Facebook launched an online resource guide for educational communities on Monday on how to collaborate and continue the learning process using Facebook products, tools and programs while also providing COVID-19 information from authentic sources.
Currently, the guide is available in English, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati and Kannada.
In its first phase, Facebook has established a partnership with UNESCO, which will help ensure that the guide reaches learners, educational institutions and teachers across India in addition to supporting updating and preservation of the guide with relevant learning resources.
The online resource will help and guide educational communities on how to collaborate using Facebook products and tools like Facebook pages, Facebook groups, Facebook Live, Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram, the company said.
Additionally, it contains modules from Facebook’s digital literacy program – “We think digital” to help people think critically and share thoughtfully online.
“With our online learning resource guide, we want to provide teachers, parents and relevant government officials with many resources and tools to help them stay connected and collaborate digitally to facilitate distance learning,” Manish Chopra, director and chief of partnerships, Facebook India said in a statement.
The guide will also provide vital information about COVID-19 from reliable and authoritative sources such as the Indian Government Notice, the WHO Situation Report in India page, the Ministry of Health and Welfare Being a family, the Coronavirus Resource Hub on Facebook and the advice of UNICEF on COVID-19. prevention and control in schools and helping them to cope with the anxiety and misinformation of the busts surrounding the current pandemic.
Over 90% of learners worldwide are affected by the closure of schools and universities.
“In line with global efforts, UNESCO in New Delhi will focus on mobilizing actors and resources at the national and state levels to develop an effective and unified response avoiding overlap for maximum impact,” said Eric Falt, Director and representative of UNESCO at UNESCO. New Delhi Cluster Office for Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Maldives and Sri Lanka.
“In addition, the needs on the ground will be matched with context-specific solutions for providing distance education, leveraging high-tech, low-tech and non-tech approaches with a particular focus on ensuring ‘access for learners,’ added Falt.