write a letter to editor on topic new technology used for teaching and increasing covid cases in goa during lockdown
Answers
Answer:
One of the biggest casualties of the Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant lockdown has been institutionalised education. Schools have been shut to prevent the spread of the virus and this has given way to online classrooms, a very new concept in India even for the most sophisticated schools. It is commendable how easily some educational institutions have moved to virtual classrooms, all thanks to tools such as Zoom, Google Hangouts and Microsoft Teams. But there are some still struggling to get online.
There are teachers and schools putting extra effort to engage students in classes by revamping timetables, shifting discussions online, taking feedback from parents and monitoring students constantly. While there are some who are doing the bare minimum and using WhatsApp to stay connected with students. Some schools are trying out tools like SeeSaw, Google Suite and YouTube videos to make online classes as engaging as offline ones. But there are also those that are failing miserably at this shift.
Parents are divided
Vikas Garg, a professional in the energy sector and a parent of a preschooler, living in Gurugram says, “Online class is a fairly new concept and my daughter was pretty excited initially to be part of it. The virtual classes via Zoom are being conducted smoothly. There are some drawbacks such as the lack of a platform to submit assignments. Students are required to write the assignments, take a picture of it and email, which gets tough for the child as well as the teacher. Otherwise, the school has moved into online teaching very smoothly.”
Barna Chowdhury, a banker and mother of an 8-year-old living in Jharkhand, has a very different story to share. “The concept of online class is rubbish,” she is categorical. “The schools in Telco area are one of the best in the state and they are failing miserably at this. The teachers send photos, often unclear ones, of notes in a WhatsApp group and expect the parents to note then down on behalf of the children. In today’s time, when both parents are working, it is difficult to do the tasks given by the schools,” she explains, adding how the school has shown no initiative to connect with the child. “My daughter isn’t learning anything.”
Chanchal Roy, a Kolkata businessman, too has similar frustrations about the classes of his two sons. “Class teachers send assignments every day, we need to take printouts, finish them and send a photo of the assignment to the teachers via WhatsApp. I feel the school is just rushing to finish the syllabus and this isn’t helping the child in any way.”
online learning, e-learning, virtual learning, online education It is commendable how easily some educational institutions have moved to virtual classrooms (Image: Getty)
Explanation: