Before outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, technology had intruded into the classrooms and e-learning was all set to replace the teachers. But all of a sudden, the scenario changed.
Now that the teachers are forced to take classes on-line, students have mellowed down a little when they see their teachers using the online interactive platforms with ease, sharing Google worksheets and sending effective videos. The image of a teacher, in the eyes of the students, as technologically outdated, is fast eroding, though in the beginning, the upcoming generation did try to cause discomfort for the teachers by developing technical glitches from the other end and enjoyed to see their teachers in discomfort, while the on-line classes were conducted.
Now the strategies of mischief and pranks played by the students have moved to the arena of technology more than the physical, unlike before. To make the students remain focused in the class, teachers are upgrading themselves in the use of technology. But we enjoy the discomfort which the students feel when they see their dominance in the field of technology being outwitted by us. They have understood that their mastery over technology is limited to the arena of computer games.
Having made more acceptable to the students and increasing their stature in the eyes of the students, surely not vanquishing their superiority in the field of technology, the teachers have to confront the parents also in the on-line classes. It is natural for humans to reflect the behaviour of those with whom they interact. So, having probably suffered, at the hands of their teachers, their wound raptures, the moment they see the teachers finding faults in the students’ answer books and deducting marks. There is surely a jealous desire in the parents that their child is the best and should not get less mark than any other student in the class. They forget that they have been looking after one or two children throughout life, but a teacher grooms 200 children daily.
Now, the parents have got a very good opportunity to be a part of the online classes. They observe the class under an electron microscope; may it be the pronunciation of the teacher, the spellings they might be typing on the MS Word page while sharing the screen of his laptop with his students or the content. And on finding one mistake made by the teacher (who, if people have forgotten…are also human beings), will pounce upon them like an eagle or make the video viral. A few even go to the extent of rewinding the recordings if they fail to notice any error in the first attempt.
But everybody is made to believe that the students are doing it. The parents have no hand in it. So, a gala time for those who wanted to avenge the teachers because they had cut their child’s marks or was strict in maintaining attendance, but couldn’t find a way. On the other hand, it is also an opportunity to understand and appreciate the efforts made by the teachers; their sincerity and dedication to their profession, individually and collectively.
What I fail to understand is that when all the stakeholders are in the classroom, then what is the need of inspection of the classes? Isn’t that the inspectors are wasting their time? It is better to take a feedback from the parents. It will be very effective. Before scrutinizing the teachers’ work, the inspectors must also remember that the teachers didn’t get time to even think over strategies to conduct classes or abreast themselves with technology or modalities to conduct online classes. So, inspecting how a soldier is performing in warfare, who hasn’t even been given training to carry his rifle, goes against the ethos of inspection and supervision.
Many a time, while explaining a topic online, I feel a strong urge to immediately call a child to the chalk board and ask him to explain what he understands. But unfortunately, I cannot do the same now. What could have been sorted out within a few minutes, takes a long time on-line. Videos do not always help. I know the student has not understood to my satisfaction. Here the human element comes in. Besides, many students don’t attend the class. At least they used to come to the school, may be, to be in the company of their friends.
We have to learn how to endear ourselves to our students through online mode. Every student’s grey matters don’t tickle on their own. First, they have to be won with love and emotion. Once we tell them to go to a junior class and maintain discipline there, from next day we can see a remarkable change in his personality and awe for the teacher who gave him importance. His percentage is bound to improve in the subject that is taught by the teacher.
Just before the outbreak of the pandemic, we had started nursing the notion that India can be counted among the developed nations. The insufficient infrastructure, to conduct online classes, has badly shattered this notion. The slow and punctuated internet speed, the un-affordability of a mobile handset which can support data transmitted in four classes per day and the technological illiteracy among many of the parents, especially of junior class students, is a great impediment in effective teaching-learning through online mode. But, inspite of all hurdles and leg-pulling, we teachers, cannot desert our academic sons and daughters in this dire time. Oh! How I long to meet them.
(The writer is PGT, Kendriya Vidyalaya No.1 Bhubaneswar)