I think this has greatly improved my relationship with my students. I am trying to be better at differentiating instructors. Breakout rooms have enabled me to continue boosting collaboration among my students. I have more opportunities to meet one on one with students who are struggling without the distractions that naturally occur in the classroom. 

This time has also made me much more empathetic and flexible.I want my students to complete their assignments but not at the cost of their emotional well-being. 

There was a standstill in education in India the moment the lock down was announced in March 2020  . Not many people were  really having the know- how of ONLINE EDUCATION. But yes, “Necessity is the need of invention” Hence started  the  new Platform for Emerging education through ONLINE MODE. Through online mode we could  even reach out to and provide Quality Education  in the remotest part of the country  .  2020 was a boom time for the constant learners like me . Though Technology & Multimedia were always a part of my classroom, I had never taught students virtually . It was a time to go ahead & embrace the new system in Education . I welcomed it wholeheartedly with my undying spirit. I got acquainted with  GOOGLE MEET , ZOOM & MS TEAMS where I taught my students remotely . I explored various sites for building up interactions in virtual classrooms which include NEARPOD , FLIPGRID etc. I used  different sites for  simulations like PHET, JAVA,TESLA LABS  to  conduct  Lab Practicals virtually . The simulations not only provided relevance of the context to my students,  but also added fun to the learning process .My students were able to co-relate the theory concepts acquired  with practical based skills .

Working with students using INTERACTIVE WORKSHEETS  was an equally enthralling experience , wherein the participation of the entire class could be witnessed simultaneously. There was  no doubt some initial glitches but everything started falling in place as time passed by. We have all become fine & comfortable  with the new normal & now is the era of Blended and  Cooperative learning together.The students are learning easily and that too faster. Teaching through ICT techniques , we can show illustrations, videos , GIF’s and what not . Besides  teaching remotely  through the  ICT techniques , we can  assess and evaluate our learners continuously by using varied tools like online QUIZIZZ , KAHOOT  and GOOGLE FORMS  etc .The students not only imbibe  the concepts better now but also are able to analyse their performance alongside .The things we used to think will waste out time for classroom teaching  , have turned out to be so beneficial in teaching ,as it aids the teaching learning process so very well.

My journey of this Digital era has thus been that of an accelerated learner , passionate  to adapt to the new mode of Teaching-learning process , bringing the fun element into the Online Classes.

Rightly mentioned by Einstein , “Education is not the learning of facts , but training of the mind to think”!

Learning never ends, this is my learning and experience.

Access to education looks different for everyone and the value of meaningful relations.

While the world was reeling under the weight of Covid -19 Pandemic , there  was a major drift in the functioning of schools as they became virtual. This  change wasn’t as easy as it appears to be but came with a whole set of new  pedagogical ideologies. As an educator ,the one thing that I learnt during these  testing times is to turn adversities into opportunities. One of the worst  adversities that hit humanity created a need to transfer the entire physical  teaching structure to virtual set ups.  

The corners in the rooms of our homes were transformed into workstations (  our little havens of virtual classrooms).Technology came to our rescue and we  adopted the trend called work from home as a new stage in the evolution of  schooling. Though Indian schools have already developed a character of ICT  based education, but with Pandemic lurking all corners, we , teachers learnt to  use technology at our disposal indispensably and those teachers who were  trapped in the web of their old inhibitions that they would never be able to use  technology adequately, also plunged into the vastness of tech- based  pedagogies. This has been a perspective changer as it taught me that one’s  true potential is never realized until an adversity or emergency creates the  need and we turn odds into evens to create possibilities.If schools could run on  Google Meet , 

With the use of technology arose the responsibility of maintaining the  consistency of human touch as technology alone wouldn’t compensate for the  schooling of the students against the unprecedented Covid situation.We  remain available to address all needs of our students , wirelessly.

A Teacher is the middle of any educating  learning process. In this advanced time, a  Teacher has got a number of responsibilities in  expansion to his/her earlier part to keep pace  with the changing advances and changing  teaching learning situations. A Teacher is  accountable to the society which believe  him/her for shaping its coming eras for superior  civilizations and to the country which believe  him/her for making its future more shinning and  dynamic.  

To bargain with this accountability, a Teacher ought to utilize ICT viably with its conventional  strategies of instructing to encourage critical  and imaginative considering in his/her classrooms and it is only at that point one can  dream of an information society and a better  digitized education world around us. 

Whereas individuals have diverse sees on the  part that computerized innovation can and  ought to play in schools, we cannot disregard  how advanced devices have so on a very basic  level changed the world exterior of school.  Everywhere, advanced innovations are  advertising firms unused commerce models and  openings to enter markets and change their  generation forms. They can make us live longer  and more advantageous, offer assistance us  assign boring or unsafe assignments, and  permit us to travel into virtual worlds.  

Technology ought to hence play a critical part in  instruction in the event that we need to supply  instructors with learning situations that bolster  21st century strategies of educating and, most  important, if we need to supply understudies  with the abilities they ought to succeed.

Benefits of Digital Learning includes: 

1. Recorded lectures 

2. 24-hour resources 

3. Connected learning 

4. Self-Motivated and More Accountable 5. Flexible choices 

6. Written language skills 

7. Familiarity with technology 

8. Tracked progress 

9. Technology Is Rapidly Increasing Information  Sharing 

10. More interesting 

At the exceptionally slightest, we have all  learned that a few gatherings are best kept  online, and it is progressing to be a next generation ability to recognize which exercises and errands can be completed  more proficiently over the web.  

This worldview move in what is considered to be  an successful instruction involves  the utilize of numerous up to date advances and 

ideas, and those understudies who utilize these  learnings and, not as it were adjust,  but coordinated this into their regular lives will  be all the way better for it, able to keep up in  our ever changing computerized world. It  is hence vital that moving forward,  we utilize the lessons learned from this Covid inspired hiatus from classrooms, apply this to  our customary instruction, and extrapolate the  benefits to require advantage of online learning  and next-gen communication skills. 

