Online learning forfeits the very purpose of education

Can online lectures compensate for classroom teaching?

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It can help to some extent

I would say something is better than nothing. At least, students are engaged in school activities. Online teaching cannot compensate completely but it can help to some extent and depends on the subject and the class of students. Its implementation is possible mostly in private schools and a few government schools which have proper infrastructure. But in rural areas, it is not possible due to poor knowledge of guardians and lack of access to internet and smartphones due to poverty. So, the government should take some drastic steps. It should ensure good internet speed in rural areas. It should distribute smartphones as promised by CM Capt Amarinder Singh in the run-up to the election. Teachers should be encouraged to use different methods for students of different age groups.

Rohit Kumar Sehdev

Classroom helps pupils imbibe virtues

Online teaching cannot compensate for classroom education in the near future. Education is not merely an act of learning of facts and figures, memorising theorems or solving sums. It is much more than that. In fact, education is the modification of the personality. Classroom helps a student to imbibe the virtue of camaraderie, friendship, competition, discipline and etiquettes whereas online teaching aids in rolling out only human encyclopedias. No doubt, online teaching can make a pupil learn the subject but without the presence of a teacher, even the most advanced equipment would not be able to carve a resilient and tenacious human being out of a student. A teacher gives wings to our imagination, gives a pat on our shoulders during testing times, bolsters creative thinking and leads by example. Moreover, a teacher also keeps a vigil on the behaviour, attitude and aptitude of the student that in turn leads to all-round development of the personality of a student. So, online teaching cannot replace classroom learning, anytime soon. Lon Watters, an eminent teacher, has famously said, “School is a building which has four walls with tomorrow inside.”

Rajiv Sharma

Online teaching has its pros & cons

Just as the coin has two sides, so online teaching also has its pros and cons. If we talk about its benefits, such classes keep teachers engaged forever (specifically) in their curriculum – from preparing notes to PowerPoint presentation, regular follow-up with students and parents, along with the daily reporting to the management. However, students are not getting the required benefits from it. Our students, mostly at the primary and secondary levels, are more accustomed to classroom-based teaching. The online lecture access in schools is just restricted to multimedia classes. The actual interaction with the teachers during the classroom helps in instant clearing of doubts. The sudden shifting to the online classes during the lockdown, where teacher either has to assign the task or provide notes, appears little off the line. Taking into consideration the brighter side of the lockdown, it may prove to be a major academic shift, where not just the physical presence of the teacher but even their virtual presence vide video lectures can prove a boon for the students in their academic preparation.

Gulshakh Kaur

Students may indulge in internet surfing

Everything has advantages and disadvantages. So is the case with online education. It is an effective measure taken up by schools to cope with the lengthy syllabus so that the studies of students do not suffer. In these testing times, online interaction is necessary for both teachers as well as students as teachers get to know the level to which students understand a lecture or a chapter. Moreover, students pay heed as they know they are being supervised by teachers. Online teaching is fruitful only if students grasp most of what they are taught. It also has demerits. Students can misuse it by indulging in internet surfing. Classes are often hacked by strangers. Moreover, many children do not have a good network facility and they have to leave online class midway. Students often have to share the device with their siblings, leading to their missing online class.

Dishti Kakkar

There is no need to panic

In 1947, our schools had been closed for three to four months and refugees coming from Pakistan were provided a make-shift accommodation. When they were opened, we saw two or three families sharing each classroom and cooking their meals on improvised hearths made with three bricks. With the help of students, each room was spruced up to resume regular studies which looked slightly easier on account of motivation. I am glad to recall that the courses were covered without many hassles. Perhaps, evaluation was also sympathetic because in my section (VI-B), no one failed. The present situation is not as bad as was then. Learners, sitting idle for the past two months, are eager to receive lessons.

Prof Mohan Singh

Virtual classroom concept need of hour

In these times of digital revolution, the virtual classroom concept is the need of the hour. Online coaching for various entrance exams has been in practice over the years. Many IT companies, banks, insurances firms, etc, have allowed their staff to work from home. The online teaching concept is likely to replace the classroom system in times to come with pupil pursuing multiple courses which are not feasible in the current times. With heatwave conditions prevailing these days, online teaching is the only alternative to complete the syllabus.

Anil Vinayak

Poor students can’t adopt this concept

There is no alternative to classroom studies. Owing to the lockdown, most schools have adopted this concept, but poor sections of society would not be able to avail of this facility. As far as online studies is concerned, this is going to create a wide gap between rich and poor students’ level of learning. Poor students will lag behind rich students. Online study is not possible for students of poor families, which are unable to feed their children, what to talk about internet connection. It would have been better if the government had declared summer vacation before time and made Saturdays full working days and cut other holidays in time to come to compensate the time lost during the lockdown.

Naresh Johar

Screen time can affect their vision

In this hour of crisis, online teaching can”t compensate for classroom teaching. My child, who already has poor eyesight, is experiencing too much stress on the eyes, besides getting a headache due to the constant gazing at the mobile phone screen. Many children can also face such problems as teachers are sharing lots of presentations through YouTube and the Internet. It can adversely affect children’s health. The MHRD should take an appropriate decision on this crucial matter. The authorities concerned should either stop online classes till Class V or reduce the syllabus for Classes I to XII if schools are not opened in the months to come due to the pandemic.

