2차 온라인개학 계획대로 진행...전 세계 유례없는 '한국형 원격수업', 가능한 이유는?

The COVID-19 pandemic has forced schools around the world to consider teaching students online.
Some countries have struggled with the change.
But it has gone rather smoothly in South Korea so far, and from today, online classes have started for all grade school students from the 4th grade and up.
Choi Jeong-yoon explains how South Korea made the transition so quickly.
More than a billion and a half students in 165 countries have been affected by COVID-19 school closures.
The world has been deploying distance learning solutions,... but finding the right platforms remains a challenge.
In some countries, students are having trouble even accessing the Internet.
"Meanwhile, online classes have gone ahead as scheduled in South Korea. Actual classrooms are empty, but as of Thursday, some 4 million students nationwide are sitting in front of their computers to study online."
The country's third-year middle and high schoolers started last week, and from Thursday,... so have all grade school students from the 4th grade and up.
To prevent confusion, the education ministry has advised schools to use one of two online class platforms. These work in three ways using real-time video conferencing, pre-recorded video lessons and assignments.
An expert on innovative education says this was made possible by a wide range of digital tools and infrastructure.
"South Korea is on the cutting edge of IT infrastructure. It was able to make the transition so quickly thanks to its 5G network and high number of smart devices."
South Korea had already been working on tools for remote teaching through two-way communication.
But the rate of use was low until the pandemic made them essential.
"Content can be created more efficiently and presented more directly using different kinds of visual materials. Interactive online classes are also a convenient way for students to get a personalized learning experience so they can remember and understand the material."
The transition, he says, was also helped by strong support for it among educators and the fact that young people in the country are so comfortable using smart devices.
Choi Jeong-yoon, Arirang News.