Can Online Classes Replace Physical Teaching?
Online coaching has helped continue studies during Pandemic
Due to Covid 19 pandemic, Online classes has come to the
rescue for millions of students across the globe. Few months before, Online
classes was a distant dream. It was unthinkable. However, in last few months, everyone
in the education industry – be it schools and colleges, teachers, private tutors,
students or even parents, have adapted to online coaching. During pandemic,
since students are not able to attend physical classes, online coaching has become
new norm. However, when situation comes to normalcy, would you still like to
continue with online coaching? Would you like Schools and Colleges to conduct physical
classes? Is online coaching better than physical teaching? There are many such
questions arising in your mind.
When situation comes to normalcy, would you still like to continue with Online Coaching?
There is no doubt that online coaching is best option during pandemic
situation. It has helped students continue to learn in these challenging times. However,
is it really effective? or is it a mere temporary solution to current problems?
You may also like to read : "Should Schools and Colleges be Open Now?"
What Experts have to say
We found a very interesting article published by ABC7 News - “Online classes don’t offer same benefits asin person learning” written by Lyanne Melendez. It says “Having too many
students at once on Google Meet or Zooming is robbing children of the
opportunity to engage or get the proper feedback from teachers.” That's what
Karen Aronian, an education expert, found when analyzing remote classes at some
public schools in US.
On the other hand, CTech who is technology news site, published an article “There are many benefits to remote learning”. Professor Ina Blau argues that the Covid-19 lockdown has forced the education system to adopt advanced teaching methods and that there is no turning back. “When dealing with the fifth-grade and higher, I identify significant advantages to remote studies,” Professor Ina Blau, who heads the post graduate education program at Israel’s Open University as well as the institute’s educational technology research center.
Some are in favor of online coaching while some see merit in continuing physical classes once pandemic is over.
What Parents and Teachers Say
So we asked this question to the people who are participating in this journey – parents and teachers. We asked them that “Can Online coaching replace physical teaching?”
89.6% of the participants said that they would like to get back to physical
schooling post pandemic. We got interesting perspectives from parents and
teachers. We are highlighting few comments here.
Alka Rawat says “Nope”. Online coaching cannot replace
physical teaching. “Online is great addition to teaching pedagogy. It has
immense potential, but face to face teaching is the soul of teaching.”
Nanda Jinesh bring up interesting aspect and says
“I think it depends on what your take is on Education? Are you strictly talking
about formal education based on a syllabus and regular tests? or Are you talking
about learning? In my perspective, learning can happen anywhere at any time. We
learn through content we read, watch online, through people we meet and through
our experiences throughout life. There is a huge home schooling / un-schooling
movement worldwide which uses several channels to teach the child but focuses
on practical hands on learning. I think provided the child has sufficient
interaction and sustained support from their family to learn then the medium of
instruction does not matter.
Papia Bose adds that “My belief is - yes”. Online coaching can replace physical teaching. “It is happening. May be this was just the beginning. We are all evolving and teacher/student are bonding in a diff way. The teachers are doing their best to teach, in every possible manner, and students are doing their best to learn. “We are all evolving and KUDOS to this. I feel if the intent is right, there is no issue.”
Shanthi Subramaniam believes otherwise. She says that “Where is the guru - Student bonding on virtual classroom? Where is the social development among the children? The only solution is where is the vaccine? Let's hope and pray for it soon”
Anita Punj shares the feeling of Shanthi. She says “Where
are physical emotions?”
Ashwini Menon adds “School is not just about studies. Man is
a social animal. At home, kids are restricted to mingle with family members.
especially when nowadays it's mostly nuclear family and that too with both
parents working. “Kids just get adapted to the virtual world and forget the
real world. When they are big and situation comes where they have to mingle
with other people, they will really struggle. They will never know to interact
properly. Also it affects their values and behaviour to other people. They will
not be able to identify good or bad friends. But at school, they learn from
childhood to know other kids behaviour and choose their best friends. They have
more exposure.”
Nidhi Wankhede pens down very nicely and says that “I don't
think online teaching is as effective as classroom teaching in the school. Interaction
which takes place between students and teacher inside the classroom is very
different from interaction which takes place during online teaching. Students
can ask as many doubts as they can in the classroom rather than asking in
online class. A teacher can judge each and every child, his activities, his
behaviour, his habits etc while having a class in the school. But it's difficult
to judge all this, while having online teaching.”
