The era of digital education in a pandemic

Technology has become more important than ever when it comes to digital education during the current pandemic.

Working and learning from home means teachers are also working from home, as well as some of them home schooling their kids simultaneously.

Zac Gribble, a Subject Specialist at Jisc, spoke to me about what the company does and how its importance has changed during the pandemic.

“[Jisc] aims for the UK to be leaders in F.E. and H.E. and using digital in education.” he said.

Zac looks into digital practice, and spends a lot of his time talking to members about how they’re using digital platforms.

Who are Jisc?

Jisc is a members organisation and non-profit organisation, that supports higher education and research. They mainly focus on post-16 education, such as sixth forms, colleges and universities.

Jisc also spend time with education institutions to ensure that the wellbeing of staff is kept a top priority – especially during a pandemic.

“There’s a huge weight on the wellbeing of those staff, so how are those institutions tackling that”

Jisc is also trying to help educators keep their students engaged.

Zac said: “We were getting big touch screens … and [teachers] were interacting with it … now, the pandemic comes along and we’re trying to get people to engage … its hard work for lecturers.”

Employees such as Zac, are helping institutions with a number of technical and digital areas such as: connectivity, security, learning resources and data and analytics, to name a few.

Zac recommended quizzes that are offered through websites like mentimeter , in order to help with engagement, and to spark debate and conversation between student.

“Flipped learning has been a big thing in teaching and learning way before the pandemic.” Zac said, when talking about how teachers can continue to use methods they are used to.

“[It can be] a bit of fun, and sometimes the learning can be disguised in the fun.”

Companies like Jisc have become more important than ever during the Covid-19 pandemic, and they have developed into the silent heroes of this new era of digital education.

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