2차 온라인개학 계획대로 진행...전 세계 유례없는 '한국형 원격수업', 가능한 이유는?<br /><br />The COVID-19 pandemic has forced schools around the world to consider teaching students online.<br />Some countries have struggled with the change.<br />But it has gone rather smoothly in South Korea so far, and from today, online classes have started for all grade school students from the 4th grade and up.<br />Choi Jeong-yoon explains how South Korea made the transition so quickly.<br />More than a billion and a half students in 165 countries have been affected by COVID-19 school closures.<br />The world has been deploying distance learning solutions,... but finding the right platforms remains a challenge.<br />In some countries, students are having trouble even accessing the Internet.<br />"Meanwhile, online classes have gone ahead as scheduled in South Korea. Actual classrooms are empty, but as of Thursday, some 4 million students nationwide are sitting in front of their computers to study online."<br />The country's third-year middle and high schoolers started last week, and from Thursday,... so have all grade school students from the 4th grade and up.<br />To prevent confusion, the education ministry has advised schools to use one of two online class platforms. These work in three ways using real-time video conferencing, pre-recorded video lessons and assignments.<br />An expert on innovative education says this was made possible by a wide range of digital tools and infrastructure.<br />"South Korea is on the cutting edge of IT infrastructure. It was able to make the transition so quickly thanks to its 5G network and high number of smart devices."<br />South Korea had already been working on tools for remote teaching through two-way communication.<br />But the rate of use was low until the pandemic made them essential.<br />"Content can be created more efficiently and presented more directly using different kinds of visual materials. Interactive online classes are also a convenient way for students to get a personalized learning experience so they can remember and understand the material."<br />The transition, he says, was also helped by strong support for it among educators and the fact that young people in the country are so comfortable using smart devices.<br />Choi Jeong-yoon, Arirang News.<br />
