For José Barros, Head of the Technical-Scientific Commission for the control of Covid-19 at the Higher Institute of Sciences and Technologies of Mozambique (ISCTEM), students and teachers adapted to the new Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
Barros believes that it is fundamental for universities to carry out in-depth research, especially with students, in order to determine with certainty whether the model was really applicable, as there was little time for adaptation.
For ISCTEM, he adds, the big challenge was to convince parents and/or guardians about the efficiency of hybrid teaching, especially since it is a private institution.
"Society must be aware that new technologies must be used and known by all, as soon as possible. Our institution does not intend to give up the hybrid", said.
In his opinion, teachers are currently more digitally prepared than they were before the pandemic, as those who did not use ICT began to use them more frequently and optimized their knowledge.
"When faced with a situation where the class was only possible through recordings or live transmissions, learning to use technology was no longer an option and became seen as the only way out. The digital knowledge of teachers and students has progressed and technology has become an element of everyday life for everyone”, stressed.
BUT: [Mozambique] Blended teaching is an ally of learning
This is a continuous learning process in which it is necessary to work the “online” and offline methods together, he underlined.
“Without technology, schools were unable to continue classes, send study materials to students, apply tests, maintain communication with parents and students or avoid canceling enrollments”, he pointed out.
Due to the need to continue operating, institutions needed to break their own paradigms and open up to the digital world, he said. According to José Barros, ISCTEM currently favors face-to-face teaching, especially for practical classes and hybrid teaching is more applied in theoretical classes.
Both at UEM and at ISCTEM, classes resumed in full, observing, however, the basic measures to prevent Covid-19, such as the use of face protection masks and physical distancing.
