BY : RAMESH MUDGAL
Sharing Good Practice
learn to deliver virtual learning quickly , keeping the quality of lesson delivery , comfort of students , and completing curriculum in consideration . During the lockdown , teachers had to learn to do a lot more within a short period , and they have now learnt to be agile . Educators and students have both learnt how great a saviour technology has become in this unprecedented period . Learning never stops , and the way educators have learnt to adopt transformational teaching methods in this crisis is testament to that fact . The pandemic has taught the education sector that change can be sudden and quite disruptive , but the only way to continue thriving is to build resilience and expand our horizon when it comes to learning how to teach better .
It has been a whole year since the COVID-19 crisis first attacked us , and slowly everyone is coming to terms with the new normal . With over half the students already having returned to face-to-face schooling , it is only a matter of time before schools start seeing full attendance again . The number of students attending in person will steadily increase as more students and parents realise that online learning , however advanced it has become , cannot replace the value addition one imbibes while attending school in person . Students , in particular , are missing physical activities and hands-on learning desperately . This sentiment of frustration and longing is also encouraging them to return to school . Another factor driving students to resume physical schooling comes from the fact that one cannot deny the limitations of social interaction and emotional bonding in virtual environments . The parents and students who have been in doubt and fear , are also slowly beginning to see that schools ' health and safety measures have proven effective by limiting the spread of infection at school . Parents have now realised that the pandemic is not going away anytime soon , and returning their children to the physical method of learning is a much more beneficial option for them . Schools and academic institutions shall continue their strict implementation of health and safety protocols in compliance with authorities ' timely updates . While schools may not return fully to the old normal before the end of 2021 , they will continue to upgrade their safety measures and protect the students ’ and educators ’ health . Wearing of masks , social distancing , and sanitisation at every contact point are basics that one can expect to see all schools follow in 2021 .
Schools have shown remarkable resilience during the lockdown period by innovating and adapting to changes a lot quicker than most other sectors . To ensure that students do not have to suffer academically , schools had to
Parents and schools must prepare well and follow certain practices regularly without fail to ensure that students ' health is not compromised upon their return . Regular and continued attention to personal safety must continue to be the top priority of parents and students . Considering the latest advances in vaccination developments , it is likely that effective vaccines will be available in 2021 . Along with health workers and front line COVID-19 fighters , students and school staff are expected to be given priority . Schools are continually innovating better blended learning methods to make in-class learning more accessible and impactful while maintaining stringent adherence to health and safety protocols . Parents can expect to see a rise in the use of personal devices being allowed at school for students to maintain social distancing . A significant benefit of this will be the personalisation of learning that each student will be able to access and enjoy .
Mr . Ramesh Mudgal is the principal of Global Indian International School ( GIIS ) Dubai . He has over twenty years experience in teaching , administration , and management of schools As the head of various K-12 international schools , he has led large teams of academic and non-academic staff with excellence .
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