COVID-19 has definitely opened up plenty of new avenues for learning as well as teaching. Students will now be more flexible in their approach to learn breaking away from the usual offline mode, says Brij Mohan Gupta
The IIT JEE is one of the toughest examinations worldwide and every year lakhs of students put in their best efforts to secure a seat in one of the coveted campuses of Indian Institute of Technology and National Institute of Technology. The battle to get into IITs and NITs is fought on many fronts — mental ability, endurance and perseverance. Students are prepared from an early age to excel on these fronts but this time the challenge is unprecedented.
The entire world is fighting an invisible enemy i.e. COVID-19. Who would have imagined that a country as large and diverse like India will be forced to go for strict lockdown? It has definitely created a unique situation for students in particular because all of a sudden they have to adjust to new socio-economic realities while keeping pace with their exam preparations to get into their dream institutions.
Thousands of students all over the country preparing for IIT JEE mains examination is one such group which is now finding novel ways to ensure that their preparations do not get derailed because of this catastrophe. The April 2020 session of JEE mains exam was all set to be held in April, which has now been rescheduled for July this year. While the examination conducting body National Testing Agency (NTA) is busy giving final touches to the plan, many students are worried that their session may get delayed but there are plenty of those who are taking this up as a blessing in disguise. The postponement of exam has given them some extra time to work on their weaker areas and get better prepared for the examination.
There are many students who have reached out to their respective faculties to clear their doubts on many chapters which are parts of a vast senior secondary curriculum. They are also revising their class notes and redoing study materials provided at their institutes.
Mock tests help mapping the speed and accuracy while familiarising students with the possible pattern of the exam. These tests are effective tools for self-evaluation. In addition to this, students are also utilising this extra time to attempt previous years’ question papers to identify and strengthen their weak areas. All of it is making students comfortable and prepare for the exam with better skills and more confidence.
Many students have opted for online mode to attempt these tests because of restriction in mobility imposed due to lockdown. National Testing Agency(NTA) too has come up with National Test Abhyaas app for the students preparing for engineering and medical entrance tests. The app offers immediate scores with the explanations of the answer and the complete analysis of how student attempted the paper including time spent by the student on each section. Students from across the country can take full mock tests in order to hone their skills ahead of the mains examinations.
A lot of students have opted for subject videos freely available on YouTube, which may never substitute the essence of actual classroom learning but they have come as a great learning tool in these testing times. There is a large repository of free educational videos made by good teachers on YouTube. Many teachers have uploaded full syllabus subject course on it. Many have uploaded even revision video lectures for the chapters in which they discussed important points, formulae and concepts from that chapter and explained some relevant numerical questions.
There are many teachers who are conducting online live revision classes through live streaming at very nominal fee and sometime absolutely free-of-cost just to help students.
COVID-19 has definitely opened up plenty of new avenues for learning as well as teaching.
Students will now be more flexible in their approach to learn breaking away from the usual offline mode and embracing as much online modes as possible. This is also going to work majorly in favour of students from rural area and second and third tier cities, where good coaching institutes are a luxury.
During this lockdown, when students and teachers can’t meet in real for academic discussions, teachers are available on phones. Students can ask their doubts on WhatsApp or even on call to teachers. Many online interaction/meeting apps like Zoom, Microsoft teams and Google classroom are also available which offer a very smooth live interaction with advantages of screen sharing, whiteboard and camera options. Students are taking online classes, doubt discussions and counselling frequently through these apps. The whole process of digital learning and teaching has been fast forwarded. COVID-19 has actually encouraged students increase their adapting ability with new situations, self-reliance and better preparations.
COVID-19 is a health issue that is going to stay around us. While examinations are very important, students should first take care of their health, take good nutrition, ensure uninterrupted sleep patterns and maintain a positive mental attitude. It always helps to practice meditation and yoga to ensure their mental and physical being is in sync. It is heartening to see that most of the students have successfully found solution to this problem.
The writer is Founder, VIdyamandir Classes
