Technology To Navigate The Pandemic

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If there’s one thing that’s become clear from the way that COVID has changed the world, it’s that we need to embrace more technology. Employees have turned to working from home and students have had to navigate the world of online learning. It’s been challenging, to say the least. However, this is more due to being unprepared rather than a lack of solutions.

Messenger and Workflow Systems

One of the most troublesome aspects of working from home is keeping in contact with all of your co-workers who you normally converse with in the office. However, there are multiple messaging systems and workspaces that you can implement. Skype is very popular as is Slack. Slack tends to beat out Skype because it has built-in features that let you create a workspace where you can also communicate with team members in real-time, ala Skype. Plus, you can password protect Slack chats for an added level of security. That’s not to say Skype isn’t useful; it’s free to use and helps groups collaborate.

Other tools involve workboards and workflows. Trello is one such program, though communication may be difficult. It does, however, incorporate Google Hangouts. Finding a solution that fits a company’s needs may be difficult, but there are plenty of options out there, which is why research is essential.

Online Education

If you had kids in school last year when the pandemic hit, there’s no doubt you were thrown off-kilter with the immediate switch to online learning. Many teachers and schools were highly unprepared for this type of situation and it showed. Google Classrooms was a major help in streamlining work, but there are other more in-depth solutions out there that teachers and administrators should consider, such as Curriki.org. It offers valuable tools to help immerse kids in learning, with a framework that’s easy to follow. This is what children need, regardless of whether they’re 5 or 15.

Staying on task is essential, but difficult for kids who are not in a structured learning environment. But some companies work to bridge the gap, which helps both parties — teachers and students — succeed. Plus, it eases the burden on parents when they can see their child’s work at a glance instead of trying to figure it out on their own.

Childcare

What does technology have to do with childcare, you ask? No, we’re not talking about tablets and smartphones babysitting your kids. Rather, it can be difficult navigating this new world in which children are mostly home with online learning and parents still have to go to work. That’s how technology can help. There are numerous resources to help find reputable childcare, whether it’s a daycare or an in-home solution. While many have had success with word of mouth, others struggle to find a reliable option that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Otherwise, what’s the purpose of working if you’re only doing it to pay for childcare?

Technology Is Ever-Growing

The beauty of technology is that people are continually developing apps and tools that help streamline work and education. In the future, there’s sure to be a boom as employers and schools search for viable options to help navigate these unchartered waters. If a tool doesn’t exist, it’s possible to contract it out and have one specially made.

The pandemic and its resulting shutdowns have affected tens of millions of Americans. However, despite a stuttering start, technology has shown it’s possible to create a proper work and learning environment from home. It’s going to change the landscape going forward because what we’ve known as “normal” is drastically changing from day to day.