Seema Chawla says “The feel and sense of Teacher - Student bonding
is missing (in online coaching). But as far as this pandemic time is concerned,
we can say online teaching has done a remarkable job. Continuity of the studies
is maintained and students are also coping up with the studies. So it's good.”
She salutes to the hard work of the teachers and cooperation by the parents.
Hema Nagar Rao adds to what others say “Online teaching can
be always useful in only selective areas, but not where you physically need to
be present to know the practical aspects, specially for our children, who also
need to grow in a social environment, to enhance their overall growth. I wish
the pandemic gets over soon and schools /colleges /institutions open and things
get back to normalcy. Till then, since no option, hence make the best out of
online stuff!!!”
Some of the teachers also echoed this sentiment. Tanu Shaikh
mentions that “I am a teacher myself. A big no (to online coaching). It can
never replace physical classes.”
Babita Shetty also shares her thought “I am a teacher for 15
years now. I really think most of the children are unable to grasp each and
everything taught, it has become more conceptualization rather than
practicality. Somewhere something or rather many things are missing. No doubt
kids are turning tech-savvy, but still nothing is better than physical
learning.”
Kalpana Mani Acharya bring up interesting perspective. She
says “This is like asking can swiggy replace home cooked food? We outsourced
our cooking to online ordering. We outsourced our caring to daycare. We, after getting degrees, did not use our
knowledge to teach our children, but sent them for tuition. If our children,
at the tender age, accepted all this, online teaching is also a good
replacement.
Rushali Desai More says “Online teaching is not by choice, it’s
our only attempt to keep them constructively involved & let this time pass
soon. Neither can online food replace healthy home food nor can online class to
physical classrooms.”
Jagruti Navlani Komal Santwani says “Earlier it was no (to
online classes), but as we are getting used to it, I will say yes. But for
higher classes from 9th onwards, its absolutely difficult (for online
coaching).” However, Sejal Divecha, a teacher, says that “I am taking online
classes for class 9th and 10th. I am getting the same output as the
physical class. It depends how the teacher manages (online classes)”.
Sweta Shrivastava mentions that “During this pandemic,
something is better than nothing. This (physical classes) cannot be replaced
but yes much better option (online coaching), keeping safety in mind.”
Ritu Agarwal brings a different perspective. She says “Online
coaching is useful because children save lot of time of traveling, but it can't
be replaced schooling. Schooling is must for kids.”
Rani Issrani, whose grand son is in school, says “My grand
son is not good at on line coaching. He keeps on crying that he wants to go to
school. My son's family stays in Dubai. Now schools are reopened there. He goes
to school daily and says he studies much better there. He says school is much
fun as teacher's are focusing more on children, as there are less children. Good
care is taken (by teachers). They are very strict and have to follow the rules.
He (grand son) is very happy now. At home, they are full time on TV or Mobile,
no outdoor games and parents don't have enough time to play more indoor games
with their children.”
On the other hand, Jayata Chanchlani Rai shares her view and says “Online teaching or a virtual class has overcome the benefits of classroom teaching. Technology demands to be very swift in doing any session virtually, rather than physical. Its a need of an hour.”
Swati Sanjay Shrivastava says “Everything new is always
challenging. If kids are disciplined, then yes. We can replace some of the
physical teaching which will save other expenses too”
Summary
In summary, we appreciate the sentiments shared by parents
and teachers. Everyone agrees that during this special situation, online
coaching has helped students and teachers to continue studies. However, many of
them feel that physical classrooms are more important. Once pandemic is over,
they would like Schools and Collages to conduct physical classes. Physical classroom
helps in overall development of child. It also helps teacher to focus on
children and help in their overall development.
Some may agree with few comments and some may not agree. However,
we respect all the views from parents and teachers.
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Note: All above views and statements are independent views of parents and teachers. This should not be construed as our / author's views. We are not in favor or against any of the views. We do not endorse any of these views. We are putting efforts to bring different perspectives of parents and teachers. We are not making any recommendations in this blog. All parents and teachers should form their independent views and opinions about the situation and make decisions which is suitable to them. None of the above views should be construed as our / author's own views or recommendations. We / Author should not be held liable and responsible, in any manner whatsoever, for any of the views, which are independently coming from parents and teachers.
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