EXPLAINING subject content in a video conference, keeping the students engaged, and motivating as well as evaluating them have been significant challenges for teachers trying to ensure their students’ educational continuity amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
However, if education has not surrendered completely to the pandemic and the need for distancing, it is because of online /on-air teaching.
Online education can never replace physical classroom experience, but it is seemingly the one and only resort for us all in this unprecedented situation.
Education is one area that cannot be compromised regardless of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. These were the exact words by Syed Ahsan Shahul Hameed, who owns a tuition centre called Fast Track Tuition in Jalan Sungai Dua, Gelugor.
He said education is very important and the students have realised that despite not being able to attend physical classes, they have adapted quite well to virtual learning.
“The key to ensure students stay engaged via online classes is to make sure teachers prepare interactive contents and encourage students’ involvement.
“After having attended several workshops on online teaching effectiveness related topics, it was said that a student’s attention span on a subject matter through a screen can last only up to 45 minutes. Thereafter, in the last 15 minutes or so, teachers must include educational games to keep them engaged in the lesson.
“Interactive virtual activities such as interesting quizzes, live classes with relevant graphics, subject matter using visual arts and interactive homework are some of the initiatives taken in the planning process.
“This way, they will stay focused and it will also help create a sense of connectivity between the teacher and students.
“As we can no longer conduct physical lessons after the reimplementation of the conditional movement control order (CMCO) recently, we at the centre, have encouraged our fellow staff to conduct online classes as interactive as possible,” said Syed Ahsan during an interview session with Buletin Mutiara today.
Operating since 2013, Syed Ahsan has another branch in Bertam, Kepala Batas.
According to Syed Ahsan, before MCO was implemented in March this year, they had a total of 800 registered students in both branches, but now, there are only about 600 students.
The centre covers students aged seven to 17, and they also provide home-based tuition classes as well. As of now, only online classes are conducted every day.
“In July, we slowly recovered our business as schools reopened in phases, but when the cases hiked recently, which led the Federal Government to reimplement CMCO, our business saw dark days again.
“Despite it all, we refused to give up but instead, gathered all our members and had meetings day and night, to discuss alternatives to conduct classes as interesting as possible for the students.
Syed Ahsan urged all students and parents to stay strong in these trying times.
“Most importantly, this goes out to all parents. Whatever obstacles you may face in the family, if there is one thing that you cannot give nor compromise, is the education of your kids,” Syed Ahsan added.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi