“Every hurdle is an Opportunity”

by

Abha Sadana

Principal, The Modern School, ECNCR

Good tidings are expected. Schoolsare in the process of welcoming students for physical classes. For the past two years, our classrooms and hallways have been silently awaiting their return. In face of the Pandemic’s onslaught, our emerging talents were physically imprisoned in their homes. However, innovative strategies coupled with technological advancement provided new channels for teaching and learning. ‘Online Education’ began with initial hiccups, but quickly streamlined into a innovative, effective way of imparting education.

As we near 2022, we cannot think of school education without an online component. The new, emerging model will now grow and develop as a ‘Hybrid Model’. Both, Physical classes and Online lessons will now be an integral part of it. Through Online education, schools are reaching out to students within their homes. We can say that the well of knowledge is going to the thirsty. This has helped in imparting knowledge in a flexible manner with lesser time restrictions. This Online model can help us reach and teach students in any part of the country.

Classroom teachings had been the major source of input for students in India before the lock down. Today online education has significantly reduced ‘Rote Learning’. Now teachers are learning to de-center themselves in the classroom, recognising that they are no longer the sole authority of knowledge. Instead, students also have knowledge which they can contribute to the teaching-learning environment of the class.

Parents, teachers and students are now accessing and taking the benefit from the infinite e-resources available. This may be in the form of paid Apps like BYJU’S, Toppr’s, Vedantu etc. Even free platforms like Khan Academy and Kakshaa.com have given penetrated every nook and corner of our country. With such variety of Apps available, students can learn anytime and anywhere. They are cost effective, provide networking opportunities, enhance discipline and self-study.

Online education has enabled us to host guest speakers from various backgrounds. This Industry-connect is making students aware of the current and future career opportunities. Virtual tours enable kids to explore a world without boundaries. They can explore the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Pyramids of Egypt, from the comfort of their homes. As distance and time are not a barrier anymore for the students to work in groups, teachers are using online platforms to create an environment which promotes team learning.

Education Departments of our country are now developing assessment parameters which include a change in the format of Question Papers. There is going to be a greater focus on Objective Type Questions. It would not be an exaggeration to state that ‘Online Teaching’ has played a significant role in this change. Without this changing in teaching methodology, we may have taken more years to embrace such an evaluation system.

Lastly, online teaching pushed teachers all around the world to upgrade their IT and research skills for conducting online classes and other academic activities. Education is no longer the same. Parents, students and teachers have all been positively affected by online platforms of sharing knowledge. In a vast country like India with 1.3 billion population, “we need to bring learning to people, instead of people to learning”. I am proud to state that this is happening NOW.