Strengthening Academic Education Through Sustainable Virtual Learning

• Published in: Business world (India)
• Main Authors: Arora, Gaurav, Menon, Sneha
• Format: Magazine Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Delhi Athena Information Solutions Pvt. Ltd 21.06.2021
• Subjects: Cellular telephones; Computer platforms; Connectivity; COVID-19; Distance learning; Education; Educational objectives; Pandemics; Parents & parenting; Schools; Smartphones; Students; Teenagers; India
• ISSN: 0970-8197

According to a survey conducted in April 2020 among school children across 23 Indian states, 43.9 per cent had access to smartphones, a further 43.9 per cent to basic phones and a sizeable 12 per cent could not access either. While developing the online curriculum we found that many subject matter experts were now homebound and available to conduct virtual workshops which was not possible in the physical model. * Parents are now more aware of the programmes and hence more involved * Better integration of resource-challenged students in the digital world - making them future-ready * Availability of more time-slots during the day for conducting sessions * Can solve the larger crisis of ‘out-of-school’ days spent by lakhs of students annually due to the monsoon season, natural disasters and cultural impediments (especially faced by girls). A hybrid sustainable model, which combines the good practices of virtual learning and a physical classroom, is expected to be adopted once the Covid situation is better and government protocol allows the re-opening of schools. [...]highlighting that virtual learning is here to stay as an integral part of educational learning and skill training delivery, and is the way forward for the foreseeable future.