The COVID-19 pandemic radically changed the way we approach learning and teaching. To maintain the social distancing norms, all educational institutions had to shift to online means of providing education. Students worldwide accessed school and classes through electronic screens in the comfort of their home environment. This was a massive change for both students and teachers as they had to accommodate and reinvent the way they studied or taught for so many years.
Some students fit in right into the online mode and preferred having the classes being recorded and available from their homes. However, some students struggled to find a routine in this arrangement, and adaptation was comparatively slower for them. Likewise, some teachers found it easier to share resources online, whereas some found it hard to work around new technology.
However, it is a fact that this online mode of learning or E-learning is here to stay. Regardless of whether the pandemic goes on or not, e-learning has been adopted as a modern way of learning.
Here are some tips that may help you navigate through this new development:
- Make Learning Interactive
The significant difference between classroom learning and e-learning is the level of interaction. Thus, the best approach would be to increase interaction. For students, it is advised to speak up and ask doubts. It cannot be compared to the offline environment wherein all the students can communicate with each other in person. However, it would be good if the students could discuss topics and other things together, like in an offline setting.
For teachers, it is a responsibility to ensure that the class is interactive. Introduce fun educational games that encourage doubts and cross-questioning. This way the class would be engrossed in what is being taught.
2. Focus on Self-Guided Learning
Students are used to being spoon-fed information and rote learning. This approach is highly harmful in the long run and much difficult to undergo in the online setting. Thus, students have to adopt a more active role in their own learning instead of simply accepting what is being taught. Students could create their own study material and notes and share them with their classmates to compare notes.
3. Explore the Platform’s Features
Different platforms like MS teams, et cetera, have become increasingly popular for e-learning. Each platform has several different features. These features keep on evolving for the ease of learning and accessibility of students and teachers. Features such as recording classes, screen sharing or making conference groups for selected participants can be used to improve the learning experience. Exploring these options and using them smartly would undoubtedly help you utilize the resources presented before you.
Read more on productivity tools for college students: Five productivity tools for college students
4. Monitor Progress
The major advantage of e-learning is the ease of tracking engagement and progress. Students can effectively track their test results and assignment submission deadlines. All deadlines and submissions can be tracked on a dashboard, and it is easier to track your progress.
Such useful features should be taken advantage of. Students can compare their previous results and work towards niche learning in whichever area they lack. Teachers can also make use of this and focus on specific teaching of students who might be falling behind their peers.
E-learning can actually be personalised significantly. Students can create groups to complete group projects effectively. Each student can have a personalised dashboard that would show their progress and awards for positive reinforcement.
Here’s an article we wrote earlier on Developing your feedback loop
Change is difficult to incorporate into our lives. However, we can make the best of our resources with a little effort!
Anushka Das, content writer
