Teaching and learning in the virtual environment are powerful solutions for education, given the social distance imposed by the coronavirus. Classic study tools had to be quickly replaced with digital tools and internet resources in order for the educational process to continue.

With the closure of schools, the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research encouraged teachers to be innovative and recommended the use of a set of digital classroom teaching tools. STEAMonEDU project partner EOS Romania, as a partner for education of the Ministry, has implemented a remote working system: video conferencing applications, a common place in the business environment, are now used as “virtual classrooms”. Shared, the computer screen becomes the “writing board”; the class can be put “on mute” while the teacher explains the topic;  the chat field hosts questions until the teacher opens the lecture time for discussion.

Teachers were not prepared to use this kind of tools and resources and required training and assistance to use them and adapt their teaching process. To support them, EOS Romania developed a range of resources and guides available in the national language, provided technical support to schools, and prepared a series of webinars about obtaining and using connection accounts to the resources made available by the Ministry of Education and Research. All the guides, resources and webinar recordings were uploaded onto EOS website and are available for free for all schools and teachers who want to use them.

The virtual courses are organized on secure web domains, from which the educational resources made available by the Ministry of Education and Research are accessed. Video conferencing systems facilitate not only simple screen sharing, but also learning how to use other computer applications and encourage collaborative work in the projects developed by students.

During 15-31 March 2020, EOS Romania ran 22 webinars to train and support Romanian teachers.

EOS Romania has worked in close collaboration with Microsoft Romania to achieve a support system so that, in terms of technology, teachers receive the support they need! Several guides have been developed in order to support teachers in the online teaching process, and they can be accessed at any time:

• Office 365 distance learning for education
• Microsoft Teams virtual classroom administration
• Homework with Microsoft Teams for Education

 Microsoft solutions for education also allow students to learn remotely for free. Content and homework / topics can be accessed online, and students and teachers can interact using online tools and collaborate individually or in work groups to meet requirements.

Why to use Microsoft Teams for Education? What are the advantages?

You can teach from anywhere, at anytime!

Teams online tool is a collaboration app which helps the team get organised and have conversations, all in one place.

You can learn from anywhere, anytime!

Publish the content of study materials online or deliver interactive courses online. Teachers and students can use a single interface through Teams platform to learn, collaborate and interact online, accessing information from any mobile device or browser. Using Teams, students can view the content of the study material, can collaborate with other students, interact with teachers, and transfer homework online. Teachers can review students homework and provide real-time suggestions.

Online classes

Teachers can take online classes, share presentations, or use the digital whiteboard. Teachers and students can interact using digital whiteboard, communicate via messaging, audio, and video.

The Office 365 plan for education and Teams application ensure a high protection of data and users privacy.