The COVID-19 outbreak has contributed to worldwide socio-economic instability, deferral or cancellation of sports, cultural and social activities, and public concerns of commodity shortages culminating in panic purchasing. Schools and colleges are shut nationwide or geographically in more than 220 nations, impacting about 97% of the planet’s population of students.
Nearly 290 million pupils globally have been impacted by the epidemic as a consequence of the closing of colleges, the cancellation of classes and examinations, etc., as stated by the United Nations Academic, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. In India, nearly all schools were closed down, and universities have started to postpone classes and transfer them online as part of the nation’s sweeping effort to curb the transmission of the virus.
Postponing the examination dates
Following the coronavirus lockout, the Minister for Human Resources Growth (HRD) urged the Director-General of the National Testing Authority (NTA) to delay the last date of approval of the application forms for the different entrance examinations.
CBSE schools generally run their first school term for a month until they shut down for the summer holidays. Nevertheless, as part of the protective steps taken to prevent the dissemination of COVID 19, all schools are currently closed until 14 April. Students in classes 10 and 12, who will be taking the board exams in 2021, are using Zoom courses, video lessons, and online assessments to learn the curriculum for the written examinations.
Register to online coaching classes
Because of the current coronavirus epidemic, several State Board exams and entrance tests have been deferred in the region. Lockdown has been documented in many areas of the world, and citizens have been urged to remain indoors and establish social distances to split the coronavirus infection chain.
Students who are currently in class 12, as well as those in grades 10 and 11, will consider different study opportunities and entrance tests for higher education. Because no one will walk outside the home and sit for the examinations, it’s time for students to register for entrances.
Following the order of the Ministry of Human Resources and Development, several of the admission exams have been delayed for a few weeks, and the students have had more time to study for these tests and pass on. That is the opportunity that students ought to use to get acquainted with the content of the course and the type of planning. Prepare a time-table and stick to it to make it easy to break the exam.
Video lessons from the teachers
Teachers are requested to film hour-long video lessons in different subjects for students in classes 10 and 12. After the video lessons are sent, learners will also be granted time to clear their doubts and ask their teachers for additional information. They are also considering sending brief online tests that parents would be asked to invigilate.
Pupils are also granted the advantage of attending school online with their instructors throughout the week. Teachers have stayed in contact with students who will be going to take the board exams next year. Online courses have been arranged for groups of students who have expressed interest. When schools re-open after the summer holidays, there must be no unnecessary burden on students and teachers to speed through sections. Many schools have already participated in the city’s coaching facilities, which now have an online program in effect and where students can participate.
Proper use of Whatsapp or Telegram
Institutes should create peer-to-peer communities on networks such as Whatsapp or Telegram to support teachers and students remain linked and exchange all related feedback and knowledge regularly, such as research notes, syllabuses, test instructions, tips and so on.
The goal of WhatsApp was to exchange essential articles with students. The teachers have been discussing assignments and events that will keep students involved in this challenging time. Students are committed and engaged in all lessons with passion. All the teachers are actively equipped to use apps like Zoom, Telegram, Twitter, etc.
While schools are closed, and examinations for certain classes were postponed, teachers actively engage with students via WhatsApp and Telegram. Students in many government schools often come from low-income families. Still, apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, and Google Drive also made it a lot easier to share information from low-cost smartphones.
Apps beneficial for teachers
Teachers can check homework; prepare answers, sketches, and other tasks mostly through WhatsApp. Students are also instructed to use Diksha software. All school books come with QR codes that need to be checked using the device. Students can then choose the passage they want to explore. They can also view old question papers stocked into Google Drive.
Teachers also use Google forms to monitor student grades. Some teachers are also managing instructional sites and YouTube channels. Incredible as it may seem, when it happens to use technology, the students are as brilliant as those pursuing international education boards.
Most educational institutions across the country and around the world have switched to digital learning and teaching modes owing to the lockout. The Universities have now shifted to WhatsApp support groups, Zoom, and Google Hangouts so that students ‘resources can be used best under current conditions.
Online teaching in the universities
Recorded video tutorials are the fastest and easiest way to utilize digital education. The current version of Zoom is free for download but has some limitations. The top universities are inviting the department heads to promote online teaching.
Apart from the above, there is also a growing need for institutes to follow a modern online learning platform that can enable students and professors to stay in touch and take classes remotely. And often-provide students with a customized learning experience through tailoring themselves to the unique abilities and needs of each student.
Provide a list of simulated exams, previous year’s articles, review queries, etc. to help students brush up their skills from time to time and keep concentrated. Provide real-time evaluation and input via regular quizzes and analysis assessments along with remediation, which could assist students not only to analyze their grades but also to focus on problems and weak-scoring zones.
In turn, opting for such a technology-enabled framework to support students and encourage them to learn while living in the safety and security of their families, thus helping coaching organizations ensure better learning outcomes, save time and increase connectivity for all at the same time.
MyInsights for IAS preparations
As part of its crusade to motivate students and reveal them to a 21st-century education model, Pearson is offering My Insights. This AI-enabled digital assessment platform helps students start planning for UPSC (Mains and Advanced). Having four stages of training, integrated evaluation, comprehensive approaches, and informative coverage, it is a complete learning tool for the effective and robust education of students and colleges.
Students stuck at home as a consequence of the lockdown that faces too many challenges in their UPSC Main planning. Questions like how to plan for UPSC Main during coronavirus lockout are popular.
Revisit the notes to review all the relevant calculations to principles and attempt to answer or update the unanswered problems from your research material that you have previously completed. The internet is over accessed at this period in a lockout.
You may also find free online resources for the topics listed above, such as fixes for previous years ‘articles and lectures, etc.
Video coaching for IAS examinations
The UPSC test was delayed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. NTA has said that it is currently postponing conducting the UPSC examination; students have the opportunity to research using e-learning services. Students can view IIT-PAL videos on the official NTA website. IIT-PAL videos were produced by IIT professors and cover topics such as Astronomy, Mathematics, Chemistry, and Biology. Video tutorials can help to explain theories. Videos may be utilized for the training of both JEE Main and NEET UG aspirants.
Another tool that NTA offers on its website is a mock check for the numerous experiments it performs. Students will conduct a JEE Main mock test or a NEET UG mock test and assess their degree of readiness for the exam. Students may also practice the SWAYAM website or watch video lectures on the SWAYAM Prabha site.
Ed-tech platforms
In addition to competitive exams, graduates and other young professionals take online classes in Cryptography, Web, DevOps, Artificial Intelligence, and Computer Sciences to improve their expertise. It has culminated in a rapid increase in new online learning consumers across ed-tech platforms. Online users currently enrolled in courses jumped 15% in March. Similarly, online learning sites have seen a 30 to 40 % spike in enrollment in the last two or three days.
Conclusion
During the time of the shutdown, electronic learning sites are proving to be a significant advantage. Students may take support from websites and smartphone applications that offer live online lessons and mock-tests for different entrance exams.
Through the aid of online coaching courses, students will get professional tips from the comfort of their house. It’s about time for students to be serious about studying for various entrance tests and develop their qualifications to be ready for the future.
