Abstract
An invisible, yet cruel virus has made the entire world face a new reality. Regardless of the degree to which online communication had already been used in educational settings before the Covid-19 pandemic, almost no one working in education had a feeling of being ready to work in the new circumstances. The process of migration to emergency remote language teaching and learning was stressful for all stakeholders in education - management, lecturers, students and their parents. Relying on the reflective and descriptive methods, the paper investigates the advantages and disadvantages of digital tools and platforms for remote collaborative learning, primarily ZOOM, Microsoft Teams, Jitsi Meet, and online learning management systems, recognised by the students and teachers within the mandatory and elective General English, ESP and EMI courses at the Teacher Education Faculty, University of Belgrade and Belgrade Metropolitan University. We conducted qualitative research by using structured and unstructured interviews and monitoring students' collaborative work. In the conclusion, the paper emphasises the aspects of educational technologies which have proved to be beneficial for everyone included in the process, without limiting the creativity, development of thinking skills and investigative spirit of students and lecturers while learning and teaching English.
Highlights
Living languages seem to have livened up in new spheres of communication
Regardless of the degree to which online communication had already been used in educational settings before the Covid-19 pandemic, almost no one working in education had a feeling of being ready to work in the new circumstances
Relying on the descriptive and reflective methods, the paper first presents the context in which English language lecturers of the two university institutions sought the best path forward in terms of using digital tools and platforms for remote individual and collaborative learning, primarily ZOOM, Microsoft Teams, Jitsi Meet, and online learning management systems
Summary
Living languages seem to have livened up in new spheres of communication. Literary works seem to be leaving traditional hard and paperback covers. Meeting new cultures no longer requires long journeys and packed suitcases. They have the power to connect us across the globe and transfer us quickly in time and space. They provide us with completely new forms of materials, tools and accessories. Whether we want to see it as an advantage of the modern age or as a threat to true life values, or maybe something in between, is a matter of choice, of striking a balance, a matter worth contemplating
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