COVID-19 Impact: Shift from classroom learning to e-learning

Know how students feel about the transition from classroom learning to digital due to coronavirus outbreak across the country.

In the light of rising concerns about the COVID-19 spread, the schools and colleges across the country suspended their classes and cancelled the ongoing exams in March 2020. With coronavirus cases rising at an alarming rate, resuming of classes could be risky and prove to be fatal at the same time. Keeping this in mind, the Government of India directed schools and universities to conduct classes online. The aim of this move was to safeguard the academic year of students and make learning a continuous process. Let’s get to know more about e-learning and what students have to say about it.

What is online learning?

Online learning, also known as ‘e-learning’, is an education that takes place over the internet. Students need to plug into their laptop, desktop, smartphone, etc. This learning can take various forms. Students can go through the study material made available online by schools/colleges and answer the assignments, or the teacher/professor can conduct classes online through online conferencing websites/apps. Those who are employed with organisations or running their own business can also choose to pursue a programme online and upskill themselves.

At this time of crisis, the biggest challenge faced by educational institutes was to continue studies online by creating a virtual setting where all the students in a class can attend a lecture hosted by a teacher at the same time. Speaking on this, Satvik Aggarwal, a 20-year-old BTech 2nd Year ECE student at The NorthCap University, Gurugram said, “Our University came out with a quick solution to hold the online classes on ‘Microsoft Teams’ and demo classes were scheduled as soon as possible to get students familiar with the interface. Things were up and running within 2 days.” Describing the online classroom experience, he said, “The live interactive online classes started right from day one without any hiccups. Everything was at par with face to face classes. The timely presence made each session interactive and students could still slip in shenanigans keeping the class live and interesting. All hardware-based labs are taught by a video demonstration of the equipment and the software-based labs don’t feel any different as the content is screen shared with all the students.”

In order to explain any concept online, the Whiteboard feature in the app is used that enables teachers to write on the screen using trackpad and stylus. The classes conducted are also recorded on a daily basis which can be accessed later on by students to prepare for the examinations.

Another student, Aparna Sharma, a 22-year-old BTech ECE student from the same University stated that the login credentials were mailed to all students well in advance, and a reminder was also sent to join the class at the appropriate time. Sharing her experience of online learning, she said, “I believe that the reaction to the online classes held is very positive. It’s a welcoming gesture on the part of all the students to accept the process. Not only are the lectures held efficiently, but the efficacy of the lab classes is also very high. This is very much evident from the attendance of the lot, which turns out to be cent percent every time.”

At the school level, teachers have started sending online assignments to parents via mail and SMSs which students are expected to do in their notebooks. These will be marked as internal assessments. Virtual classes are held through Zoom where all students in a class attend to understand the ongoing chapter and get their queries solved by the teacher.

Since going online with education learning is also the need of the hour, let us go through the benefits it has to offer.

Advantages of online learning

• Digital learning saves time and money
• Online learning can be accessed from the comfort of home
• Lectures can be taken any number of times
• Offers access to updated content
• Quick delivery of lessons
• Less impact on the environment

Although online education has a lot of benefits to offer, it just cannot replace the collaborative and social online education learning skills provided by the classroom learning. Classroom teaching inculcates conflict resolution skills, presentation skills when it comes to presenting the ideas confidently in front of peers, develops team spirit and teaches to get along with those from different cultural backgrounds. Such experiences are valuable in shaping students' communication and listening skills, as well as growing and maturing emotionally.

Read More:

• Online Education in India: Trends & Future Prospects
• Stay updated on postponement  of JEE Main 2020
• IIIT-Delhi introduces entrepreneurship minor for BTech students
• COVID-19 Lockdown: Odisha Govt launches online cultural competition for kids