by Deepika Notani
Our homes have now become our new classroom, and learning is online. The pandemic of COVID-19 has changed the lifestyle of society. Earlier things were different like children going to school, no social distancing, group studies, playing on the ground, sharing their tiffin’s with friends and eat in the canteen without any tension or fear, but now it is going to be different, and returning to school will not be the same.
The latest advice of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says that children learn best when they are at school. However, returning to school needs careful steps in place to keep students and staff safe. Schools provide more than just academics to children and adolescents. In addition to reading, writing, and math, children learn social and emotional skills, get physical training and access to mental health support, some of the things that cannot be provided with online learning. With the rapid growth of preventative responses being taken by the education sector, e-learning is here to stay. Mandatory online classrooms can prove stressful, especially for school students, most of which are venturing into this online space for the first time.
The biggest challenge according to the teachers is that they haven’t got to know their students, especially the kindergarten and primary ones. Teachers in Indian schools and colleges still use board and chalk method, as they are habituated in doing so. Hence, suddenly shifting to recording and sending their lectures will not be comfortable for them and to know whether the student has completed their assigned task will be a great mental adjustment.
As of now, two states like Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh have banned live online classes for students till class 5th and Maharashtra has discontinued online classes for children up till the 2nd standard. In states like Telangana, parents, and human rights groups have also sought a ban on classes for younger children. But in many ways, the students can adapt to the online classroom culture like sticking to a healthy routine, organizing your time table, ready to study space, be mindful of your home environment, stop being impatient, and ask for help.
Even though the COVID 19 pandemic has affected the education sector, it has opened doors to a new way of delivering education by virtual classes. One of the benefits of online classes is personalized learning. Students can learn at their own time and phase, long-distance learning, real-time teaching, and learning gives students and teacher a worldwide exposure. Accessed to everyone equally from anywhere and at any time, introduces students and educators to education technology. Comprehensive online tutorials encourage digital and smart classrooms and improve visualization.
For e-learning to be a success, the procurement of the right tools and technologies is a must. The mindful use of technology empowers students to assert control over the methods of instruction, which further customizes their educational experience.
Image Credits:- Deccan Herald
