Officially, the new school year starts today, with classes with physical presence being held in 600 schools across the country, while distance learning is accessible for the others through the online platform and by broadcasting classes in Macedonian and Albanian on the national television.
Physical presence in classes cannot be replaced by anything, but in times of a world pandemic, online communication is needed for maintaining some continuity in the education process, says Biljana Nikolova, ICT teacher in the primary school “Sando Masev” in Strumica,
“As it concerns generations who are digitally literate and for whom being active online is part of their everyday life, I think that students have no difficulties in realizing online communication and online learning, but on the contrary, it is more acceptable for certain subjects. Of course, the process of socializing among students is lacking, which is an important component for the development of a young person”, says Nikolova.
Nikolova says that in the period when the pandemic started, teachers managed in their own way, seeking the most suitable approach on how to transfer knowledge to their students.
“Having in consideration the available resources they had, they carried out the teaching, but with a lower quality, in one word – they improvised. They were overtaken and left on their own to handle things how they knew best”, says Nikola.
Nikolova adds that she as an ICT teacher has not had any difficulties in conducting the teaching from a technical aspect.
“As an ICT teacher I did not have difficulties in carrying out the teaching from a technical aspect, and I organized it by using several free programs. At that time, we were lacking a common unified platform that would be used by all in order to provide a uniform approach to the studying and evaluation of all students”, says Nikolova.
In relation to the National Platform for distance learning, Nikolova says that it is an educational platform that is adjusted appropriately to our educational system and one that unites students, teachers and all necessary programs needed for the realization of the teaching process in one place.
“I personally think that in the following period the National Platform will ensure a stable and continuous process of online learning. The platform itself is rich with many activities and resources that will help teachers create interesting and interactive content for their students. I sincerely hope that the process of adapting to the National Platform and online teaching will be quick and easy for all stakeholders in the distance learning”, adds Nikolova.
Angela Petrovska
Translation: N. Cvetkovska