It's an honour to write a Teacher's viewpoint on this platform.

From please keep quiet to please mute your mic, from please listen to my class to please switch on your videos, from please be attentive to please listen, there were so many things that changed in the new normal. Yet, what did not change was the teacher's learning. Therefore, I learnt many new things like using various apps for synchronous or asynchronous teaching. I also learnt the efficiency and effectiveness of blended learning which is the key for the new normal. Zoom, Meet and Teams all cater the same need, this was another thing which I learnt. Usage of Google Classroom, flipgrid and nearpod made me more confident. 

Yet willing to learn more and more. 

Year 2020 has drastically changed our outlook towards life. The sudden occurrence of the pandemic accompanied with complete lockdown of the economy and most importantly the lockdown of the education system. We as teachers were always taught the traditional method of chalk and talk but now the need of the hour is the digital platform.

I as a teacher learnt the digital platform of teaching and learning. The most important thing is to keep the child in you alive then only you can open up to the changing world. 

My outlook as a teacher has changed from just being a teacher to a learner. More than teaching, it's important to be connected with your students, to develop a sense of oneness, to develop a relation with the student as well as the parents to make the teaching and learning most effective. It's the faith of the student in the teacher which needs to be developed, which gives a support system to education.

You can win any battle with your positive attitude.

Readiness to learn should be the goal of life.

Have ownership, a sense of responsibility and empathy.

I learnt that no matter what,  digital or normal it is 'we that matter.

Unprecedented time and situation demands unprecedented solution. So, we humans have come across this situation as well. We can say that this Covid era initiated digital era which made us technically advance so that we can adapt ourselves to "the new normal" situation. 

This "new normal" has definitely brought a "new change" in me as a person and a professional. As a person I understood that savings for future is a must. No one knows when life will down you into a block  which will be locked up from four corners. 

This digital era brought back emotions in me which I think I lost amidst grey world and timeless activities. I felt the need to be in touch with my family. And this digital era sensitized me. 

When it comes to grow as a professional. I could map the development in me. I could say before I was a teacher but now I'm a digital trained teacher. I have attended innumerable webinars and training to equip myself for the change. It has also enhanced my skill as a teacher. I have surfed many apps to make my teaching platform convenient for my children which I guess I could never have done if the situation would have been normal and children would have been in school. 

The emergence of this digital era has also brought forth a fact that teaching -learning never stops and it find it's way out no matter what. New terminologies like "blended learning", " Flipped classroom", etc have come front and no doubt made smart classroom possible at our finger tips which was previously within the four corners of the wall. 

I believe everyone of us need a break in life to start a fresh chapter. Let's not take Covid as a halt but as a leap. Why always talk about negativity when we know it only aggravates pain. Let's concentrate on something good that has happened to us, so that life gets easier and world become a better place to live in. It has acted as a huge leap in my life. I am a better skilled teacher. 

Teacher in me was a good TEACHER and now the teacher in me is a great  LEARNER.

Teacher in me has now started feeling the pain of my children whose name is  not being called in the class which I CURE by making them feel important.

So Teacher in Me has become a DOCTOR. 

Teacher in me has now started using so many apps during the lesson, switching  over from one platform to another sharing valuable lesson. 

So Teacher in Me has become a COMPUTER TECHIE. 

Teacher in me is now in habit of seeing the parents not only in the PTM…. But  live in the online classes.  

So Teacher in Me has become a FAMILY MEMBER of my students.

Teacher in Me has now started feeling the difficulty and efforts of my  economical weaker students to get online education through one mobile  phone in the family.  

So the Teacher in me has now become a COMPASSIONATE PERSON. 

Teacher in Me is now able to feel the loneliness and pain of my students who  lost their parents during pandemic . I care for them and try to give them  parental love to lessen the vacuum faced by them. 

SO Teacher in Me has now become a caring PARENT. 

Teacher in Me was always a EDUCATOR ready with the tools of chalk & duster  and attendance register, profile register, pen, tea etc. etc. etc… 

Digital learning is far more interactive and memorable than the voluminous textbook learning. Technology allows teachers to upgrade their knowledge about a matter faster by online course. Its a powerful tool that can support and transform education in many ways, from making it easier for a teacher to create instructional material and new ways for people to learn and work together.

As a teacher, I can teach most effectively. Its a journey of chalk and duster to computer and smart phones. Using the different tools, I can make lesson more interesting, informative and engaging. I can involve my students in more engaging activities rather than traditional educational methods. It not only upgrade my knowledge about a matter but also make me flexible as a mentor.

This era has given me the opportunity to grow professionally as well as personally both. I have learnt  many things in this digital era. Digital world had made me more interactive and collaborative. Impact of this technology in my life is fascinating.

No doubt online teaching and learning is the best approach to disseminate knowledge but face-to - face teaching has its own taste.

During the initial days, there was complete panic and helplessness primarily because no one knew how to move ahead with the established educational processes with personal interactions playing a key role. The coming of technology aided learning and various tools viz Google Classroom, Microsoft Teams set the stage in the current scenario where learning was about to start from the confines of our homes. Within a short span of 3-4 months learning commenced virtually. 

The thing that really changed my outlook was the way young children belonging to primary classes adopted the new technology driven education system. We ourselves faced huge challenges in the form of learning new apps and tools which were to be used in the learning process, but the way students responded to them was commendable.  This strengthened my believe that students, however young, can be guided to face the changing situations in a very short period. They have an exceptional capacity to grasp new things at a very fast pace. The one thing that needs to be appropriate and simple is the teaching methodology.

