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2020 was the year that changed the lifestyle of people significantly. This may be the biggest turnover in the 21st century. Lockdown and isolation were the only effective options for fighting the covid pandemic. To continue learning in schools, colleges, and coaching institutions online modes of teaching were used, which are still going. This transition in traditional learning methods impacted over a billion students in the world. In India, almost every student had to adapt to the e-learning mode.
Online learning has its own pros and cons in different aspects. While rural students who can’t afford technology in many areas of the country faced hard times, many students found online studies more beneficial. Online studies gave them free time to inculcate their hobbies. Many online teaching platforms grew rapidly in this covid phase. Zoom meetings/ Google meetings are generally being used for teaching online classes. Google classroom was used to provide assignment work to students.Covid-19 pandemic led to isolation & lockdown which resulted in complete interruption of schools and colleges.
To continue learning in schools, colleges, and coaching institutions online modes of teaching were used, which are still going. This transition in traditional learning methods impacted over a billion students in the world. In India, almost every student had to adapt to the e-learning mode.
Online learning has its own pros and cons in different aspects. While rural students who can’t afford technology in many areas of the country faced hard times, many students found online studies more beneficial. Online studies gave them free time to inculcate their hobbies. Many online teaching platforms grew rapidly in this covid phase. Colleges in India used different ways to continue education for building careers for students. Different ways are being invented to conduct various institutional activities in an alternate way. These are some examples of how Online education is being used in colleges.
Taking classes by video conferencing
In India, generally, Zoom meetings or Google Meet are being used for teaching online by educational institutions. Zoom is a cloud-based video conferencing application while Google Meet is a real-time video service application. These applications provided video calling to a large audience.
These applications were very easy to use. Also, these were free to use basic versions and their premium versions were also very affordable. However, lack of comment control sometimes creates havoc for teachers as they cannot tackle spamming. Many students post bad comments, spamming messages anonymously during lectures or online classes. Some of the meetings were hacked by non-ethical hackers creating uncomfortable hesitations for both teachers and students.
Professors are providing teaching materials in document formats
During this time, professors and teachers provide notes, Ebooks online in the format of PDFs or Documents. Teachers share their handwritten or typed or copied notes to the students to help them study. Ebooks are a better option than hard pages because they are generally free and don’t have headaches like they don’t gather physical space to keep. This app helps create a virtual classroom in which he/ she can add students using their Gmail Ids, in which the professor can upload notes and other materials to be accessed by students.
Online collection of assignments
Platforms like Google classroom helped students and teachers to share documents of assignments, study materials, notes, etc. This application places all the material in a single place. This app by Google was a gift for college professors. Sharing assignment documents on websites/WhatsApp/telegram is another way for submitting assignments to colleges.
Online examination being conducted
Most of the institutions are conducting online examinations through different mediums. Pdf submission, online examination websites are used instead of pen-paper examination. Online examinations saved students from the risk of covid during offline exams. Conducting this form of examination has both pros and cons. Such exams are a victim of online cheating and dishonesty, as it is very easy to gain undeserved scores. Students can access unfair mediums while giving exams as the institution remains unaware of it.
Taking Viva through Video Conferencing
Internal practical examinations or viva are being organized through video conferencing applications like Zoom meetings, Google Meet, etc. Students and teachers have question-answer sessions not physically but visually. These students helped teachers to take quizzes, vivas, and QandA sessions. Using such not only reduced the risk of infection but also saved a lot of traveling time during examinations. But cheating in such vivas is not very difficult.
Taking Online doubt sessions
Special meetings for solving students’ doubts and queries are also being done via online video conferencing. Students ask doubts to teachers verbally or via chats through these apps. Students have to put their mic ON to ask questions to professors. This method really helped students who generally hesitate to ask queries to professors in classrooms due to shame. Another way is using WhatsApp or google forms to put their queries in front of teachers.
Organising various online co-curricular activities
Institutes organize various cultural or non-cultural activities and competitions on Zoom or Google meet. Many famous competitions and events have been organized online via modern means in the past two years. Many college events premiered live on Instagram, Facebook, Discord, etc., during this time.
However, hosts and event managing teams face a lot of problems during organizing online events like unstable internet, non-institutional persons attending meetings, hacking of meetings, etc.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
How are colleges organizing various cultural events?
Colleges are conducting various cultural and technical events online through video conferencing via Zoom or Google meetings.
What are the difficulties faced by professors and teachers while conducting online classes?
Students irregularity in online classes is the biggest problem faced by any teacher during online classes. Most of the professors and teachers face network issues or instability in internet connection while conducting classes.
How did classroom apps help teachers and students to continue learning?
Various classroom apps like Google classroom helped teachers to create virtual classrooms in which they can share & collect notes, assignments, etc. These applications also enable students and professors to put all the study-related materials in one place.
