KARACHI: Training consultants received collectively for a seminar on Zoom on Saturday to debate the ‘Digital classroom: the way forward’ from the attitude of early childhood schooling.
The occasion was organised by Winchester Publications Group.
“The parents, schools and students all need to cooperate with one another to make the digital classroom and online education work,” stated M. Jehanzeb Saeed, director, Creek View Academy and Winchester Publications Group, who was additionally moderating the dialogue.
“It is not a permanent but temporary crisis, which we are facing right now in the shape of the coronavirus pandemic,” he stated whereas additionally mentioning that in some locations akin to Balochistan colleges had been closed since December attributable to additional lengthy winter holidays and the scholars there had not been to high school for some seven months.
He additionally stated that whereas the older college students might simply regulate to on-line courses, it was early childhood schooling which will pose an issue for which they required academics’ coaching too. “We need to rise to the occasion instead of complaining or doing nothing,” he stated.
‘Teaching the pre-primary level students in a digital class can be a challenge’
“Teaching the pre-primary level students in a digital class can be a challenge but they can be taught through a blended way of teaching with recorded sessions included,” stated Syed Tariq Shah, managing director, Good Profession Group of Colleges.
“The lessons or lectures can be delivered on any medium to make them easier or simpler,” he stated, including that to cope with the present state of affairs, mother and father too wanted to put money into not simply tools but additionally giving time to the youngsters to assist them comply with their classes.
Kermin Parakh, principal, BVS Paris Excessive Faculty, defined how they used varied mediums akin to Zoom, Google Classroom, and so forth to assign and verify assignments. Additionally they carried out extracurricular actions akin to competitions, artwork, participating their science society and surroundings society, gardening, holding digital scrabble and chess meets.
“The teachers, subject coordinators, IT department were one team to help us achieve all. Maybe we didn’t do everything perfectly but we did our best, and we involved the parents too, who gave us positive feedback. As we progressed, we started getting the hang of it and our teachers stepped up,” she stated, including that on-line schooling was not going anyplace now so they could as effectively embrace it.
Arwa Khuzaima, an early childhood schooling skilled and affiliate coach with OUP, stated that their solely focus for now was educating the kid who should achieve from his or her on-line courses. “The learning environment has shifted from the school building to the home and so we also need to adapt to different teaching material and methods,” she stated whereas sharing a few of her strategies by a presentation.
Ali Syedein of Civilisation Faculty additionally confirmed by his presentation the assorted mediums akin to Google G Suite, WhatsApp and even arduous copy (paper) used to assist them keep it up with the schooling of their college students in these instances. He additionally steered that the colleges get edu.pk area for which they need to ask Google for entry. “Everyone has a smartphone and internet access so it is all possible,” he stated concerning the holding of normal on-line courses.
Naila Jamall, principal, The Studying Tree, stated that she at first didn’t realise how lengthy the colleges’ closure could be, nonetheless they switched to on-line schooling in March solely. “Then when the government announced early summer vacations, we utilised April to adopt and we have a proper plan now with study time and activity sessions, distribution of materials, etc, to insure connectivity and continuation of the course,” she stated.
“Of course, it will not be possible without the support of parents as the learning shifted from the brick and mortar class to the virtual class at home. They need to get their children the material and equipment. They also have a big hand in their social and emotional well-being,” she stated.
Akhtar Noorani, head and coordinator, early childhood schooling at Nasra Colleges, stated that they have been making an attempt their stage finest to name mother and father in small teams to coach them as effectively. “Because they shouldn’t allow their children to just sit at home without learning. They are also encouraged to sit with their child when an online class is going on. We also have the parents on a WhatsApp group,” she stated.
Rubina Naqvi, senior supervisor, membership community at Academics’ Useful resource Centre, stated that their focus was on the way to present a classroom surroundings at dwelling. “There is a lack of personal interaction with no eye-to-eye contact on the computer or phone screen, which is a challenge. We also need to teach in a way that converts information into knowledge, and … we also have to make this knowledge help shape their personality,” she stated.
She additionally stated that “little children have very short attention spans and they cannot be made to sit and study for more than 15 to 20 minutes.”
Ahmed Tariq Khan, managing director, L’ecole, additionally stated that since e-learning was right here to remain, the colleges wanted additionally to deal with up and coming digital applied sciences. “The schools that quickly switched to online classes during the closure and lockdown were able to do so because technology these days is also user-friendly,” he stated earlier than sharing how they might additionally assist college students study by utilizing video video games. “The right gamification approach can help students match high learning outcomes using various levels of cognition. Yes, there is a certain level of addiction involved in gaming but it is exciting and adaptive learning,” he stated.
Printed in Daybreak, June seventh, 2020
