Uncommon teaching methods at schools ripening into normalcy

Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi

Hoshiarpur, October 23

The schools reopened recently after having remained shut for about seven months. The teachers are there to perform their duties and students to pick up learning; although in scarce numbers, however, the scenes witnessed before the pandemic, and now, are like chalk and cheese.

The conditions are completely different in the classrooms. Masked faces, equally concentrating on the task at hand and safety from contagion, teachers following suit and mingling formal teaching with the technology are the present times’ way to go about education. The same old blackboard is there but recorded videos, animated videos and graphics — once a distant thing — have become the normal supplements making the lessons more effective. It’s almost like a sneak peek into the future of education.

Raghuraj Verma, a social studies teacher at DAV Senior Secondary School, Hoshiarpur, for more than 20 years, throws light upon what was considered abnormal a few months back is now common. “There’s a massive turn in the outlook. Earlier, we used to ask students to not bring mobiles to the classrooms but now the studies are completely dependent upon it and we keep asking our students to keep their mobiles on, keep batteries duly charged etc. The videos, animations and graphics that were earlier considered as distractions, have now become the tools of discoursing. Teachers have upgraded themselves in terms of use of technology and these upgrades have become new normal not only for the students but also for us,” he says.

For higher education teachers and students it’s a new experience that has added many new things like e-content, e-books, integrating the teaching-learning process with help of technology and the level of teachers’ interaction with students. The online classes and teaching have made the e-resources an essential part of the teaching. It is being felt that sharing of resources, e-libraries and development of web content as essential part of the curriculum.

Krishan Gopal Sharma, English lecturer at the Government Senior Secondary School, Shergarh, says, “Students are continuing their studies online and for it we have upgraded ourselves.” He used to refrain from technology for use of computers, mobile apps and e-contents were a kind of mission impossible for him but now all his fears are allayed and he’s at it.

“I have learned to cope with it. All these things have emerged as a new normal and I may not have imbibed much to make the technology move according to me but have learned to move along with it. With a little number of students coming, the classes have become not just a tool of teaching but the sessions are now more interactive, problem-solving than ever.”