Anup Maini

Online classes are a health hazard

Online classes are a health hazard for children as constant gazing at the small screen can impair their vision. Moreover, without adequate planning and preparation by schools, parents and students are given more stress without any positive outcomes. This is also leading to the same rote learning-based education where the child listens and the teacher speaks. Instead of focusing only on one-way communication online teaching time can be utilised to facilitate children to reflect, develop life skills and make presentations on activities completed on their own.

Varun Khanna

e-learning entails health problems

As schools are shut, students are facing a lot of problems in continuing their studies. Apps such as Brainly, Diksha, Teachoo etc provide facility to conduct online lectures. But there is a risk of students facing health problems from prolonged exposure to mobile or computer screens. Those concerned about their health are avoiding online education.

Izleen

Apps cannot create class-like environment

Online classes on Google Meet, Zoom, Microsoft Team, Blue Button and other such applications can never replace classroom teaching. It can provide only temporary solution to the existing problems facing the education sector. Classroom challenges shape teachers and teaching as a profession. Online platforms can never create a perfect environment that a classroom offers. Classroom offers limitless possibilities to engage with students, their excitements and their boredoms. Online teaching and learning is not only short-sighted but also a reductionist one that destroys the organic space between a teacher and students. The online mode is a medium of interactions, and not a way to teach or learn. Any attempt to replace classrooms with online platforms will destroy the very idea of teaching pedagogy. Technology and virtual learning environment enhance abilities of a teacher and student but these cannot replace a teacher. Classroom teaching develops qualities such as determination, focus, peer interactions, intercultural communication skills, debating and public speaking and engagement skills in students. These are invaluable skills for students and teachers, more valuable in life than the curriculum-driven skills and certificates.

Pankaj Kumar Sharma

Switch to online learning a challenge

Amid the Covid crisis, online teaching has taken over the place of traditional classrooms. Most developed countries are unlikely to see much change as a majority of courses in these countries were already being imparted online. But for India, it’s a quite new thing. During the lockdown, e-learning emerged as a saviour for students, as with the click of a button, they could get access to all information they needed. But learners and mentors are definitely missing the face-to-face interactive sessions that provided an opportunity to students to ask questions and get instant feedback from teachers. This is not feasible on online platforms. Also, switching to online learning is a challenge for both students and teachers. Technological glitches such as poor internet connectivity are making learning difficult, especially for students in rural areas. A study conducted by Buddy4Study (an educational platform) revealed that around 25 crore students (80 per cent of them were from economically weaker sections) have been affected by the Covid-induced lockdown. The online-only approach makes students devoid of hands-on experience given in lab classes. For teachers, creating content everyday is a laborious task. The pandemic has forced our educational institutions to reform its existing traditional approaches. Policymakers should work in collaboration with educational experts to build a flexible Indian education system, so a smooth switching from classrooms to online learning is made possible.

Anureet Kaur Bal

Conceptual topics can’t be taught on apps

Though attending classes on online platform is a safe way to continue studies, it is beneficial mostly beneficial for students of elementary classes as they have to learn and cram topics. Senior class students face difficulty in understanding topics of mathematics, physics or chemistry as they need to get to the concepts involved. As a result, students lose interest in academics. The authorities must allow schools to open for senior class students with half the staff and classes must be conducted in spacious rooms while adhering to the social distancing norm.

Gurpreet Singh

Online education has ensured continuity

With schools closed amid the nationwide lockdown, teachers are doing their best to ensure students don’t miss out on their education by conducting online classes with the help of technology. Though there are several challenges, online education is keeping everyone busy with worksheets, video lectures and assignments. However, most schools do not have sufficient infrastructure to upload lectures online. Teachers are trying hard to compensate for regular teaching but they do not have much technical expertise. Schools are using trial and error methods to send worksheets and videos, but unlike regular classes they do not have 100% attendance. Students who take online classes need to observe self-discipline. Most teachers find it difficult to cope with the challenges of online teaching. Lack of familiarity with the technology forces them to seek help from their children to set up app and deal with technical glitches. It is also unfair to expect the same level of concentration and involvement from both teachers and students as in classroom. Further, not many students have laptops, tablets and computers, especially those in rural areas. But it is uncontestable that online classes in times of crisis are better than suspending education.

Amarjit Kalsi

e-learning boon for introverted students

Online teaching has brought many challenges for both teachers and students. Imagine the situation of students from economically weaker sections of society who do not have laptops or smartphones to attend online lessons being uploaded by their teachers. For schoolteachers who are continuing studies with online classes, it might not be as easy as classroom teaching where face-to-face interaction is the key feature. Hence, now is the time for teachers to prove their mettle by accepting the challenges and being more creative in reaching out to students. Some of the suggestions can be allowing students to call teachers during fixed hours and providing notes to those who cannot access online classes. If e-learning is seen in positive light, it is proving fruitful for introverted students who hesitate to ask questions in classrooms. They must be experiencing increased autonomy to ask questions to their teachers now. Talking about the role of parents, they should offer complete support to their children and ensure they get the right environment to attend classes at home.

Rameshinder Singh Sandhu

Online education not the solution

The online education cannot replace classroom teaching. It is not at all useful as a majority of students are facing problems in accessing lectures due to poor network connectivity. Schools and teachers must come up with an alternative. Those appearing in 2021 board exams will be the worst sufferers. As students are the future of the country, education boards such as CBSE and ICSE must take decisions while keeping in mind the problems of students.

Anju Punj

QUESTION

Migrants have been getting a raw deal all over the country with several of them losing their lives while on the way to their native places. What more, according to you, the authorities must do to mitigate their woes?

Suggestions in not more than 200 words can be sent to amritsardesk@tribunemail.com by Thursday (May 28).