Updated on : Thursday, June 11, 2020, 7:00
AM IST
"Mute all" key kills purpose of
interactive learning: Teachers on online education
By Ronald Rodrigues
City schools have started surveys, data
collection and poll responses to understand aspects of online education and
methods to overcome challenges in e-learning. School authorities claim the
COVID-19 pandemic has compelled them to initiate new concepts of
teaching-learning as teachers, parents and students are apprehensive about
online education.
On one hand, state-board schools are
conducting regular webinars and training for teachers while on the other,
private-board schools have started digital classes on a daily basis. A
principal of a state-board school in Andheri said, "Our teachers are not
familiar with virtual classes. More than students, our teachers are facing
several challenges such as absence of efficient WiFi speed, internet access,
interactive modules of lessons, class monitoring and time management."
Online education is an alternative not a
replacement, claimed Francis Joseph, co-founder of School Leaders Network, a
think tank which had suggested a standard operating procedure to schools and
the government considering the COVID-19 pandemic situation. Joseph said,
"The time-table and ways of teaching in regular schools cannot be used
when we shift to online education. Schools can reduce classrooms to a minimum
number of students because 30 students per online class is still difficult to
manage. Schools should make smaller groups because there are no space
constraints in online education as this can help teachers in online classroom
management."
Teachers of private-board schools revealed
they are using "Mute all" button in online education which
discourages the basic purpose of student interaction. Manda Kamadh, a teacher
of an ICSE board school said, "I have a tendency to use the mute all key
so that students can listen without any interruption. But unlike regular
classroom teaching, this does not allow any student to talk or raise a question
while I am explaining concepts. It destroys the purpose of an interactive class
as students have to wait till the end to raise queries."
Parents have to monitor students because
in online eduaction the control is with students, said Rakesh Lal, a teacher of
a CBSE board school. Lal said, "Students can simply put the camera on and
not pay attention. Technology has several hacks and students may tend to lose
attention if they are not monitored by parents."
Joseph added, "Screen time is another
major hurdle which governments, schools, teachers and parents are worried
about. The pedagogy of online education is completely different as classroom
management skills vary in online teaching."
While private-board schools have shifted
to online teaching, some state-board schools aim to start regular classes in
green zone areas. A district education officer, said, "Online education is
not feasible in some rural areas and remote districts of Maharashtra due to
lack of internet accessibility, computers or smartphones and advanced
technology. We wil try and maintain physical distancing norms, use masks, hand
sanitisers and work in shifts."
Source : https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/schools-anxious-about-online-education
