Pros and Cons of Online Learning

Teacherrsquos Day in India is celebrated on September 5 to mark the birthday of the countrys most celebrated teacher and academic philosopher Dr Sarvepalli Radhakrishan Teachers play a key role during our most impressionable years moulding us into the adults we become Each year special Teacherrsquos Day programs are celebrated in schools and colleges where students pay tribute to their gurus for their contribution to society This year will be much different owing to the pandemicOnline learning has become the new medium of instruction for educational institutions across the country There has been a lot of ongoing conversation about conducting examinations and the feasibility of virtual classes considering the limited technical knowhow and restrictive access to the internet and smart devices We spoke to all parties concerned student teacher parent and school administration to find out their thoughts about online learning Student I canrsquot wait to go back to school and meet everyoneWe spoke to Shaurya Pratap Singh an 11yearold student of The British School Delhi about what he likes and dislikes the most about online learning ldquoI like that teachers are trying to still provide us with lessons and I hate not getting to see each other offcamerardquo He told us he faces internet issues and believes that the main problem is communication ldquoI really miss the face to face interaction which makes communication better You can have more fun in school when you understand more Communication learning and relationships grow by being together and having a strong bondrdquo Like most kids Shaurya was happy when schools had shut down but hersquos come to realise that school is important and hersquos eager to go backTeacher Classroomteaching can never be replaced by online classesJyoti Das teacher and administrator with 30 years of experience talking to us about the sudden shift to online learning said ldquoNone of us were either prepared or trained for it But we accepted the challenge and started online classes with the process of learning while teaching The teachers whatever the age geared uprdquo She reiterated the restrictive access to smart devices and internet connectivity problems faced by many students The biggest challenge according to her is holding the attention of the students in online classes Teachers have had to devise ways to present the topics in an even better way as compared to the physical classroom so that monotony should not grip the students ldquoMonitoring students active presence throughout the session also came as a challenge Conducting assessment in a proper vigilant manner has also not been easy Despite these problems the classes are running onlinerdquo said DasWhen we ask her about the flexibility and convenience of online learning she mentions how online learning has benefitted hesitant kids to raise their own doubts in a private manner and claims that in the hands of a welltrained teacher both delivery methods can be used to achieve the same goals As much as shersquod like for students to return to her classrooms she knows that safety concerns dictate otherwise Parent I can relate this to helicopter parentingOnline learning isnrsquot just taking its toll on students and teachers but also on parents who have had to dedicate much of their time to take care of the childrsquos studies We spoke to Shauryarsquos mother Surabhi Bhadauria about how itrsquos been ldquoAs teachers can only guide you virtually the onus is now on the parents and the child completely Mornings are good but the entire day becomes hectic it is a task for each one of us I can relate this to helicopter parentingrdquoShersquos glad that the academic year has been unaffected as the classes run uninterrupted and that jobs are secured However her concerns outnumber the benefits increased screen time minimalized physical activity lack of empathy and attitude skill development along with the monotony of the entire processldquoI am sure the schools will have to take a call someday Without seeing each teacherstudent relationship goals are not achieved Online learning is affecting the eyes and total health of the child Itrsquos very difficult for working parents to keep eye on child plus the sharp increase in cybercrime and misuse of technology is another botherationrdquo explained Surabhi She too hopes online classes will give way to inclassroom teaching soonSchool We appreciate the effort of our teachers Schools have had to quickly adapt to the requirements of online learning and had to face a number of challenges Surabhi director of Adriel High School and Maharana Pratap Education Center highlighted that not everyone can afford online learning and it is an absolutely a new concept for India Internet issues technology gaps awareness about handling the two increased involvement of parents and evaluation of teachers and students were the many challenges she faced while implementing online learning in her schoolsWe asked her if this sudden adaption to a new format of teaching was difficult for teachers to which she said ldquoIt is said that your teacher is like your second mother who nurtures you with all knowledge Just like our mothers handle all challenges in the household our teachers also did the same For now when I look at my staff or my childrsquos teachers I can well imagine these women to be Goddesses with multiple hands who deal with it all I appreciate the effort of our teacher fraternity who has been working 24 by 7rdquo Reopening of schools will be determined by public safety norms as wellness of students is paramountCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest news