These are first-hand student accounts on how our young population is managing to keep their exam prep or college course work going from the confines of their homes. In case you want to share your lockdown study experience, write to us at publish@shiksha.com.

Being tutored when in quarantine: The lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic has created opportunities for the students to learn skills in various fields. However, keeping up with the curricular studies in this national lockdown has become quite challenging for both the students and teachers. Millions are signing up for online-based learning programmes. As schools and colleges are closed due to the quarantine, conducting online classes is a great step taken by most of the institutions.

Differences between classes in online and offline: Transitioning to online studies has been stressful for many students and teachers alike. Attending bricks and mortar classes is far more different from attending online classes. Both are pleasant in certain ways besides having cons more or less.

In my opinion, the online classes are relatively convenient than the offline classes. We should appreciate the hard work that the professors are putting into this. Some websites like Zoom, Moodle, etc. has made this process easier. We could schedule the class according to our terms and time. Nonetheless, the traditional classes are much more lively and motivating while on the other hand to attend online classes, one needs to be self-motivated.

Traditional class or online class? Every mode of learning has its pros and cons. At some point in our life, we dream of having a campus life and make memories. But during this pandemic, it is hard to fulfil those dreams.

It is convenient to complete courses through online classes for the time being. I appreciate this customised way of flexible learning but traditional classes are my preference. Traditional campus learning may obligate us in fulfilling some requirements but online classes restrict us in some way or the other.

Making the most of the time: In normal circumstances, my daily schedule includes organising/ handling university work, teaching, socialising and attending community events. However, during this time of social distancing, I am struggling with at least some degree of boredom. Attending online classes arranged by my unit professors has eased this boredom a bit though. I am trying to make the most of this situation by reading books, learning a new language and baking some cakes in my extra leisure time.

Listening to classical music soothes my brain. Some are binge-watching Netflix. It’s okay if you do not achieve something during this time, the most important is to stay safe and as stress-free as possible.

Preparing for the upcoming exams: We are safe at home right now, but, it is hard to stay focused all the time. At the same time, we need to make sure that we do not fall behind. I prefer changing my study location almost every day. It helps me to stay focused. Also, I try to follow a routine with some exceptions. In this stressful situation, we need to take care of health - physically as well as mentally. Sometimes sticking to a routine could lead to boredom.

Therefore, I try to keep up with it as much as I could. Setting a weekly goal works for me well. I avoid any possible distractions while studying. This helps me to make the most of time in hand. I try not to be too hard on myself. In my opinion, staying active is more important.

Involvement of parents: As this national lockdown has pushed all the educational institutions to make sure, the academic year remains unaffected due to this pandemic by conducting frequent online classes. Being consistent with the process as a student is not as easy as it seems. For me, it is a little difficult to put full attention with all the distractions and uncertainties. In this situation, my parents have been worried about my study in the beginning but now they seem to be more understanding of my overall condition. They do not let me be so hard on myself and try to motivate me for staying focused while attending my classes.

They even help me in relating the discussed topic with my daily life. I am so grateful to my parents for being so cooperative in this situation. We share a lot and have a quality conversation over any serious issue. This corona pandemic has also helped my parents in broadening their minds and getting involved with their children's study life more. Students from different universities are looking forward to completing our designated courses in time. Novel Coronavirus has slowed down the normal cycle of our lives. We need to be patient and believe that this shall pass too.

About the Author:

Anushka Mohanta is pursuing B.Tech in Computer Science from NIT Silchar. A foreign student from Bangladesh, she is an effective and articulate communicator who is also consistent and enthusiastic about writing.