Is it too difficult for educators, to work local and be a global phrase in this Pandemic?

Author: Dr. Sarita Dhawale

Online teaching can be of immense value in a specialized form of Studies. It can not be a substitute for school students and even college students. Classrooms strengthen the educator pupil relationship this is because while teaching the educator takes care of numerous aspects of the students and helps them to sort out many problems. An educator plays a pivotal role in molding the personality and character of a student in the classroom as well as outside the class.

This is difficult ( may not be impossible by practice) to achieve in a virtual platform. Furthermore, a physical class creates a social platform where the student learns many activities, gets the scope to share joys and sorrows, overcome weaknesses, and so on. The advantages notwithstanding, they can not be the substitutes of physical classes, they can at best play the complementary role if needed mutually.

In a classroom, the educator can feel the pulse of the student and can instantly adapt oneself on the basis of the needs of the students and act accordingly.

With the whole COVID-19 situation, a lot of educators are facing a very unique challenge.

 No, it's not the saree or hairstyle challenge, nor its the motherhood challenge.

The challenge demanded that they go through digital transformation overnight.

Educators said: Challenge accepted.

(They hid their tech-fears behind a simple smile because student’s learning is at stake)

The challenge demanded that they have to open their house for public viewing.

Educators said: Challenge accepted.

(They suppressed their inhibitions, behind a simple smile because student’s learning is at stake)

The challenge demanded that they have to make do with limited or no resources.

Educators said: Challenge accepted.

(They started working overtime to plan for teaching without any resources because student’s learning is at stake)

The challenge demanded that they may not be paid their desirable salaries.

Educators said: Challenge accepted.

(They started worrying deep in their heart about their own families. But, they were undeterred because student’s learning is at stake)

The challenge demanded that they may need to teach while 30-40 odd parents are watching over their shoulder judging them for their every little move including but not limited to their voice modulation, pronunciation, grammar, knowledge, love & warmth

Educators said: Challenge accepted.

(It didn’t matter because the student’s learning is at stake)

The advantages notwithstanding, they can not be the substitutes of physical classes, they can at best play the complementary role if needed mutually. In a classroom, the educator can feel the pulse of the student and can instantly adapt oneself on the basis of the needs of the students

It is clear that post-covid-19 entire education sector is facing new challenges. There will be many issues in fields of primary, secondary, and higher education that are directly related to lockdown and relaxations in lockdown. I think online teaching is not something that cannot be done away with. However, in the post-covid-19 scenario, we have to acknowledge that it has become a part of education. Once it is accepted that in the current situation online teaching is unavoidable, we have to get ready to tackle various issues in this regard. Obviously, these issues will be different for the urban students and rural students. Further, there will be sub-categories in both urban and rural students, depending upon the educational infrastructure available. In short, today’s scenario is throwing many challenges for experts in the field of education and information technology (IT), since IT is going to play a huge role in new education post-pandemic