PEDAGOGY IN THE DIGITAL AGE: EXPLORING THE LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF VIRTUAL LEARNING

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the shift to virtual learning prompting educators to adapt their pedagogical strategies in response to unforeseen challenges. As institutions refine their virtual learning models, the lessons learnt during this period will inform future pedagogical practices and legal considerations hence the intersection between pedagogy and legal considerations become increasingly important. This research focused on the peculiarities of the digital age and how it has advanced learning beyond the four corners of a classroom to a virtual distance learning without leaving one’s comfort zone. However, this development has come with different legal issues that have questioned the transparency of this advancement in teaching and learning. The question of copyright which forms the most concern will be explored. The law regulating copy right and the application of the law in the digital learning aspect will be examined. The burning issue of data privacy, which is a fundamental right issue, with a particular focus on the rights and obligations of students and teachers will be examined. In the era of digitalization of education, a number of challenges have arisen in relation to privacy, inclusion and discipline during the development of virtual learning. Using a doctrinal method, the analysis includes a review of the international and national legal framework, as well as the practices adopted by educational institutions. The study also examines the quality of education offers by the virtual learning platform and a critical study of the covid-19 era. This study adopted doctrinal approach as its study design and methodology, using analytical and critique research methodology and also comparative analysis. The main sources of data collection were literatures from physical library and e-library. Finally, this Article was made to have significance to all stakeholders in the education policy reform sectors, teaching and legal profession, legal education and as well enriched in literature for further researches.