Title: Navigating Education Amid the Complexity of the Covid-19 Pandemic

Date: July 23, 2021

In the face of the intricate developments of the Covid-19 pandemic, the question of whether to attend school has become a perplexing issue for many parents, students, and scholars. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Khanh, an education technology expert from the University of Oulu, Finland, and a member of the Global Science and Experts Organization (AVSE Global), raises the question: Can all students continue their education without physically attending school?

According to Dr. Nguyen Xuan Khanh, the dilemma lies in the challenging choice or balance between ensuring personal safety for oneself and loved ones and the potential risk of creating knowledge gaps, especially for graduating students. This challenge becomes more pronounced with the uncertainty surrounding the new virus variant, lacking specific data from the medical community, and the increasingly complex global pandemic situation. The rapid spread of Covid-19 has cast a shadow over people worldwide.

The difficulty lies in striking a balance between implementing sufficient and reasonable preventive measures without causing panic and fear. Consequently, it is understandable that many parents, government leaders, and educational institutions have opted to keep students away from physical classrooms to ensure safety during this complex phase of the pandemic.

However, a complete suspension of education poses challenges in terms of maintaining progress and adhering to academic schedules during the Covid-19-induced disruptions. To address this, many domestic educational institutions have implemented online teaching and learning to ensure continuity and uphold educational programs.

Although this online learning model is relatively new for the majority of students and teachers nationwide, it has been enthusiastically embraced due to its conveniences, allowing access to lectures anytime, anywhere, as long as there is an internet connection, according to the perspective of Dr. Nguyen Xuan Khanh.

The Value of Technology

The Covid-19 pandemic has unequivocally affirmed the value of information technology in education, particularly online learning platforms. However, Dr. Khanh points out existing challenges, such as the lack of a digital technology infrastructure and network in education, the need for self-directed habits in free online learning, and specialized skills for online teaching.

According to him, one of the most important factors is the traditional teaching culture rooted in paper and chalk, which is familiar to many teachers. Optimizing the use of online learning systems will only be achieved when teachers become accustomed to incorporating technology into designing lessons for students.

Despite the long-term benefits affirmed by numerous studies, concerns about the initial investment required for implementing online management in schools often arise, encompassing technology costs and teacher training. However, global university systems have demonstrated that the long-term benefits outweigh the initial investment.

Research on blended learning models has shown superior quality compared to purely traditional or online models. The effective implementation of online management systems in schools to enhance global education quality requires a clear strategy to achieve optimal results.

Dr. Khanh suggests that adopting an online learning strategy from the beginning could be a quick answer to the question: “Is it possible not to physically attend school but still not miss out on education?”

He cites a colleague, currently a lecturer at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, who mentioned that, in case of an outbreak, it would be easy to implement online teaching with existing equipment and students already familiar with online learning to complement in-person classes.

Dr. Khanh himself experienced this familiarity as a student in New Zealand ten years ago. Although direct contact classes on campus retained their unique values, they were recorded and broadcasted online for convenient remote learning, acting as essential review tools. Scientific research in the education field has emphasized the crucial benefits of using recorded lectures to support teaching and learning.

Another colleague, a lecturer at a university in Finland, shared a similar perspective. Despite Finland’s emphasis on practical hands-on lessons, online teaching and learning are not unfamiliar to teachers and students. Even before the world knew about Covid-19, online teaching and learning were part of the curriculum, parallel to practical lessons on campus.

Is Digital Education Adequately Addressed?

Dr. Khanh notes that strategically integrating digital platforms into regular education has immense potential. Scientific research and the practical experiences of developed countries with advanced education systems have proven the value of digital education in enhancing learning and teaching quality and fostering students’ autonomy.

Therefore, is the current context the right time to seriously consider the importance of digital education?

Education 4.0 can only be built on a solid foundation of digital education. Similar to constructing a house, if the foundation is weak, the house, no matter how grand or beautiful, remains vulnerable internally, harboring many risks and disadvantages.

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” said the renowned former South African President Nelson Mandela. In a rapidly changing world and the era of digital technology, digital education is essential to elevate education and contribute to the country’s development. The true power of digital technology is not demonstrated through showcasing the latest innovations but is most evident in daily usage as an integral part of life.