Yangcheon-gu Collaborates with Schools to Build a 'Shared Online Studio'

200 Million KRW Budget Invested to Create Shared Online Learning Content Production Spaces in 4 Schools...Attempting Networking Spaces to Break Down Barriers Between Schools and Address Online Learning Blind Spots

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Online learning, non-face-to-face video classes, and video lectures are no longer unfamiliar terms.

They have now become essential elements in the educational environment beyond just being options. The shift to online platforms in education, triggered by COVID-19, has already become routine.

Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Kim Soo-young) has proactively prepared for hybrid classes combining prolonged COVID-19 conditions with both online and offline learning, and has partnered with local schools to establish an ‘online studio’ to eliminate blind spots in online learning.

The district is investing 200 million KRW to build studios capable of producing online content in unused spaces at four local schools: Geumok Girls' High School, Seoul Video High School, Yangwon Elementary School, and Yangmok Elementary School.

The plan focuses on creating an efficient non-face-to-face learning environment not only for teachers but also for students.

Although some schools have already created their own online learning spaces, most restrict facility use to their own students for safety reasons, which has been pointed out as a management challenge.

Differences in facilities and specifications inevitably arise depending on the financial status of each school.

Since this can ultimately lead to qualitative differences in learning, the district decided to build online studios so that students can effectively receive non-face-to-face classes in a universal online learning environment without disparities.

This online studio will be uniquely open to nearby schools and teachers from other schools. While there have been many cases of opening school facilities such as gymnasiums or playgrounds to local residents, Yangcheon-gu’s attempt to break down school walls and share spaces with the local community as well as other schools is the first of its kind nationwide.

The district plans to use this as a catalyst to persuade more schools to participate in creating an educational ecosystem where high-quality online learning is possible.

Despite the inconvenience of having to pay more attention to facility management and disinfection for user safety, the active collaboration promised by the district and schools is a very positive sign.

Kim Soo-young, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, emphasized, “In a situation where in-person classes are not running smoothly and remote classes are gradually increasing, providing an environment where students can effectively learn at home is a responsibility that the school and the local community must share. We will continue our efforts to wisely overcome difficult times such as COVID-19 by working together.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.