“Challenges give birth to opportunities” – Anees Haidary
It is no surprise that the challenges of the past couple of years have given rise to a whole new world of opportunities in education. Teachers and Learners alike have risen to face these challenges and emerged victorious.
Overnight and almost seamlessly the entire education system moved online. Teachers and learners worked together as a team towards the common goal of learning.
Surely, change never comes easy and seldom without resistance and doubts. Looking back over the past twenty months, it would be safe to say that education has been revolutionized with the use of technology. Online education is here to stay and is contributing towards a fresh set of skills in the children.
Enhanced self-discipline. There are no school bells to remind them to get into class yet the children are logged in on time and ready to jump on to their learning expedition. The learners, across international schools in Mumbai, are getting independent and developing organizational and time management skills from a very early age. Learners are made aware of the pitfalls and dangers of the cyber space and consequently attain the maturity of safe online working, akin to that of physical safety.
Technologically equipped children. The current generation of children in International schools in Mumbai, have access to the best teaching learning tools and in a very short time, even the youngest children in primary schools are confidently accessing and submitting their assignments. Online feedback and automated archiving has helped the children take ownership of their learning process. Access to unlimited information through the internet has helped broaden their inquiries and quest for answers.
Time saving. Learning from the comfort of their homes has made things a lot more time efficient. We realize now, the chunk of time that traffic snarls and school bus rides would consume. Learners across International schools in Mumbai are left with a lot more productive time on hand to pursue other interests.
Future ready. We live in an uncertain world and this experience with online schooling has made the entire education system across International schools in Mumbai, robust and future ready. Learners and teachers of International schools are well equipped to tide over unforeseen circumstances with little damage to the learning process.
Learning without boundaries. Online schooling has opened up time and location boundaries that are set in a physical school. Teachers of all International schools in Mumbai have equipped themselves with newer and more efficient ways of delivering their lessons that provide children access to learning resources at a time and place of their convenience. Children need not miss out on important learning due to small health concerns or unavoidable travel plans.
Permanent dimension. We can say with certainty that a new dimension has been added to delivery of lessons and here to stay. The innumerable benefits of online schooling, several new and innovative tools used by teachers, effective and efficient methodologies of quick assessment and feedback are just some of the many positive developments educators in all International schools in Mumbai would carry back to their physical classrooms.
Connect between learners and teachers. Lastly, but most importantly, as an educator, I believe, it is difficult if not impossible to transfer knowledge without a connection. Personally, this was my biggest fear during the shift to online schooling. I stand reassured today, as I realize, adverse situations have only helped bring the learners closer their teachers. As friends, mentors, guides, coaches, facilitators and confidants the bond has only been deeper and richer.
Children across ages have been resilient and have adapted far more smoothly to the new environment than was anticipated by most of us adults. While everyone would agree, without exception, that nothing can replace the physical classroom, our encounter with online schooling has left an indelible mark. Physical school in all international schools across Mumbai would now have newer, efficient and more effective teaching methodologies formulated making the best of both worlds. Even this ride towards a welcome change would certainly not be free of bumps and hurdles.
“Any change, even a change for the better, is always accompanied with discomforts” - Arnold Bennett
The teaching community stands tall and strong, against all odds to make learning possible and enjoyable for every student.
Also read,
https://www.adityabirlaworldacademy.com/blog/tips-and-advice-for-parents-before-getting-their-children-enrolled-in-an-international-school
https://www.adityabirlaworldacademy.com/blog/how-much-do-best-international-schools-focus-on-extra-and-co-curricular-activities-what-are-the-activities-included