
- Both solutions are “Cloud” (they are not installed on a computer, but are run from the Cloud with an internet browser)
- Both solutions “for education” are free
-> Microsoft has a paid version too, which allows you to use MS-Office on a computer.
LMS Learning Platforms
An LMS is a Learning Management System.
There are many types of LMS, some may be more suitable in companies, others in universities, etc.
LMS examples:
- Google Classroom
- Schoology Learning
- Moodle
- Canvas LMS
- Blackboard Learn
- Etc (and the list goes on…….)
Shared whiteboards
Another essential element for a teacher, a whiteboard.
There are also many solutions here, so that teachers and students can share and interact on the same board:
- Canvas chrome app (canvas.apps.chrome)
- Jamboard (jamboard.google.com)
- Whiteboard app in Windows
- Aww app (awwapp.com)
- OneNote (onenote.com)
- Etc (there are lots of them here as well)
It is necessary to evaluate the technical, use and operational characteristics of each one, especially with younger ages. Know how they adapt to each school and keeping in mind everything related to costs, investments, risks and impacts.
ConsulCat:
There are many technologies for the education sector, but they all share similar and fundamental functionalities, with which we have experience. We can help to choose tools, from a technical and functional point of view, so that the educational center can focus on the most pedagogical part.
Analysis results
From this analysis and selection, we can be clear about our needs and how to cover them. Thus defined the corresponding functional, operational and technical requirements, and we can implement this new way of working (Transformation) in this Digital Age.
However, Change Management must be considered, both for students and teachers, although the latter generally seem more reticent to changes in their teaching model.
ConsulCat:
We have seen that a Roadmap has to be defined taking everything into account. Where should we expose, how to carry out this TD project, defining some Quick-Wins and knowing in what stages we can achieve each of our objectives.
Doing all of this obviously takes time, effort and money, but COVID's experience has shown us that now more than ever, it must be done, yes or yes.
And no, not by trying to go faster than music, we will have the desired result sooner.
The popular proverb says it:
"The one who arrives before is not the one that goes the fastest, but the one who knows where he is going! ...or the one who stumbles the least!"
Types of projects according to educational level
ConsulCat added value
For a Successful Transformation of the Educational System in the Digital Age
At ConsulCat we give an enormous importance to the educational system. There is no more noble challenge than that of ensuring that our children have the best and most adapted educational system possible.
We can contribute experience, knowledge and interest to ensure a full Digital Transformation for your educational center.