Online Education triggers a Debate in India
Most people see online classes as a mere add-on to classroom teaching
Although the Indian government has been gradually unlocking the lockdown, India’s schools and colleges remain shuttered.
Many states have beamed classes online. The template varies from live classes to pre-recorded teaching sessions.
People in India have not so far experienced online education on a massive scale.
Media reports say people are lukewarm to the concept of online classes. Some complain that the classes do not reach the students in rural areas who lack the technological infrastructure to tune into the online platforms.
Opponents of online education say it is a poor substitute for classroom teaching. According to them, a face-to-face interaction with a teacher in the classroom is the most effective way to improve the learning experiences of the students.
The naysayers complain that the classroom environment only is ideal for teacher-student communications whereas online classes appear as a monotonous monologue.
Supporters of online education say resistance to digital teaching platforms stems from people’s unfamiliarity with the technology. We can upgrade the infrastructure to make the classes more interactive. Historically, opposition to unknown technologies has given way to acceptance over time.
I consider classroom teaching to be the most effective way to impart education. The classroom provides real-time feedback loops between the teacher and the students. Any class is necessarily a mix of poor, average, and bright students. An efficient teacher tailors her teaching to suit the different learning abilities of the students. She can handhold weak students by repeating important points. She can sense the receptivity of the students from their facial expressions and body language.
It is difficult to replicate such feedback loops on online platforms.
In the classroom, students can immediately clarify their doubts from the teacher. The teacher can test how and what the students have learned by posing questions. She can conduct tests on the spot to judge the students’ knowledge.
The online teacher cannot know whether her instructions have reached the student’s radar of consciousness.
The school or college is not merely a centre of learning, they equip the students to become exemplary citizens. Interactions with peers foster the students’ personality development. Extracurricular activities help students to discover their hidden talents and expand their mental horizons.
Online classes have the advantage of offering flexible hours to learn. But such flexibility is more suitable for employed professionals looking to learn new skills rather than regular students attached to institutions.
In the troubled times, we are facing today, online classes may be a necessity, but to make a virtue of necessity far beyond its scope and relevance seems indefensible.
Online education in India can be a supplementary tool to strengthen mainstream education, it cannot replace classroom teaching.
Thanks for reading.
