Page 20 - EducationWorld June 2020

Education Briefs

Covid-19: Challenge & Response Each day, I see schools mounting the

steepest learning curve that education
has seen,” says Monica Patel, CEO,
he silver lining of the Covid-19 sports and co-curricular education, FIMI.
crisis and the susbequent lock- online health and fitness, yoga, music
Tdown of all education institu- and dance classes are also being con- Educon International School,
tions from KG to Ph D is that it has ducted online on a regular basis. Baner, Pune
stimulated innovative ICT solutions Management motivation. Teach-
to ensure continuity of teaching-learn- ers are provided with eBooks and he Educon International School
ing. Here’s how several randomly se- all the requisite resources to provide T(EIS), Baner, prides itself for be-
lected education companies and insti- high-quality online education. ing among the first schools in Pune
tutional managements are responding “Witnessing the transformation of to respond to the national lockdown
to the Covid-19 challenge. our teachers and students into digital threat through timely implementation
savvy online learners is a very satis- of on-campus containment measures
Shemford Futuristic School, fying experience. Our path-breaking and ensuring a smooth transition to
Burdwan online teaching-learning initiative has online learning through its student-
centric Virtual Learning Framework.
transformed my attitude and outlook
hemford Futuristic School (SFS), towards digital learning. I am looking The framework encapsulates Skype,
SBurdwan (West Bengal) in col- forward to ideating more innovative MS Teams, flipped classroom, What-
laboration with its strategy and com- ways to respond to changing times,” sApp videos, Facebook, live platforms
munications partner Rite Angles, has says A. Stephan Raj, principal, SFS. and educational tools Kahoot, Bric-
confronted the Covid-19 pandemic math, Coderz and Flipgrid.
challenge by introducing an innova- First in Math India Pvt. Ltd EIS’ comprehensive virtual learn-
tive School at Home programme to ing strategy includes:
sustain uninterrupted learning of umbai-based First in Math In- Video lessons. EIS’ flipped class-
students. The features of the School Mdia Pvt. Ltd (FIMI, estb.2014), room pedagogy encourages students
at Home online learning programme a subsidiary of the Pennsylvania to study concepts at home and discuss
are: (USA)-based Suntex International them with teachers and peers in vir-
Teacher training. Teachers are Inc (estb.1988), has launched its tual classrooms.
trained by ICT experts through inter- Global No Cost Programme to ensure Online summer camp. Co-curric-
active and informative training ses- students continue to learn maths dur- ular activities including daily art and
sions to enhance online teaching on ing the prolonged lockdown of schools crafts DIY, music, dance, cooking,
Zoom and other apps. following outbreak of the Covid-19 coding and science experiments, are
Structured learning. Live classes pandemic. routinely being conducted using the
are conducted for every class through Since mid-March, 12.3 million Facebook live platform to keep stu-
Zoom and WhatsApp platforms ac- worksheets have been uploaded on- dents actively engaged.
cording to weekly time-tables. Stu- line in 80 days and students around Series on coronavirus. A five-ep-
dents post their homework on What- the world have solved over 25 million isode Unesco series on the coronavi-
sApp groups for periodic assessment. problems on the First in Math plat- rus crisis was broadcast on Facebook
Online assessment. Google Forms form from the comfort of their homes. to educate EIS students on ways and
is leveraged for online assessment of Moreover, 63,000 new classrooms in means to cope with the pandemic
students. Teachers also provide regu- India have enrolled with FIMI. while learning in the lockdown era.
lar assignments and worksheets as The features of the Global No Cost Students were invited to produce vid-
part of the school’s continuous learn- programme are: interactive guided eos on how they are coping and share
ing system. maths practice, embedded assess- them. These videos are available on
Student-teacher connect. Stu- ment and remediation learning cycles EIS’ social media pages and Unesco’s
dents interact with teachers in dedi- aligned to learning outcomes, and official website.
cated WhatsApp groups to clarify immersive maths learning and self- Teacher training. EIS teachers
doubts and coordinate daily assign- assessment in real-time. are encouraged to sign up for online
ments and homework. Class teach- “Ed-leaders have talked about courses to keep themselves updated
ers note absentees, their reasons of moving away from lectures and stan- about new pedagogical practices and
absence, and send study material to dardised assessments, but the leap emerging new technologies.
them. was too far to take. By default, Co- “This unexpected situation has
Sports & co-curricular educa- vid-19 pushed all schools and parents taught us to diligently explore digital
tion. Given SFS’ strong focus on to adapt to flipped/blended learning. and virtual learning options, engage

20 EDUCATIONWORLD JUNE 2020