Facebook pushes ahead with online learning initiative

To ensure continuity in the process of learning in the wake of COVID-19, Facebook has launched an online resource guide titled, ‘Supporting Education Communities: An Online Learning Resources Guide’. The online resource will guide education communities on how to collaborate and continue the learning process using Facebook products, tools and programs while also providing information related to COVID-19 from authentic sources. Currently, the guide is available in English, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati and Kannada.

In its first phase, Facebook has partnered with UNESCO who will support in ensuring the guide reaches learners, educational institutions and teachers across India besides supporting with the updation and curation of the guide with relevant learning resources.

The online resource will help and guide education communities on how to collaborate by using Facebook’s products and tools like Facebook Pages, Facebook Groups, Facebook Live, Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram. The guide will also provide vital information about COVID-19 from authoritative and credible sources such as Government of India’s advisory, WHO India Situation Report Page, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Coronavirus Resource Hub on Facebook, and Guidance from UNICEF on COVID-19 prevention and control in schools and help them in dealing with anxiety and bust misinformation surrounding the ongoing pandemic.

Speaking about the launch, Manish Chopra, Director, and Head of Partnerships, Facebook India said, “In these difficult times, it is even more important for people to stay connected and have access to credible information about COVID-19. Through our online learning resource guide, we want to equip teachers, parents and relevant government officials with ample resources and tools to help them stay connected and collaborate digitally to facilitate remote learning. We sincerely hope they are able to leverage these resources and continue the learning process.”

Eric Falt, Director and UNESCO Representative, UNESCO New Delhi Cluster Office for Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka said, “The COVID-19 outbreak has caused not only a health crisis but also a learning crisis. More than 90% of the world’s learners are affected by the school and university closures. In line with the global efforts, UNESCO New Delhi will focus on mobilizing the national and state level actors and resources in order to develop an effective and unified response avoiding overlaps for maximum impact. Further, the on-ground needs will be matched with context-appropriate solutions to provide education remotely, leveraging hi-tech, low-tech and no-tech approaches with a special focus on ensuring access for women learners. Technology will be the key enabler for all such efforts. The partnership between UNESCO New Delhi and Facebook will therefore play an important role in providing an online platform for all stakeholders to come together and act in tandem to end the learning disruption.”

As more and more schools are advised to transition to a virtual model, Facebook remains committed to supporting communities and users to ease this process of virtual learning and enable educators with information about COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Facebook also launched the Coronavirus Information Centre, that provides the latest news and updates from MyGov Corona Hub, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) and global health organizations, as well as helpful content about social distancing and preventing the spread of COVID-19. It is featured at the top of the News Feed, for easy access to the latest news and information as well as resources and tips to stay healthy.