Technology can’t replace teachers but technology in the hands of teachers can usher transformation!
Virtual teaching during Coronavirus is both a solution and a real emotional challenge for me as a teacher. When I started out, I had to get down to the nitty-gritty of virtual tools and online platforms. I was not just teaching, but also self-learning, attending webinars and exploring educational websites and digital tools for teaching, to make my teaching process an interactive
one for my students.
Creativity Needs Connection
My concern was to make an emotional connection with my students. Online teaching wasn’t my cup of tea but I managed. And suddenly, capabilities I didn’t know I possessed were revealed to deal with virtual tools. My teaching process is much smoother now and I have gained more confidence.
Teaching, as everyone says, is not that easy. I miss the physical presence of my students and that tugs at my heartstrings. But once I began meeting them virtually, I saw their enthusiasm and eagerness to learn.
I was amazed to see my students’ spirit. Being a teacher is incredibly challenging in this pandemic. I have to set goals and prepare the study material well in advance for my students. In school, they were restricted to a classroom and focussed on me, but in virtual set up they aren’t.
From taking online attendance, sending study material to assigning online tests, recording sessions and collecting feedback, I am now tech-savvy.
‘Teaching students is an accomplishment getting students excited about learning is an achievement’
Robert John Meehan
Necessity is the Mother of Invention…and Improvisation
My students are very young with small attention spans, so I have to repeat every line twice or thrice. I adopted the Popcorn method for reading, just to check whether students are attentive or not. I’ve Conducted oral tests and generated online activities to keep students engaged in the sessions. I try my best each day to make it work.
The prolonged online sessions have started leading to problems related to vision, body posture and sleep disorder. Due to the pandemic, I have realized the worth of implementing healthy food habits in my regular diet. Many parents forget that we teachers also have household chores to manage like others. My students shared their experiences about how, although they know how to operate gadgets, the learning process on digital platforms was something new and challenging for them. Students in one way or the other are developing the habit of self-learning.
Increased Parent Involvement
Parents are now taking more efforts to recognize and help their children overcome any obstacles that they may be facing. Parents who were earlier quick to judge are now showing compassion towards the teachers, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic! Students are continuing to kindle their fire for learning as teachers are persevering.
Lastly, I would like to say, we, the teachers, were actually the first responders who worked hard and accomplished so much during this pandemic. There is no denying that for now, this is an e-learning experience for all teachers – although I can’t wait for the day when I will meet my students again!”
-Authored by Kareena Bhambhani
Kareena Bhambhani teaches at Podar International School, ICSE, Kalyan. An experienced teacher with a demonstrated history of working in the education management industry, Kareena is skilled in E-Learning, Classroom Management, Lesson Planning, Educational Technology, and Teaching Writing.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal opinions of the author. The facts and opinions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Wonderpublish and Wonderpublish does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
