I have been thinking for a while about a suitable theme for a next blog, and couldn’t decide. More and more countries worldwide are now confronted with COVID-19 and it seems that this virus will be around for a while. It is changing our social lives and our working lives quite dramatically. Schools are closed or closing, children are at home, we work and study from home, we meet friends and colleagues through skype or zoom instead of face-to-face. And with all this we are experimenting.
As ETF Open Space we are an online community of over 1000 VET experts from many different countries. We work from many different angles, in ministries, institutes, schools, companies, social partner organisations, research institutes and other entities. And looking at the latest posts and contributions everybody seems to be busy identifying online solutions to be able to continue.
We could also use our community to share how we are coping with the challenges at work. I guess that your institute, school, organisation cannot continue as usual. How do you implement online tools and learning content in an organisational setting? What are your priorities? Which tasks must continue by all means? Which can be let sit on the shelf for a while? And what are your main challenges in executing the tasks that you consider vital?
By sharing our practices and thoughts about work in COVD-19 circumstances, we can keep on learning from each other and perhaps become a closer community.
A few personal notes. I retired since last summer and I am at home in the Netherlands. I volunteer for an Italian cultural society, organising activities in my hometown. All activities, Italian classes, lectures, films and other events have been cancelled since this week. Teachers have started with some online tutoring, giving assignments via email. We are sharing Italian online content which can be interesting for members such as virtual tours through musea; wonderful materials are coming from Italy! We are still adjusting. Our season normally ends in April, therefore we are now focussing on closing the season in an orderly manner and preparing for the next season after summer.
Fellow ‘Open Spacers’, I hope you are all well. Let’s be there for each other in these strange times.
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Hi, Mirjam, very nice message to be here for each other. My kids are also studying from home, they get assignments on expressing their feelings about this confinement situation. The other day I was trying to think ahead about how our priorities will change after we get through this period.
Thank you Mirjam, it is good to remain in touch in this shared space, A personal note also from my side: I am at home, all time, and may be my teleworking is becoming a NoStopWorking, also joining initiatives to support people dealing with digital solutions for learning. My lesson learnt is that we should, by default, think on how to design and deliver paper-less classes, remotely, and, at system level, to rethink BYOD policies and guidelines.
Hi Mirjam,
it's great to hear from you!
things will change drastically after the COVID19 crisis, both in terms of how we do things, and the way we see them.
And the education will be one of the areas that will change the most. Scary, but interesting times ahead. Sending you a big hug and stay safe!
Yes! Strange times. I am now getting messages from the school to say my son is skipping his on-line lessons!
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