Before COVID-19, schools in India were based on the traditional methods of education (i.e., they followed the traditional set up of face-to-face lectures in a classroom). Although many schools had started blended learning, a lot of them were stuck with old procedures. The outbreak of a deadly disease called COVID-19 caused by a corona virus shook the entire world. The situation challenged the education system across India and forced schools to shift to an online mode of teaching. This chapter outlines the pedagogical approaches adopted for the integration of e-learning/virtual learning in schools across India. With e-learning, children can access information without being restricted to knowledge of distance, time, and space. The chapter also analyses the opportunities and challenges of virtual learning in a time of crisis.
TopIntroduction
Early childhood learning plays important role in everyone’s life, but during COVID-19 life got completely disruptive and had a staggering effect on education, including the closure of schools. COVID 19, a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)is the first disease triggered by a coronavirus and has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) (Guan et al., 2020). Like others sectors, the higher education system also witnessed a shocking impact. More than 1.6 billion (91%) students and faculty across the world got affected in some or another way (UNESCO, 2020).
Their agility of teachers was put to test with many initially focusing on transitioning content to an online environment, completely ignoring the significance of online pedagogy (Wu, 2020). Other than this, the challenges included the involvement of poorly resourced institutions and socially disadvantaged learners who had limited access to technology (Zhong, 2020). Like other countries, the Government of India was also trying hard by introducing inventory methods of teaching on platforms such as Google classroom, ZOOM, Microsoft teams, Radio schools, etc.
In an initiative to provide each child an opportunity to learn, in primary and middle schools mohalla1 classes and door-to-door process of teaching was adapted pre-COVID. However, the sudden disruption disturbed everything. Not only children but parents and teachers were forced to adapt technical paths and use ICT (Information Communication Tecnology). However, balancing the need to reduce the spread of the corona virus with the desire to get students into more productive learning environments was challenging.
History of E-Learning
An early form of ‘e-learning' existed as far back as the 19th century. Other synonyms for e-learning are “online learning” and “virtual learning”. It was focused on earlier innovations such as computer-based teaching, online teaching, open or distance learning, and informal e-learning based on information management methods.
The first online learning systems were set up to deliver information to students but as we entered in the 70s, online learning become more interactive. As a result, many Open Universities started taking advantage of the e-learning system. However, their system of education has always been primarily focused on learning at a distance and the course material was delivered to students by post. Slowly with time and the internet, the Open Universities began to offer a wider range of interactive educational experiences.
Then, in the following decade, virtual learning environments began to truly thrive, with people gaining access to a wealth of online information and e-learning opportunities. By the early 90s, the virtual learning environment grew and several schools decided to set up departments that were to deliver courses online only, opening opportunities of education to people who wouldn’t previously have been able to attend a college due to various personal constraints.
Like other sectors, COVID 19 has its footprints in the education sector too. To control the virus, educational institutions across the globe were forced to shut down. The world started searching for alternative methods of teaching during this lockdown and web-based learning or e-learning or online learning came at the forefront as a savior. E-Learning during the Pandemic allowed educationalists to continue educating students to ensure they receive the same level of knowledge despite challenges.