Schools chose online resources to continue with education

John F Kennedy once observed that the word ‘crisis’ in Chinese is composed of two characters - one representing danger, the other opportunity. He may not be correct on the linguistics but the sentiment is true enough: a crisis presents a choice. This is particularly true today. The same opinion was endorsed by our PM Shri Narendra Modi that the Covid-19 pandemic time is an opportunity in crisis.

The pandemic has upended nearly every aspect of life, from personal to professional. In the field of education, this emergency has led to the massive closure of face-to-face activities of educational institutions. This crisis has given rise to three main areas of action: the deployment of distance learning modalities through a variety of formats and platforms, the support to education personnel, and concern for the health and overall well-being of students.

Most of the schools have established ways of continuing to provide education through distance learning modalities. The pandemic has transformed the contexts in which curricula are implemented, not only because of the use of platforms but also because certain knowledge and competencies are more relevant in the current context.

To bridge the gap between teaching and learning, the schools prepared their curriculum prioritizing the integrated approach creating links between subjects.

The schools opted to ensure educational continuity through online resources, the internet presented a unique opportunity: the plethora of pedagogical resources and knowledge as well as the various communications tools available provided ideal platforms to bring schools and learning processes closer to students.

The paradigm shift from classroom teaching to online teaching was tough in the beginning but gradually became a new normal. Both faculty members and students learnt to adjust to the new mode and the former attempted and championed several innovations in the teaching-learning process including sending class materials to students, encouraging peer discussion and group work through the use of online tools, making assignments more practice-based and organising interactive webinars with guest speakers to reflect on curriculum-based issues as well as matters of general importance.

Assessing and monitoring learning as well as providing feedback is important for understanding school children’s progress and taking appropriate pedagogical actions to improve it. Distance learning activities have reaffirmed the formative role of assessments. Drawing information on each student’s learning from diagnostics and follow-up exercises, teachers can provide feedback and modify their teaching strategies to make them more effective.

Here at The Manthan School, we believe in progression and prepare our students for an unpredictable world where they need to make informed decisions, solve problems and above all be adaptable.

The use of a range of collaboration tools like Padlet and NearPod, and engagement methods like Kahoot and Word wall have promoted inclusion, personalization and intelligence.

The overnight shift to distance learning was full of trials and errors. Large-scale virtual meetings were held where the flaws were discussed and for every situation a solution was worked upon. One of the English teachers said, “The response of students was overwhelming and the KWL activity was a hit as the students posted on Padlet.”

A Math teacher from Middle Wing incorporated AI tool ‘Stone, Paper, Scissors’ to teach students numbers. Loopy helped the students create web diagrams without much effort. Many such examples could be stated from everyday experiences, but at the end of the day the focus on child-centered learning never took a back seat.

The children extensively use their senses to learn and making learning fun and effective through the use of technology has given wings to their imagination.

The clever integration of games has demonstrated higher engagement and increased motivation towards learning especially among younger students, making them truly fall in love with learning.

This pandemic has utterly disrupted an education system that many assert was already losing its relevance. In his book, 21 Lessons for the 21st Century, scholar Yuval Noah Harari outlines how schools continue to focus on traditional academic skills and rote learning, rather than on skills such as critical thinking and adaptability, which will be more important for success in the future.

Could the move to online learning be the catalyst to create a new, more effective method of educating students?

Poonam Kumar Mendiratta, principal, The Manthan School, Greater Noida West. Views expressed are personal.