The value-addition factor of higher education, especially, has been depending on’re-imagining’ and ’re-learning’ in the world that is overturned by technology.
For more than a decade now, several deliberations, reports, surveys, research studies, and white papers have established the importance and benefits of online learning. Mobile learning has established the advantage of ubiquitous learning signifying the benefit of teaching-learning as ‘anytime, anywhere, and anyway’. The value-addition factor of higher education, especially, has been depending on “re-imagining” and “re-learning” in the world that is overturned by technology.
However, what has been a matter of better-choice, and easier-accessibility so far has suddenly become a necessity for survival. The Pandemic has amplified the need and importance of online teaching-learning in leaps and bounds as this has become the mode of survival and existence for educational institutions of all levels worldwide. Hence, the 2019 Corona Virus Pandemic has instigated compelling global experimentation in remote teaching-learning. Educational Institutions started renovating and re-inventing measures to be ahead in the league by hurrying into emergency-online teaching in order to maintain continuity. Those who rose to the requirement faster and immediately could satisfy the students and other stakeholders better.
It is important to note that the tactical and strategic shift from physical to virtual has not been about teaching the same content in the same manner via ZOOM or any other web portals. The strategic design change that was immediately taken up to completely shift to remote/online teaching are discussed below.
Classroom Environment
First necessary intervention was infrastructural transformation. There was a transition of the usual classroom to a more robust digital infrastructure. A studio was set up with a soundproof room, a smart board, a sound-system, and double computer screens, one for the faculty member to see the PPT Slides in front of them, and another to see the students appearing on the web-portal. The Upgrade was done to provide a good online environment.
Re-imagining the Course
Thorough planning was done to rearrange the course content to fit into the online mode. The session duration was reduced and the number of sessions was increased keeping in mind that it may be difficult for students to look at the computer screens for a longer duration.
The students always need to have a “classroom” feel and besides the Zoom portal, the addition of a learning management system or a collection of PPT Slides, notes, reading materials, assignments, etc. for the students to use whenever they wish to and thereby giving them a feeling of a virtual classroom.
The ‘Live’ Journey
It has been important to get adjusted to the new mental map of a new virtual classroom experience. Another payback of online teaching is the opportunity to have students engage even when class isn’t “in session” via Emails, Whatsapp group etc. will facilitate an engaging them in the learning experience.
Grounded to the Institutional Vision
In preparing for an unprecedented year, remaining grounded in the institute’s fundamental values and vision of educating entrepreneurial leaders for society has been important. It has constantly reminded the faculty members to bring innovation to the pedagogy to remain relevant and effective. Integrity and ethics on behalf of the institute to ensure learning isn’t lacking in the online environment has made the future appear certain and steady.
The New-normal Future Trend
In the end, it can be said that what started as a short-term response to a crisis could well become an enduring digital transformation of higher education. Even though the crisis-emergency due to the pandemic is diminishing, it is foreseeable that remote teaching is going to stay especially in higher education. And therefore, a serious design-change, a sincere repositioning in teaching-learning is essential for sustainability, and success.
However, it is advisable for Indian Universities and Educational Institutions to build stronger and foolproof digital capabilities and a technological, ready-to-change mindset that will have the resilience to effortlessly swivel through any crisis, whether that’s a prolonged Covid-19 eruption or any other challenges in the future.