The advent of technology in educational field has made the process of learning and knowledge sharing more interactive.  The greatest impact of technology on education is the change in our outlook towards the world. The remarkable shift in thinking from local to global can be attributed to technology.

The application of technology has made education more collaborative. There are online forums where subject experts can meet and discuss subject specific topics, review the syllabus and plan assessments to enhance the process of teaching. Teachers can impart customized education to cater different learning abilities and needs of the students. Everyone has a personal learning style, almost as unique as one’s fingerprints. Any skills can now be taught online in sequence, from beginner level to master level. Good teachers and multimedia experts can tailor such instant learning programs to individual learning styles and in individual modules.

As we know students are more interested in learning when there is something fun associated with it. The use of technology in my classes has made mathematics more fun loving and easy than what used to be. 

I am developing different teaching methods every day that do not only cater to lectures but also to all aspects of life.  They provide virtual tours, conduct learning activities and games for a better understanding of the concept. 

I have used multiple tools which are available online to ease classroom preparation and focus on other productive work.  

I have done multiple things to incorporate digital aspects into my teaching, like I have created my own informative podcasts and modules and have shared them with the students to learn and practice concepts at their own pace. I have made a number of PowerPoint presentations to help students to get engaged and interested during the lecture and to help motivate them to learn more effectively. I also use video conferencing, text messages or video calls often if not daily to communicate with my students and fellow teachers.

Overall I believe that this digital era is a hidden boon of our society, it is something that is helping millions of students all over the world into learning new and interesting things at their own pace. Without it, we as a society would not be where we are today and every day I am grateful for the very same. 

The teacher provides good education results and strengthens the Learner's Internal Motivation by creating a positive attitude towards lessons and providing emotional mode in the class. So, the teacher's role cannot be ignored simply in Technology- Based Education.

In this digital era, the role of a teacher has shifted from near preacher to the manager of students' social and emotional behaviors; mentor for their learning and over-all development as a balanced citizen; motivator for slow learner and a fast learner in a digital environment.

Digital devices like tablets and computers can change teacher and student roles, which can give teachers more time to focus on how to make the most impact through content interaction.

When used correctly, technology can give teachers more time by allowing them to provide differentiated instruction for students. 

I personally, have chosen to lecture less and spend more time coaching students, as a group or individually on how to use digital devices to make discoveries on their own.

By providing more one-on-one interaction with my students, digital devices allow me to manage and assess an individual student's progress and provide immediate feedback instead of waiting to check on student work through traditional after-school homework.

I am able to work with students and help them grasp new learning opportunities. Acting as a mentor and along with teaching and learning is also addressing the social and emotional issues of the students and ready to make necessary changes when the learning seems to be going ineffective.

 This past year has taught me so much. From seeing my students work their way up and study despite the uncertainty and fear that hung like a miasma over the world to see my fellow teachers step up and gobble up all the previously unknown information in an attempt to see to it that no student misses out on their education, it has been a pleasure to watch the amount of strength and resilience that each one of us, from our littlest champs to our oldest experts, have stored inside them. Assessment patterns, learning routines, activities, so much previously operational knowledge needed a quick and crucial update. I, along with so many of my colleagues, was left a little intimidated but determined. Today, I proudly say that we found our way, a unique sunrise-special way, to learn all the new upgrades, to ensure that our assessment patterns adapted, to see that all students know how to stand shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the digitally savvy world at a very young age. 

 What came up as a hurdle became a part of our mundane life. It's shocking how the conversation changed from students stepping into the classroom to students logging in and participating enthusiastically even if we were in different corners of the city. If it weren't for the drastic changes so many of us wouldn't have stepped outside of our comfort zones and strived to learn something new every day. However, with online learning, things like internet connection issues, accidental microphone interruptions, forming schedules that didn't overwhelm students or teachers, and seeing to the physical and mental wellbeing of the staff and students, were just some of the stepping stones to becoming a good teacher in the online mode. 

 As a teacher, an architect for the future generation, it is my hope that my students look at us with pride and joy when they look back to the time we spent huddled in front of the screen. We learned side by side with our students. It was a pleasure to be reconnected with the student inside me with the help of the students around me. I like to believe that in the end, we all came out a little bruised but a lot better. I hope for all of us that the coming times will be kinder to us but no matter the circumstances I have no doubt that we will survive with our soul and learning desire intact.

Digitalization has its influence at almost all the levels; may it be school level, College level or University level. Born in the 60's ; now I have seen all sorts of revolution in the education sector. We moved from chalk-slate to Board-Copies to virtual classrooms. The role of a teacher and instructor has  become more challenging and demanding these days.

                           " I have gone from a teaching phase to a learning phase" 

The part of me that came out in this digital era ; is my willingness to learn, thrive and teach. How strongly, effectively and efficiently I have changed and adapted myself with changing innovations, researches and developments in the field of education over the Internet.

Education sector has become a lifelong learning market where new courses, workshops and seminars are taking place in order to make teachers as well as students well versed .So the situation of a teacher has become more of a draconian kind where she is afraid of being hit by new technologies and education needs every additional day.

Most of us are able to get support and help from our loved ones. Learning to operate mails, making presentations to make class fun for students using kahoot or padlet all along. I had moments when I used to sit 2 hours prior in front of the system to understand the technicalities and now I am able to create and join links 5 minutes prior. It feels like a huge achievement .

Many of my friends feel the same but few have faced a lot of difficulties and very few have actually quit. It feels like you are going back to your kindergarten days learning the basics of life. At that age expectations from us were quite less. But now if we fail to grasp things fast, we might lag behind.

A simple advice to all my colleagues would be just hang in there; we are in this together. Nothing is difficult, there is nothing that can't be achieved as long as you are willing to learn!

 One of the biggest challenges of the distance learning during the COVID-19 crisis was to keep learners engaged. The lack of person-to-person contacts, the difficulties of communication on digital devices, the need to self-organise and challenges were for the learners to absorb new information and keep track of the learning process. Thus, my role as an educator became more crucial as for making sure that the students stay engaged and do not lose their motivation. The pandemic made the learning system change so dramatically that it made the school go into the e-learning methods.

Getting comfortable with technology which played the key role, adjusting my teaching style to suit the changes, planning new ways to provide homework to students, maintaining decorum of an online class were some of the many challenges I faced as a teacher. Not to mention, learning an entirely new skill was a challenge in itself.

My main focus points for online teaching at the onset of virtual classroom were-

 

 

KAHOOT

PADLET

MINTIMETER

PODCAST

LIVE WORKSHEETS

NEARPOD

THINGLINK

GOOGLE SLIDES AND QUIZLET 

They always help me to plan and cover the content in an engaging manner. My challenge was to explain them to my students as well so as to work smoothly on them.

5. Being innovative and creative in designing my e-material - My effort is always to create interesting, colorful and engaging e- study material-,

Lesson plan  

Worksheets

Presentations

Posters

Info graphics

quizzes

6. Assessments and drafting of online Report cards-

Students are assessed from time to time using formative, summative, diagnostic way of online examinations using the google form, short question and answers and online submission feature. The projects/ activities and Orals too are assessed for the overall learning test .

7. Giving emotional support -Students’ attitudes and dispositions are influenced by the   support they receive from families and teacher. I try to ensure that students acquire the support that can maximize their ability to make the most of online learning opportunities.  An interactive virtual parents’ teachers meet regularly organized for a joint effort to help children.

8. Start of the day with positivity – The virtual assembly, prayer a positive thought and informal discussion amongst children regarding studies, sharing their experiences and moments bring them together.

It was difficult to convert the role of students from “passive receptors” to “active participants”. Twenty -months down the line, I still plan to continue using my ‘flipped classroom’ technique. Making adjustments and devising new teaching strategies during the lock down. Among the most common changes adopted was the use of multimedia content, reduction of pen-and-paper usage during classes, change in what and how homework is assigned, and use of mind mapping tools for assessment in class.

 

Learning an entirely new skill and making sure to know the in and out of it is a challenge in itself. To exercise my creativity, patience and communication skills as I present my engaging lessons is a real task .So, I enrolled myself in various webinars, workshops and MOOC courses and each day I consider myself to be a new learner.

 
The emotional connection I have with kids is helping me overcome small barriers like poor connections, interruptions over the internet…now I take it in my stride.”

Now that education has gone more online, post-pandemic education will be the blend of classroom/physical learning plus digital learning.

For educators, it is the best time to learn the use of new technology devices and materials that will enhance their relevance in post-pandemic while parents should also provide and help their children ready for the technological advancement.

1-Past one and a half year has been an enlightening experience. It has helped me to grow as an educator and as a leader. It has made me technically adept, emotionally strong, and empathetic. It has also allowed me to ignite my latent passion for writing and share my experiences and knowledge with others. Hence, I plan to build ‘Happy and Creative Classrooms’. As a leader and as an educator my focus will be to bring the happiness quotient up in my school by being a Happiness Coach. Since, the focus of education is to groom the personality of the students and allow them to polish their innate talents, as a Cultural Head I will involve more students and plan diverse activities to enhance the skills of our students. One important thing that I have learnt this year is that we can even learn from our students, hence I plan to engage the bright young minds to suggest and help in planning more interesting activities in the coming years and help our school to become one of its kind.

2-The COVID-19 crisis led to a new era of virtual education. While it helped the teachers and students to become technically advanced and innovative. It restricted the students in terms of physical activities. Hence, my focus this year as a CULTURAL HEAD was to give the students similar co-curricular opportunities as they did before. For doing so I planned to conduct all the activities online. It was a difficult task to manage the team, motivate the students and organize the data, but I learnt the required skills like use of Google sheets, presentations, rigorous planning, distribution of work, etc quickly and managed to conduct a plethora of events last year with the same vigor as we did before the pandemic hit. Some of the events that were successfully conducted were Mother’s Day, Annual Day, Yoga Day, Artist Week, etc. As an efficient manager I created a team of teachers according to their innate skills like designing, oratory, organizing and motivated them to groom the students to host, conduct, guide and present their talents. We organised live as well as recorded events over the year and were focused to give chances to a number of students. Hence, we shuffled the participants list each time. We also tried to engage the kids in a variety of events like elocution, dance, singing, games, film making, etc. This acted as a breather to our young talents and allowed them to sail through this phase easily.

3-Online mode of teaching came with its own pros and cons. On one hand, it opened a new era for education which allowed digitization and innovation, while on the other hand, it increased the mental and emotional pressure on both students and teachers alike. Hence, I being an educator and coordinator sensed the urgency to connect emotionally with my teachers and students. While few students were quick to jump on the technical wagon, others were struggling with even the basic skills and were highly irregular. Hence, I connected with such students one on one through calls and tried to understand their concerns. This allowed me to build an emotional bond with them and helped me to make them more regular and improve their overall performance. Being an HOD, I could only help my team to become technically adept and productive if I had the ability to empathize with them. Hence understanding their concerns and helping them with resources was my top priority. I took multiple interactive sessions, invited other technically advanced trainers, and divided the work equally in order to help my teachers to balance everything well. Regular feedback and positive reinforcement were something that helped not only my students to grow but the teachers to become professionally advanced as well. Finally, I would like to add that a better learning space is developed through mentally healthy and happy minds. Hence, I will continue to give a happy and safe learning environment to the kids in future as well.

Events conducted Offline/ Online

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIMKvYXCK1o 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dYMlhDBQUc 

 In this digital era I  have pushed myself to explore and  experiment with various digital tools and found innovative solutions to teach my students effectively on virtual platforms.

