COVID-19 and Technology in Education

Education is now influenced by technology more than ever due to COVID-19. This is harder for some than for others.

As many schools switch to online learning, students in communities of lower economic backgrounds are suffering. They lack the tools they need to be academically successful.

Most, if not all, schools in the San Francisco Bay Area are not returning in the Fall. This is increasing the anxiety among students who cannot afford computers or were given laptops that were misused and have missing keys. Not to mention, as many individuals are home, they may be straining the only bandwidth they can afford.

As well as the decreased access to affordable tutoring due to the lack of software to properly tutor their students. Some students are struggling to keep up with the curriculum due to the lack of motivation that online learning has influenced. COVID-19 has exacerbated the learning loss for students of underserved communities.

In fact, The World Bank estimates that “school closures due to COVID-19 will result in an immediate loss of 0.6 of schooling adjusted for quality… Compounding this, according to the report, as of the latest GDP projections, close to 7 million students from primary and secondary education could drop out of school due to the income shock of the pandemic alone…”.

Bay Area Tutoring Association (BATA) is combatting this reality for the students in our communities by offering distant tutoring and flexible interventions to keep students on track of learning literacy and attendance.

How can you help?

• Donate to programs trying to help their students yet lack the finances to properly adjust to standards caused by COVID-19.
• Volunteer, if you have the time, take part in organizations like Bay Area Tutoring Association to help tutor students who need help especially in a time like now.
• Check-in on students who may be missing the socialness that came with attending school and see how they are adjusting to the change of format.

We must remember that we are all in this together, but some communities are facing additional obstacles you may not think of.

Acknowledge the hurdles in their way and, if you can, help students, tutors, faculty, or administrators.