Online teaching – an alternative short of expectations

The pandemic situation has turned things upside down. Schools and colleges have been shut until further orders. Students are deprived of classroom teaching due to the ongoing Covid19 situation.

In such a scenario conducting online classes seems to be the only alternative for schools and colleges. But how students and their parents have reacted to this initiative is the thing to contemplate.

Parents and students around the country have given their assent to schools to organize online classes wholeheartedly. Since going to school is ruled out, teaching online is the current norm for all the schools and other educational institutions across the country.

It would be quite practical to unlock the true potential of online teaching during this pandemic. Unlike classroom teaching, the online mode of teaching is less intensive and exhaustive.

It requires a student to sit in front of computer screens for long hours with eyes glued to it persistently. Online mode of teaching is quite common nowadays but the vigor and intensity of classroom teaching are absent in online teaching.

In the absence of a visible alternative, there is reluctance on part of students to learn through online mode. Though there are certain pros and cons of online classes to be precise with.

There are certain pros for online classes

Firstly students can avoid venturing out and keep themselves confined to their computers the whole day.

Secondly, the chances of getting infected are minimal which wouldn’t be possible if schools were open.

Thirdly a parent can sit with their ward and clear all the doubts instantly.

Another benefit is that students can concentrate on other household duties during non-study hours.

The cons are equally bad as far as online teaching is concerned.

The first thing that goes against online classes is that the students don’t get the kind of exposure when they learn online as compared to classroom teaching

The second thing is a student can’t clear his doubts when online classes are going on.

Third thing is that the chances of getting infected are high.

The instances of internet problems increase manifold whenever it rains or when there is a bandwidth problem

So the above factors work either in favor or against the concept of online mode of teaching. It proves to be beneficial sometimes, but not always as it seems to be. The pandemic has favored students on one hand and on the other it has complicated things to a certain extent.

The current pandemic situation is going to remain with us for a specific period and with schools and colleges closed for a certain period of time, the authorities have no choice but to continue online classes until the virus abates completely.

The online mode of teaching is beneficial only in the current situation, and it has its own drawback which is quite visible. Practically the online mode of teaching is not comprehensive and intense since it lacks the competence of classroom teaching.

We have to make shrewd decisions and not let our wards suffer. Though online classes appear to be okay now, it has serious flaws and can’t be continued forever. So parents and teachers have to make a rational decision and come to a conclusion where both teachers and students can have a mutual understanding.