 Digital era impacted my  roles as a teacher in many ways. Today I am tasked to maintain curriculum standards and  also enhancing creativity, curiosity, and motivation in my students effectively.  Digital technologies help in making information widely and instantly available to everyone.

" Digital era is powerful, effective and fascinating to everyone".

To conclude, I would like to emphasize the fact, I can be a good teacher till I am a learner. 

TECH + TEACHERS= TRANSFORMATION

"Learning to teach using technology is not a simple task. Doing it overnight during this pandemic times is even more commendable. Traditionally I have always been comfortable with direct face to face classroom interaction with my students. However, during pandemic times to be able to teach comprehensively without the student in front of me is a whole new ball game. I have picked this up confidently & beautifully by helping my students to learn to the best of their capabilities.

Pandemic has really changed how I see teaching learning process as a four wall classroom things with a little use of technology, now this digital era has skyrocketed education into the next century even before we reach there, enabling me to be more tech savvy. 

I have learnt and adapted the use of new technological skills, devices and materials that will enhance my relevance in post-pandemic times and enhance my teaching skills which will benefit the overall development of my students. 

I have started to integrate e-learning with the traditional way in my lesson plans while taking online classes, as this strategy will boost my students' self-regulated e-learning needed skills and prepare them to tackle any obstacles in the future. Also, this step will enhance my and their abilities for long-life learning. 

During this e learning digital era, I have also adapted to my changing role as mentor, facilitator and communicator which in turn help my students to navigate this pandemic through a virtual medium. 

In an online set-up, while the essence of teaching remains intact, I feel myself empowered to create more engaging, and interactive learning experiences for my students. I strongly believe that using visuals, animated videos and game-based quizzes, animated presentations have made me a better teacher and uplift my teaching skills. By giving students a front-row seat to their learning in the online format, I have fulfilled the role of their mentors and guide much more effectively and efficiently. 

At last, I strongly believe that- Where there is a will, there is a way, Integrating technology with education innovatively is a boon for me to impart education to my students sitting in any corner of this world which in turn makes me feel proud of myself being an awesome educator. "

 

Digital learning is far more interactive and memorable than the voluminous textbook learning. Technology allows teachers to upgrade their knowledge about a matter faster by online course.Its a powerful tool that can support and transform education in many ways,from making it easier for a teacher to create instructional material and new ways for people to learn and work together.

As a teacher,I can teach most effectively. It's a journey of chalk and duster to computer and smart phones.Using the different tools ,I can make lesson more interesting, informative and engaging.I can involve my students in more engaging activities rather than traditional educational methods.It not only upgrade my knowledge about a matter but also make me flexible as a mentor.

This era has given me the opportunity to grow professionally as well as personally both. I have learnt  many things in this digital era.Digital world has made me more interactive and collaborative. Impact of this technology in my life is fascinating.

From please keep quiet to please mute your mic, from please listen to my class to please switch on your videos, from please be attentive to please listen, there were so many things that changed in the new normal. Yet, what did not change was the teacher's learning. Therefore, I learnt many new things like using various apps for synchronous or asynchronous teaching. I also learnt the efficiency and effectiveness of blended learning which is the key for the new normal. Zoom, Meet and Teams all cater the same need, this was another thing which I learnt. Usage of Google Classroom, flipgrid and nearpod made me more confident. Yet willing to learn more and more. 

Year 2020 has drastically changed our outlook towards life. The sudden occurrence of the pandemic accompanied with complete lockdown of the economy and most importantly the lockdown of the education system. We as teachers were always taught the traditional method of chalk and talk but now the need of the hour is the digital platform.

I as a teacher learnt the digital platform of teaching and learning. The most important thing is to keep the child in you alive then only you can open up to the changing world. 

My outlook as a teacher has changed from just being a teacher to a learner. More than teaching, it's important to be connected with your students, to develop a sense of oneness, to develop a relationship with the student as well as the parents to make the teaching and learning most effective. It's the faith of the student in the teacher which needs to be developed, which gives a support system to education.

You can win any battle with your positive attitude.

Readiness to learn should be the goal of life.

Have ownership, a sense of responsibility and empathy.

But now this revolution has profoundly entered in the Education sector and that is also at all levels i.e. school level, College level and University level. Through this we can see the use of Interactive smart boards, hybrid or blended learning, flipped classrooms and digital libraries etc. during teaching learning processes. Due to this, most of the teaching and learning processes in the classrooms these days are changing from autocratic style to democratic or participative style where learners play an active role. 

Digital education creates new ideas and helps us to overcome the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to the education and training systems. 

There is a saying that in the midst of every crisis lies an opportunity. I see a lot of creativity and determination in the fast and adequate way in which many teachers, students and educational institutions have adapted. 

On the other hand, Teachers, Instructors and Higher Faculties are facing unprecedented changes with often larger classes, more diverse students with diverse needs, demands with this ever changing technology. To handle change of this nature, the role of a teacher and instructor becomes more challenging and demanding and hence requires attention. 

Thus the teachers in this ever changing digital era need a good balance of theoretical and practical knowledge to provide a solid foundation for their teaching.

At the outset, I was nervous about how I will replicate my offline teaching practices in the new set-up, but after a couple of sessions, it became a cakewalk.

Among the most common changes adopted by me were the use of digital/multimedia content, minimizing pen-and-paper work during classes, new techniques of assigning homework, and usage of mind-mapping tools for evaluation in class.

Unlike traditional teaching methods of delivering handwritten notes, I introduced my students to a new setup where I created digital interactive content using various tools like PPTS, Quizzes, Canva, Flipgrid, Nearpod, Live worksheets etc. As I shared the content with students beforehand, the role of students converted from “passive receptors” to “active participants”.

I also adapted to novel assessing tools including Google form, Mentimeter and Kahoot.

