Rajesh Bhatia explores the challenges placed before parents and educators during the pandemic
From being a supplementary conduit of information and firmly monitored entertainment, digital devices have now become virtual classrooms for millions of children all over the world. How has this transition, during the pandemic, impacted early childcare and education is a question that cannot be answered immediately. Only time will reveal the ramifications of this change, as per experts, though some pros and cons are evident even now.
The pandemic has reminded us of the importance of freedom of movement, interaction with loved ones, colleagues and friends. It is during this difficult time that technology has come to our rescue. Especially for educators, technology is proving to be a boon.
In these unprecedented times, online learning programmes are helping preschoolers to develop new skills, cultivate a sense of being part of a community and also participate in some form of socialising with educators and peer groups. To compensate for the absence of brick-and-mortar playschools, fun interactive games and activities are used to reinforce concepts, apart from videos to broaden minds and perspectives.
These methods are not without challenges; the primary one is to somehow compensate for social interaction and collaborative learning. At home, children are easily distracted and can be resistant to staying put in one place during a regimented study time. Or they may act up if the parental pressure is getting to them. That is why it is important to make the learning process as stress-free and as enjoyable as possible.
It needs to be mentioned that technology was meant to augment children’s understanding of the real world and not replace it. While technology helps to plug learning gaps, at a time like this, it is important that parents structure screen time, engage kids in activities like reading, and actual games and expose them to nature wherever possible because excessive screen time can harm mental and physical health. Excessive exposure to the internet is not healthy either. We cannot ignore that a digital divide is an unfortunate reality. Automated learning modules depend on expensive devices which may not be affordable for all. Internet accessibility in rural and remote areas is another major issue. Education is a right and not a privilege. The potential of online education should be tapped to bridge the digital divide and benefit underserved children.
Irrespective of the medium, what is important is that a child’s development should not be hindered. The magical ingredients of discipline, structure, balance, social interactions, physical activity, and joy should be intrinsic to education, be it the chalk and talk method or e-learning.
(The author is the founder and CEO of TreeHouse, a borderless model of preschool education that can be accessed from anywhere in the world.)