Italian art professor defends distance learning amid COVID-19

Antonello Tolve, a professor of Pedagogy and Didactics of Art at the Accademia Albertina di Torino, argues that online teaching during the coronavirus pandemic is not as disastrous as many critics claim. He criticizes fellow art teachers who complain that direct experience with artworks cannot be replaced, noting that Roberto Longhi taught with slides. Tolve asserts that teachers are privileged to still receive salaries and should adapt with a chameleon-like spirit, turning distance learning into an opportunity for growth. He highlights that the platform G Suite for Education, chosen by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR), allows effective teaching with tools like Google Classroom, screen sharing, and chat for up to 100 students. Tolve urges teachers to engage students with humanity and solidarity, rather than lamenting the situation. The article was published on Artribune during the COVID-19 emergency.