Technology has been the main learning channel during the pandemic. Which is why it is fundamental to train teachers and students about it, especially in vulnerable areas of the country. By Nicole Venegas Reveco. This pandemic has given us the possibility to address education and the new learning method through technological platforms and virtual classrooms. Gonzalo Plaza, cofounder and executive director at Fundación 99, explains these tools have an important potential, however, “Chile is a deeply unequal country and the pandemic has made it evident that there are still gaps in education, particularly in the most vulnerable and rural zones, both in terms of enabling structure and also of support and content”. 

That is how, during this period the access to education has been determined by the technological elements available, connectivity between students and teachers, housing conditions, among others. According to Plaza, there is a technology challenge, but also one related to the pedagogical support when planning remote classes. 

“The virtual environment offers benefits that become effective to the extent diagnoses and pedagogical strategies are reformulated and the unequal context we live in is taken into consideration. Extrapolating the traditional teaching-learning model directly to a virtual space is unthinkable”, he adds. Training and social investment. There are social training and investment programs which allow to work on those aspects and deficits that prevail in vulnerable areas of the country, both at a technological level and around pedagogical training. 

Gonzalo Plaza explains the technological tools and videocall platforms were starting to become a barrier for clients. “We are working with schools from different regions of the country, these are schools with high vulnerability rates (90% average) and especially in rural zones, where connectivity and access issues are even greater” he states. Work in these sectors is related with the application of simple technologies, such as WhatsApp and other commonly used social networks, where its proper utilization is key for the learning process. 

“We are gaining reflection and pedagogical training instances with teachers and students, such as with literary gatherings under the Comunidades de Aprendizaje Project. These are weekly sessions where we have already gathered with over 500 people, including administrators, teachers and students”, Plaza comments on the course’s implementation.