Teachers across schools are concerned about handling two groups of students together — one in front of them and the other behind a computer screen — when on-campus classes resume.
Hybrid classes, a combination of students online and offline, will be the new norm, teachers said.
The Telegraph spoke to teachers, heads of schools and school counsellors over the past week to understand their concerns and the changes they have to adapt to.
Real and virtual
The teacher’s attention will be divided between two groups of students and she will have to shift her eyes from the screen to the classroom.
If a child is playing truant online or in the classroom, she will find it difficult to keep a tab on them all at once.
“A conscientious teacher would want to give her best to every child but in an attempt to do that, the lesson and the connect with the student can get compromised,” said Nupur Ghosh, vice principal, Mahadevi Birla World Academy.
A physical classroom can also get disturbed by online students attending from home.
Online, it is not only the child but also parents or family members who become part of the class, said a teacher.
“Any kind of noise or voice in the background will disturb the class and the teacher has to monitor all of it,” the teacher said.
Queries
Teachers will have to be prepared to take questions from the two groups of students.
“Just as she is answering a student in the classroom, a question can pop up on the screen. She would have to be attentive to that, else a student will lose out,” said Satabdi Bhattacharjee, principal, The Newtown School.
Psychotherapist and school counsellor Farishta Dastur Mukerji said that with practice, teachers will be able to adapt to the change.
“They will have to because they have no choice,” she said.
Screen and blackboard
Teachers will have to be visible on the webcam for the online students at all times.
“In a classroom, a teacher often walks around while teaching. But in a hybrid class, the teacher will have to remember to be within the range of the camera coverage,” said Ghosh.
Laptops and devices will have to be placed at such an angle that the blackboard is visible to the online students.
Teachers will have to ensure that there is no reflection or glare on the board because that will make the writing invisible.
“There are teachers who got used to using a digital board but if they do that in a hybrid class, how will the students in front of them follow?” said the principal of a private school.
Connectivity
Over the past weeks, schools have been upgrading their Internet bandwidth but teachers are worried about uninterrupted connectivity when many classes are being held together from the campus.
La Martiniere for Boys had a trial run on Thursday and there were instances of fluctuations in network in some classes.
“We held a trial run so we understand the issues and can address them before the hybrid classes start,” said John Stephen, the school’s acting principal.
Schools are anticipating network issues that could interrupt classes.
“We have asked our teachers to be prepared with course material or assignments if connectivity snaps and they cannot continue teaching the lesson. She will have to think about both groups of students,” said Jessica Gomes Surana, principal, Loreto Convent Entally.