‘How technology is supporting learning’

The COVID-19 pandemic has turned out to be a game changer in all spheres of life, including how technology has and will remain pivotal in driving human and global development. Managing Director, HP Nigeria, Ifeyinwa Afe discusses some of these developments in this chat with Group Business Editor, SIMEON EBULU

COVID-19 has brought to the fore the place of high tech in human existence, both in learning and in the workplace, especially with the closure of schools and the need to work from home. How did this dovetail into your company’s product offering?

I am very passionate about the growth of Nigeria’s education sector and even more excited about the potential of what it could become in the future. Being a part of a leading global ICT company like HP, where we make our laptops and software with the future of learning in mind, we like to ensure that learners are prepared for tomorrow’s challenges. In Nigeria, education has not been what it used to be, and this is an area of concern for every citizen, especially parents.

The closure of schools last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the many challenges of educating the youth. The education sector was already troubled prior to the pandemic, with over 10.5 million children not attending school.  As in most countries, the need to adapt quickly to ensure the school year was not lost, was high. It became very clear to all that now, more than ever, it is vital that we use technology to support children’s learning.

Will you rate governments’ and private sector response to this development as adequate?

Educators, parents, learners and students worldwide have faced a major shift in learning over the past year. The rapid move to online, and then hybrid learning, has reinforced how important access to technology, and an understanding of how to use it, is for a child’s successful ongoing educational development, and to their future.

The pandemic pushed government and private institutions to come together to help the youth prepare for, not only today, but also for the future. That is why the Lagos State Ministry of Education released a schedule of radio and television broadcast lessons for students in public schools, and also put in place additional technology-driven interventions. The Federal Ministry of Education and the Universal Basic Education Commission also set up the Nigeria Education Sector COVID-19 Response Strategy (FMoE, 2020).

At HP, our interventions included the launch of virtual learning platforms, and the provision of e-learning resources such as HP’s Classroom of the Future, offering smart, education-focused hardware coupled with cutting-edge software to support new teaching methodologies and empower all the key stakeholders in the classroom. This is not where it ends, as we need to continue to build partnerships between private and public sectors to ensure that we are equipping the future of tomorrow with the skills and the tools to succeed.

Are there post-intervention assessment in place, or being done to test the effectiveness of some of these measures?

In 2020, the Education Partnership Centre (TEP Centre) released a Learning in a Pandemic Report, focused on the  impact of COVID-19 on youths’ education, highlighting some interesting findings  based on a survey conducted with 557 students across 31 states in Nigeria and the FCT.

The survey showed that there is need for education in Nigeria to innovate, especially as hybrid learning is becoming the norm. About 37 per cent of those surveyed reported that online learning was their main form of learning during the pandemic, 26 per cent used books as their main form of learning, and 23 per cent learned through WhatsApp. Interestingly only one per cent said mobile learning was their main form of learning, while a further three per cent learned on Mobile TV, five per cent did so from their parents and another five per cent from home lessons.

Some of the reasons given for preferring online learning platforms, included broad content such as core skills outside the school curriculum, flexibility and independence gained from self-study, and more learning time, as well as the opportunity to practise independent learning, mental toughness, digital skill acquisition and the ability to access quality and experienced tutors.

When students rated the learning platforms, they identified several challenges such as network challenges, access to devices and other related infrastructure – such as electricity. When the respondents were questioned on what resources they needed to help their learning, the majority, about 66 percent, said they would need a laptop to learn from home, on their own terms.

What are the challenges that new age parents have to adapt to, especially with learning from home?

As a parent, I understand the challenges that we have had to face in this new normal. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, no one was prepared; we thought we had time. We were faced with infrastructural challenges, such as data costs, and unstable electricity supply. But as parents we are determined to ensure that our children succeed. We have learned that the best way to equip and prepare our children during a pandemic, particularly in light of different waves and variants coming; it is vital to provide them with the tools and access to technology, such as laptops and other devices at home to enable a blended learning approach.

This will prepare them and increase their exposure to resources focused on science, technology, and mathematics and strengthen their foundational skills.

As noted by the respondents in the ‘Learning in a Pandemic Report’, laptops enable a child’s learning process. While many people might focus on a smartphone, the smaller screen size, limited battery life made shorter by running various e-learning apps, and the need for data to access learning portals, mean it is a useful, but not ideal learning aid. A laptop is an investment in your child’s future, and it can be overwhelming choosing the right one to enable a positive learning environment.

How should parents overcome the ‘choice’ problem?

When it comes to choosing the right laptop, choose a laptop that is built for tomorrow’s success, not just today’s needs. Make sure the processor is current generation, don’t be sold on older stock.

Available 10th Generation Intel® Core™ i3 Processors are a good choice, and are responsive and reliable. Make sure the hard drive can handle the workload – A 1TB hard disk drive will help to comfortably store schoolwork and projects safely. Don’t forget they need to connect – wireless connectivity (Bluetooth and Wi-Fi) is a must.

Whether your child is at home, at school, or at a coffee shop, they should always be able to keep learning. Make sure the battery can last more than five hours and has fast-charge technology – one of the biggest challenges to online learning and studying in Nigeria is erratic electricity supply, so when you’re choosing a laptop, pick one that can power through the power cuts, so your child can create and study all day.

A good laptop shouldn’t take more than 45 minutes to reach 50 per cent charge, and the battery should last as much as 7-12.5 hours. Make sure the laptop you choose has a USB Type-C® port – consider buying an external USB-C-based power bank for those times when you’ll be away from home for extended periods.

Choose a laptop with a high-definition camera with an integrated microphone – remote learning means not only watching your teachers present to you, but turning the camera around and confidently showing yourself, and your work, to your teacher and class. A bigger screen makes things easier to read – Choose a 14″ or 15″ screen so it’s easier to concentrate, and view presentations, and online applications and websites.

Durability matters -whether they are studying from home, or carrying their laptop to school, remember to make sure their laptop is reliable, lightweight, but durable.

Buying a laptop for your child, will not only help them succeed at school, it will also empower them and prepare them for future challenges. Having a laptop can also help them to acquire critical skills necessary to thrive in the digital era.