Online classes have also underlined the significance of activity-based learning that helps students to connect with the subject of their liking.

As a teacher, I believe that conducting online classes has given me a more quality-based approach to teaching as a profession.

Patience is a virtue and can be cultivated 

We’re all accustomed to the hustle and bustle of daily life. Before the pandemic, many of us would often run on autopilot and rush through our lives. But now, we’ve had to re-think the way we go about each day. Inspite of the negative impact of the crisis, the lockdown has certainly implemented a sense of patience in us all. 

For most of us, there is no option but to be patient with all that is going on in the world. As we adjust to the new normal and face the uncertainty regarding the outbreak, we have to cultivate patience. If you’re living with your family, you may have to now be patient with each of their needs - especially of the elderly or your kids. Similarly, if you live with your partner and you both have to now work from home, adjusting to each other’s work schedules not only requires patience but also compromise.

The good news is that there are several benefits that come with being patient. Studies show that people who are patient tend to experience lesser negative emotions such as depression, stress and anxiety. They’re also able to be more empathetic and understanding towards others - which is a critical skill to have in the current situation. Additionally, those who are patient are able to be more focused in their effort to achieve their goals.

There is a lot to be grateful for

For years, researchers have emphasised the importance of being grateful for all that you have. We’ve realised the value of gratitude now more than ever, particularly for things and people we typically take for granted in our lives. Not being able to go about life as usual can help us recognise all the little good things in life that we didn’t pay attention to before - be it a simple lunch with colleagues at work, or the ability to roam around freely in the market. Additionally, many of us are lucky enough to be safe, have our jobs, and be around loved ones at this time. These are things to be grateful for, too.

For the first time in a long time, we have acknowledged and appreciated those members of society who we otherwise didn’t think a lot about. Doctors, nurses, medical practitioners, healthcare workers and scientists have been working hard to treat patients and to find a cure. Teachers have been ensuring students continue to learn and grow, and software engineers are helping banks and financial institutions carry out critical functions virtually. Maids, cleaners, janitors, and garbage collectors are preventing the spread of diseases and maintaining cleanliness. Artists are sharing their talents and providing moments of distraction and comfort from the uncertainty being experienced. 

When the lockdown gets lifted and things go back to the way they were, it’s important that we continue to practise gratitude - not only towards our loved ones, but also towards those who are working hard right now to make a difference in our lives.

Creativity can shine anywhere

Since commuting is no longer a part of everyday life, many of us now have a lot more time on our hands to engage in hobbies or activities that we’ve neglected for a while. Moreover, owing to travel and transportation restrictions, there is a scarcity of resources of all kinds, including groceries, home supplies, and even medicines. This is pushing people to become creative by doing more with less. A number of studies show that limited access to resources aids creativity.

It is likely that you now have a very different way of approaching your daily chores such as cooking. For instance, previously you may have thought, ‘What do I feel like making today?’ Now, you might probably think, ‘What’s the best I can do with the resources I have?’ The same is true for exercise. Previously, you could go to the gym or run in the park. Now, you have to figure out novel and creative ways to maintain your exercise routine at home - and many people have successfully done just that! 

Tapping into your creativity comes with a host of mental and physical health benefits. Expressing how you feel in creative ways - such as through art or writing - is a great way to relieve stress, anxiety and even depression. Creative expression can even boost your immunity and energy levels.

Being creative with whatever you have access to can not only help you get through the lockdown period but also benefit you once the lockdown is over. You may notice a difference in how you approach your work and you may even feel more motivated to pursue new goals and interests. 

We can no longer take our people for granted

With an urgent need to limit social contact, we’ve all had to resort to connecting virtually with our loved ones. Before the lockdown, regular coffee catch-ups, dinners and social events were things we probably didn’t think too much about. But now as we’re all dealing with the uncertainty of when things will settle down, meeting our friends and family would be something none of us would take for granted anymore. It is likely that we will become more appreciative towards them - and we might even become more proactive when it comes to maintaining our relationships.

Additionally, we’re now seeing various communities and organisations come together and support the vulnerable population by offering food and essentials. We’re seeing neighbours get close to one another by offering to help out in any way possible; this has created a sense of belonging for us all. We’ve seen families learn the importance of being together through thick and thin and most importantly, we’ve learned that no matter what, we’re all in this together.

Even after this lockdown ends and the pandemic passes, what people cannot forget is the importance of being around loved ones and making the most of the time we get to spend with them.

We are a lot more adaptable than we thought

Before the pandemic began, most people had set routines that determined how they spent their day. A large chunk of the day was spent at work, school or university. Many of us could not have imagined going through our day without the things that we were so accustomed to - and yet, here we are. 

The lockdown has forced us to adapt to a completely new way of living. Most of us are working from home, many of us are around our families 24/7, some of us are living alone away from all loved ones, and all of us are trying to cope. Some of us might be concerned about how we will readjust once life goes back to the old normal after the pandemic. In times like these, it’s important to pause and remind ourselves that we have already adapted to a huge change once, and we can do it again. We are more flexible than we thought. 

The current crisis is also acting as a wake-up call for people. As we adapt to the changes brought on by the pandemic, many of us are now understanding what we truly value in life. This has left several of us with a sense of meaning and a new zest to work towards achieving our goals. This will change the way we live our lives post the pandemic as well.

Once this pandemic ends, it’s likely that older and middle-aged people will switch careers, step down from senior positions, or maybe even take early retirement. They may begin to realise the value of their families and may understand the importance of spending time together. Younger people may look for long-term employment. They may wish to have a stable job, to ensure safety and stability if a crisis hits again - but they may also want flexibility to focus on their newly-discovered hobbies and skills. Companies will also be able to provide this flexibility as they realise the feasibility of long-term remote working.

