Abstract of Khattiya Pongsirijinda
How the Social Engagement Can Help Overcome the Challenges of the New Normal Studying
Khattiya Pongsirijinda
Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Bolshoy Boulevard 30, bld. 1, Moscow, Russia 121205
Abstract
The unpredictability of the New Normal studying during the COVID-19 outbreak challenges both the instructors who have to prepare their teaching differently and students who have to adjust to the brand new education style. Distance learning is used widely and appears moderately efficient for students in receiving knowledge and information from teachers. But actually, one of the activators behind the scenes is social engagement. As a fresh graduate from the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) who spent more than a year studying in the online format, I can confirm it. Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Telegram (a popular messaging app in Russia) have played a significant role in communicating between students and their classmates. Some professors also realized the benefits and shaped them to fit course objectives. Furthermore, extracurricular activities in schools and universities, which generally broaden students' social skills, could be boosted similarly. And Skoltech Student Council has held several online events in which students can participate and interact with each other. Therefore, social engagement can be adapted and designed to improve students' online learning capacity as nearly as face-to-face learning can do.
Keywords: New Normal studying, social engagement, social media platforms
