Enakshi shares the challenges of online classes for teachers during the lockdown period of the Coronavirus pandemic. An exclusive for Different Truths.

It has been over 60 days since I am at home. It is not boring. But yes, I miss going out, I miss working out my legs, I miss seeing my students and I miss being extra busy. Since the time the schools closed, there have been no deadlines, no whooshing noise of the pending work and no stress. That, in fact, is a perfect thing. But now that the schools are adopting ‘online learning’ as the new method of education, the thought of fitting into a rigorous schedule does send a chill down my spine. Right from waking up early, readying breakfast and lunch, preparing for the class and then ensuring that there is no technical glitch and that the class runs smoothly– all these are just some of the parameters that have to be managed on a daily basis now.

…the schools are adopting ‘online learning’ as the new method of education, the thought of fitting into a rigorous schedule does send a chill down my spine. Right from waking up early, readying breakfast and lunch, preparing for the class and then ensuring that there is no technical glitch and that the class runs smoothly

With this online method, the additional workload is definitely taking a toll on the teachers. I have to wake up at 7 in the morning to clean the house and do the prep work for breakfast. With my first class at 8:30 AM, I have less than 45 minutes to get ready. Meanwhile, my husband makes breakfast and gets ready for his work-from-home (that has been going on ever since the lockdown started).

We live in a 2BHK house and we have been facing spatial problems owing to our different work-from-home schedules. His conference call and my classes generally clash and thus, we end up sitting in separate rooms, with locked doors and bolted windows, for the moment we open any window, either a vegetable vendor or a ‘Samosa’ seller ends up becoming a part of our call and the participants do have a hearty laugh. This is not only our problem. When I unmute my students in an attempt to make my session more interactive, I can hear their dogs having a conversation with the neighbour’s dog, their maids dusting the sofa or their parents asking them to pay attention.

At times, it is amusing. But most of the time, the students are struggling to stay connected. The teacher, too, is under the constant fear of getting disconnected and thereby losing the class time.

At times, it is amusing. But most of the time, the students are struggling to stay connected. The teacher, too, is under the constant fear of getting disconnected and thereby losing the class time. Though we all are getting used to this new system of education and work, it is quite impossible for all of us to find an area in our house where there are absolute peace and quiet.

It seems like mute and unmute buttons have become a part and parcel of our life. Metaphorically speaking, being ‘mute’ is equivalent to social distancing where we aren’t supposed to meet anyone or indulge in any activity. We can ‘unmute’ the silence by using technology to connect with our family and friends but that isn’t enough to keep us going, is it? I just cannot help but wonder how we are going to thrive being on con-calls in the coming months when free communication inside a house also seems like noise pollution! However hard we try, it might not be possible to eliminate the noises that interrupt the call but these silences are definitely permeating in our lives!

Photos from the Internet