It’s important to slow down

For many of us, the lockdown has brought it with prolonged periods of dullness and nothingness. While this can leave us feeling apathetic and unengaged, we also have an opportunity to take things slow and savour even the smallest of experiences in life - like having a meal or reading a book.

When the lockdown ends and things start going back to the way they were, it’s important that we acknowledge the importance of taking things slow and staying in the present moment. The lockdown has taught us that things don’t have to be done in a hurry. If you take the time to explore, learn and become mindful, you are more likely to feel happier.

When you accept this need to slow down, you’re able to put things into perspective and enjoy life to the fullest. Slowing down is not a sign of being weak or inefficient. In fact, being able to slow down from time to time makes us stronger. It helps us fight off mental and physical health conditions and ultimately enables us to lead a better life. Slowing down even helps us appreciate the people in our life; we begin to feel more grateful for all that we have and are more likely to work harder to achieve our goals.

We can find hope even in dark times 

While we try to adapt to this new normal, hope is the one thing that is keeping us going. 

As we are surrounded by news of the crisis and are constantly exposed to hopeless statistics about the rising number of cases, it can be hard to feel hopeful. Yet, the news is also filled with stories about rising recovery rates. We know that governments are taking strict measures to ensure that everyone stays safe and indoors. People are donating food, clothes and other necessities to the under-privileged. Even though times are gloomy, there is some good happening in the world. 

The fact of the matter is that hope gives you something to look forward to. It allows you to find meaning in everyday life and also helps you reframe the way you’re looking at an adverse event. This makes hope especially important for those who’ve been subjected to the virus itself or are taking care of loved ones with the disease. Without hope, you may struggle to see the light at the end of the tunnel. But having even a little bit of hope can make a huge difference in the way we live our lives. 

Similar to hope, optimism is crucial to dealing with life’s challenges and living a more fulfilling life. When you’re optimistic, you are more likely to look at difficult situations as an opportunity to evolve. Instead of feeling defeated in the face of a challenging situation, finding ways to be engaged, healthy and happy can maintain your well-being. No matter what you’re going through in life, this feeling of optimism can help you get through it and thus come out stronger.

While the lockdown has certainly been a period of learning and lessons, it has also been a scary and overwhelming experience for a lot of us. As we look for different ways to cope, let us hope we’re able to become more resilient in the face of future stressors. Remember: if we are able to respond to the health crisis with resilience, we are going to be able to deal with whatever else life throws our way.

On this note, let’s take a moment to reflect on what we are going to take away from this period of lockdown.

I faced a number of problems while imparting lessons through online platform, but it is rightly said by Albert Einstein that we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them. Keeping the above-mentioned quote in mind, I adopted new strategies for taking classes.

In Birla High School Mukundapur, we use Google classroom for online teaching.  I learnt through youtube how to create the virtual classroom by sending invitation to parents through mail. I realised that patience is the key that connects efforts to success.

 My students were reluctant to write initially. So I created digital worksheets for them. I used developer in MS Doc so that my students could type their answers or choose them from the given options. Some of my worksheets were interactive, wherein the students got instant feedback after typing their answers. These were made on MS Excel, using the formulas.

Making the class interesting was a challenge. I learnt through youtube how to share the screen while teaching through Googlemeet. So I started making Power Point Presentations for every class and explained through them. I uploaded them in the classroom after the class got over, so that the absentees could also refer to them. I use gif images and animations to make the presentations interesting. I also use www.sway.com for preparing my flipped classroom lessons. 

Due to network problems, students often failed to hear their teachers properly. They were unable to follow my voice modulations in poetry classes. So I recorded my recitation in sway presentations on poems that I taught and posted the links in Google classroom. https://sway.office.com/HdG71S88qzplfRgo?ref=Link. I also record my classes and post the links in Google classroom for the students to refer to them later.  https://drive.google.com/file/d/11aw3jYhBcaisSpSSnkSfASRWpOZf--6E/view Through these efforts I developed a strong bond with the parents. I realised that empathy connects hearts together.

Checking the students’ written work in online classes became very time consuming. Downloading each file was taking a lot of time. Parents were uploading each page in a different file. So I requested the parents to upload the entire day’s work of their ward in a single PDF file as it would be less time-taking. This made my task faster. Correction of online work also becomes easy through the use of Kami extension. I made a tutorial for the parents and uploaded it in the Google Classroom. https://youtu.be/AluRtHBZVe4

 I was missing my blackboard in online classes and making elaborate Power Point presentations was becoming tedious. Suddenly an idea struck me. I started using MS Paint as my white board. I shared my screen while using it. Then I came across Jam Board which became a better substitute for Power Point Presentation as I could write on it in class and could insert gif images there. 

My next obstacle was conducting assessments. I used www.socrative.com as an assessment tool. It became useful even for conducting spelling tests. https://b.socrative.com/teacher/#import-quiz/49644375 (need to have an account in Socrative.com to view it) 

 I used quizizz.com as my assessment tool because it had many other provisions like inserting timer for each answers, meme between questions, background music, attractive backdrop etc. https://quizizz.com/admin/quiz/5f45b5c8351af4001f60108c  

The most difficult area of online teaching is to conduct discussions. Students will not be able to hear each other if more than one person speaks at a time. Moreover my introvert students were taking a back seat. To empower their voice I used flipgrid.com. I created grids in flipgrid.com and used it as a platform for discussion on debatable topics, for conducting recitation competitions, for saying tongue twisters. https://flipgrid.com/62c38dfb     https://flipgrid.com/e6509cda

It is difficult to conduct special assemblies on online platform, but I found a solution to that. I wrote down a script and assigned each child with a dialogue. Parents recorded their wards’ performance sent the videos to me. I compiled them on mobile phone using the app “Video Show’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpcMb3lksNY  

Thus special assemblies can be organized in online platform by joining all the videos sent by students. This can be done through’ moviemaker’ too.

