Coronavirus: Facebook and UNESCO launch resource guide for educators

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Team Careers360 | April 15, 2020 | 11:19 AM IST

NEW DELHI: Facebook has launched an online resource guide on how to collaborate and continue the learning process using its products and programs during the coronavirus pandemic.

Facebook has partnered with UNESCO to help the guide titled ‘Supporting Education Communities: An Online Learning Resources Guide’ reach learners and educators across India. UNESCO will also help in updating and curating the guide with relevant resources.

The guide will help the education communities use the Facebook products, tools and programs including Facebook Pages, Facebook Groups, Facebook Live, Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram to collaborate and continue the learning process, the Indian Express reported.

The guide will also provide authentic and reliable information related to COVID-19.

“Through our online learning resource guide, we want to equip teachers, parents and relevant government officials with ample resources and tools to help them stay connected and collaborate digitally to facilitate remote learning,” Manish Chopra, director and head of partnerships at Facebook India, told the Indian Express.

Eric Falt, director and UNESCO representative told the Indian Express that the initiative “will focus on mobilising resources.”

“More than 90 per cent of the world’s learners are affected by the school and university closures. In line with the global efforts, UNESCO New Delhi will focus on mobilising the national and state-level actors and resources in order to develop an effective and unified response avoiding overlaps for maximum impact,” Falt said.

The on-ground needs will be analysed and context-appropriate solutions will be provided to ensure remote education while leveraging hi-tech, low-tech and no-tech approaches. There will be a special focus on ensuring access for women learners, Falt said.

The guide is currently available in English, Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati and Kannada.

Last week, Facebook launched the Coronavirus Information Centre that seeks to provide the latest news and updates from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.