Is Home "Schooling" the NEW "Schooling"

Home and School were two different worlds until start of 2020. Come June, kids are excited and ready for the next academic year. It's then the inevitable happened. The pandemic situation taught us a new concept - Home Schooling, the most preferred learning medium for kids. In the western word, digital learning or app-based learning has been there for quite some time. However, In India it was just beginning to gain prominence with some of the e-learning providers like Byju's, Vendatu, Cue Maths. This inevitable took it to the next step, educational institutions have come up with their own medium for online classes which is definitely a big leap forward. Kids now wake up in the morning, instead of getting ready with uniforms and school shoes, login to their own mail ID's, find the webex links for the class and sit infront of a gadget with their headsets on and the teacher logs in tada…There were days as kids, when parents had asked us to keep the gadgets aside while studying as it might distract the focus. Rules have changed, books are replaced by gadgets and assignments have become virtual worksheets and instead of the school diaries there are course circulars with notes readily available for the parents to follow up.

 

Education system practiced in India gained a lot of prominence right from the Gurukul days from the ancient India. There is lot of history of how, many people from nations like Europe, Middle East came to India to get Quality Education. Students were sent to Gurukulams (residential schooling) in the ancient days where they were taught various subjects and how to live a cultured and disciplined life. The relationship between 'Guru' and 'Shishya' is still considered sacred and is irreplaceable. Times changed, Gurukulams replaced by schools became the places of learning. Students are imparted subject knowledge and there is lot of focus given on other skills like art, craft, yoga, meditation, physical fitness, spiritual learning which shapes the student to become an individual. These skills are very important for a kid as it improves their critical thinking skills and also enhanced their personality development offering them develop more confidence. It teaches them discipline, time management, helps them identify interests and their passion for future. School education is the foundation and shapes each ones future.

 

Given that there has been lot of technology and infrastructure development in various fields along with education, what if home schooling becomes the mode of learning going forward. India as a country are we ready to afford and adapt to this mode of education. It involves lot of changes right from the basics like internet connectivity, faculty training, gadget availability for kids and many such aspects. There is also a lot of cost involved and how much expensive it can be for the families to afford. Will the kids studying in all the schools be it private or government aided, also get to learn through this medium. Faculty training, school curriculum changes, laboratory exercises one of our favorite child hood memories  and many such attributes needs a lot of re-thinking. With these on one side, kids might actually miss out an opportunity to experience the real time school experience. "Maatha, Pitha, Guru Deivam" - It's important that kids also get that  learning experience from the Guru's along with parents. While technology has the potential to elevate learning, the student - teacher bonding is not something we can understand virtually nor the technologies can afford to. 

 

Book reading is another habit kids might lose.  Too much of distraction at a very early age can lead to concentration issues among the kids. However, online learning has a lot of variety to offer and attract the kids. The visuals attract them so much and I have witnessed those head breaking concepts being dealt with in a simple language that kids understand. The power of digital devices helps promote the kid's critical thinking skills. We all have those memories of special teachers from our school / college days. How much prepared are our educational institutions to handle the kids once they are back at school. As parents, it is very important for all of us to make the kids aware of the importance of Health Hygiene and make them understand of social distancing norms. Given the situation, this looks like it might take a longer time to fade, than we actually thought of.  Kids must be prepared well enough to be able to cope up with new NORMAL.

 

The greatest advantage we can pick up from this situation is it has given us an opportunity to become truly INTERNATIONAL. "Necessity is the mother of Invention"  - It's time that we see some action and collaboration from the Government and education institutions towards formulating or internationalizing education.