Organizing a field trip was my next challenge. Nearpod.com gave magical shoes to my children with which they could travel to any part of the world. I delivered my GK lesson through a virtual trip on nearpod.com. My students were thrilled to see the 360 degree images at nearpod.com. They visited the Seven Wonders of the World that day. It was followed by a quiz on the same platform. I used the virtual trip for teaching adjectives. My students visited different places like forest, hot and cold desert and then they wrote suitable words to describe those places   https://share.nearpod.com/MWLwABmtfjb Nearpod.com also serves as a collaborative platform for students. I took them for a virtual walk to The Eiffel Tower on a rainy day. Then they wrote down on nearpod collaborative platform about their desires for different activities in the rain. https://collaborative.nearpod.com/reports/311091603/84e86c38996c1284ce3db29ecfc3057f 

360 degree images are available different websites like Google Earth, 360cities.net. Links from these websites can be pasted on nearpod lessons for conducting virtual trips. Apart from them, nearpod.com has a repository of 360 degree images in the Field Trip section.

 I teach students of Junior Primary section students of class II To retain their attention is a challenge. Then I got a magic wand to create wonders in class. With the help of augmented reality I could bring different live animals, insects even the solar system in class for imparting lessons. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMhQManApwI .This made my class very interesting. ARLOOPA, Spacecraft AR, Scope Solar System, Assemblr are apps that can be used to augmented reality in class.

In a regular classroom, teachers often ask the students to come to the board and write something. That was not possible in an online class but now I allow my students to share their screen and narrate their own story. This nurtures their creativity and also maintains discipline in my class because the condition that I 

impose on my students is that the person who would disturb, would not get a chance to narrate the story. 

Preposition lesson becomes fruitful with live demonstration. However roaming around with my laptop and showing the position of a particular object was a hard task. So I created a video on edpuzzle.com. That video had questions regarding location of objects, which the students could answer on the video itself. https://edpuzzle.com/media/5c85e22350568141087369b3 Edpuzzle videos can be used for comprehension practices as well. 

It was not easy to engage the students, who complete their work before time in an online class. Whiteboard. fi is a wonderful platform which fulfils that purpose. After completing their task, they are given a link from whiteboard. fi, where they draw or complete the second set of task given by me. I can see their work from my whiteboard.fi account.

My students did peer-marking of project in class. They shared their screen and were marked by their peers, one at a time. This is a strategy is suggested by NEP 2020. I found it very effective. It draws the concentration of all the students and develops critical thinking in students.

Thus, we can say that every problem has a solution. Problems may hamper the progress initially but they make us stronger. Each time we encounter them, we emerge as a more competent player. Today, I feel more confident as a 21st century teacher who facilitates learning using different methods and nurtures the creativity of her student. Technology has been my magic wand, which transformed my classroom into a gallery of fun-filled experience. My students met their counterparts in different countries through global exchange programmes. Please click on the link to view the story created by my students and the students of Poland over video conference, by taking alternate turns https://www.facebook.com/100053662389655/videos/160454645753281/ Students participated in international contest organised by Q L School, Poland and won certificates from abroad. Please click on the link to view the certificates:  https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=303611241437620&set=pcb.387549072577028

They also participated in contests organised by idialogue.com, a Russian educational platform and have won prizes and certificates, both this year and last year. 

 

I found that life is a roller-coaster ride-sometimes up and sometimes down, but we have to fasten our seat belt and enjoy the ride. We teachers deal with the most prized possession of a man-his child. It is indeed a privilege and a great opportunity. We nurture the future citizens. So according to Abraham Lincoln, we need to take them by hands and teach them things that they will have to know in life. I enjoy my work and hope that my journey as a teacher continues for many more years. Please click on the link to view the remarks of parents about me as a teacher: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChxbEE5QLIk  

But, is online education catering to the entire student community all over  India. Nearly 78% of the schools in India do not have internet facilities and more  than 61% do not have computers (as mentioned in the data released by UDISE Unified District Information System for Education) released by the Centre for  2019-20. This digital divide is starkly visible with schools closed since Mar 2020.  Only 1/3rd of students could pursue online education and only 32.5% are taking  online classes according to the Annual Status of Education Report released in Oct  2020. 

Under these circumstances I experimented with AUDIO LEARNING in  augmenting literacy. I observed that listening to audio lessons posted on  youtube or explaining concepts through loudspeakers placed at strategic  places of villages or podcasting helped students become better learners in  India. I further researched that the present population of India is 1.4 billion out  of which 1.1 billion have mobile devices or smartphones and out of 1.1 billion  622 million are active internet users who can listen to audio content as all it  requires is a basic handset and minimal bandwidth. So I could visualize to a large  extent the usage of audio-led digital education in our country. 

Due to the OTT explosion, parents have started understanding the ill-effects of  screen time on their children and are now turning to audio content through  podcasting and audio books (new avatars of audio learning). I noticed that  more and more parents of our learners are now opting for podcasts offering relevant content in regional languages as well. As per the need of the hour, I  tried to make and encourage my colleagues to compose podcasts and audio  files giving a wide range of options to students- educational, inspirational,  entertainment, stories and so on. This helped in empowering the students of 

marginalized sections who migrated back to their remote villages during the  lockdown. This was a huge challenge to us which we could face successfully. 

In ancient times, audio was the only means by which people learned and  passed on learning. Even before TV was invented wireless radio  communication was a part of everyday life to communicate and share  information. It seems life has taken full circle and is back to its starting  point. 

So, my unique experience of adopting audio-led digital mediums revolutionized education and brought diverse segments of learners under its ambit. Keeping  the above said in mind, I request all educational leaders, teachers and the  government to promote the audio digital means of imparting knowledge to  cater to 21st century learners.