In This Tech World, A Pandemic Can't Stop Us From Learning - Sonam Rinchen

In this world of technology, if this virus is stopping you from learning, I have to be straightforward here, you do not belong in this era. Even before this pandemic, people around the world have brought learning online. There are various Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) on the web right now offering thousands of courses on almost every topic. So this is why we just need the will to learn, because in this era, the world is in your fingertips.

Bhutan, for the first time in its history has brought learning online, which is a major leap in the culture and behavior of Bhutanese students. The country has brought up lessons on TV and YouTube with video recordings. Teachers have also started giving out assignments to students through various social media platforms such as Google Classroom, WeChat and WhatsApp. On top of that the government is deciding to put up a dedicated TV channel for education purposes. Textbooks are made available online as well.

This massive change in the education system in the country will have a positive impact on the quality of teaching and learning - way beyond this pandemic period. The technological development in this world has left us far behind but this pandemic has helped us kick start to catch up much faster.

Even though this system of learning online seems formidable, in the case of Bhutan, internet connectivity has not reached the rural villages. Many people are not familiar with using technology and not many do own the necessary devices. It has unveiled to us the greater digital divide that exists. So how can we ensure equality in education and care to every student irrespective of their locations? The best solution is to prioritize on providing internet connectivity to every part of the country, educating people on the use of technology, and improving the online learning facilities.

At the individual level, the virus has helped us explore the unexplored. It has given us opportunities to think outside of the box and try new things. In my case, I have been blessed to experiment a lot of new things. I have been taking a lot of online courses provided by well renowned universities and knowledgeable professors at the opposite side of the globe. I am also taking part in a course provided by a Bhutanese Technology Entrepreneur Sonam Pelden through her ‘Code for Bhutan’ program. I really appreciate her effort on educating Bhutanese on technology.

I actually feel that I have been going through an exciting times youtubing with programming tutorials, doing assignments online, homeschooling and blogging. All these new exciting things help me learn about managing my time effectively and being productive most of the time. It has made me realize that individuals can also take advantage of the situation and make the most out of it.

In this 4th Industrial Revolution, nothing can stop us from moving forward. Technology always offer us a new way of doing things including learning. All we need to do is nurture our WILL POWER and GRIT. Everything is just at a click of a mouse.

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