When Studying Online

Millions around the world are being forced to stay in their homes unable to go out, because of the pandemic. Some continue to work from home. Others have lost their jobs or are unable to do their current job. It is also a time of stress and uncertainty for all. But students are another group whose futures remain as vague as workers. In Kerala alone, lakhs of students are staying away from schools and remaining at home due to lockdown. Currently, children and parents seem to be taking advantage of the lockdown time to learn many of the basic lessons of life. But it is not possible to keep schools closed or interrupt formal education for too long. The possibility then is to conduct classes online. Schools in many places have already started leading classes online. Those who do not have such a possibility are studying in different courses from different online learning platforms.

Although we are accustomed to using the internet for learning, it is perhaps unfamiliar to many of us, when the whole learning process and classes are shifting to this style. Let's see what to be careful about in this scenario.

There are two major types of studying online. The first category includes online classes conducted using mobile phones, computers, and tabs with the help of the internet. Here, teachers and children conduct classes using any kind of software. The second method is to study by yourself with the help of the Internet or television. Educational channels like VICTERS TV can be utilized for this kind of learning. Although there are many such ways, how can one continue learning in an informal environment, like at home, in an orderly and healthy manner? As with work from home, there may be some practical difficulties here as well.

1. Physical Circumstances: The first thing to mention is what parents can do, such as arranging a place to study and availing an Internet connection.
• First, where to sit?
  The primary thing to note when education goes online is that children/students must have a place at home to study and perform related activities. This can be arranged within the basic amenities that exist in every house. As mentioned in the article on 'Home Office Ergonomics', it would be great if a room could be set aside for this purpose. If that is not possible, any room or corner in the house that is not too noisy can be used temporarily. In houses with a lot of members and limited space, care should be taken by others to not disturb the children during their study time. Choose a well-ventilated and well-lit area.
• Next, is the furniture needed. Arrange chairs and tables for children to sit and study, corresponding to their height, in a well-lit place. If mobile/tablets are used for online classes, it is advisable to keep them fixed on a holder or tripod, depending on the height of the child. Using a headphone can help reduce the distractions around.
• An internet connection with good bandwidth should also be provided. Otherwise, voice or video may be interrupted in between the classes. Make sure all these are working properly before classes commence. Thus, unnecessary hassles can be avoided once the classes start.
2. Whether it is working or studying, there might be a tendency to deal with it indifferently as it is from the home environment. In addition, procrastination, or the tendency to unnecessarily delay homework, assignments and tests, at the thought of being able to do them at any given time may be displayed. How can this be avoided and consistency be brought into the learning?
• First, set aside time each day to study. Since games and leisure time are also required along with learning, a timetable can be set up jointly by those in the house (of course the children's opinion and comfort should be given priority). Other events can be decided according to the schedule of online classes. Time should be set aside for studying and doing homework. Holidays should be treated as holidays, just like at the time of school-going.
• Follow a routine exactly like when you go to school.
• Use the same place every day for studying. Since all this can be done with a mobile phone or tablet, do not try to attend classes or learn while lying in bed.
• As they do not go out and remain only at home, many children avoid top wear or only wear petticoats or innerwear. But this should not be the case when attending online classes. Of course, while attending classes, you should remember that you are in a similar situation to being in the classroom. But formal dressing is not mandatory here, unlike those who do 'work from home'.
• Keep your study materials in the study area itself. Getting up from time to time can cause distraction. There may also be a tendency to wander around unnecessarily in such situations.
• Social media apps and games may be temporarily locked while you are studying. If you've been checking your social media account from time to time, it's a good idea to refrain from it. Because you may spend a lot of time there without realizing it. This may prompt the student to procrastinate learning. In case of lack of self-control, seek help from parents.
3. There may be some practical issues for those attending online classes. This is going to be discussed from now on.
• Since the classes are scheduled, make sure to be present well in advance. Make sure that your internet speed is also favourable. The laptop or any other equipment required must be adequately charged. The required gadgets must be set up. Their functionality must also be ensured. Do not rush in search of a charger and headphones once the class has begun.
• If there are any doubts about what the teachers are saying, write them down then and there. Before the classes, if your teacher or your educational institution informs you on how the questions that students may have will be answered, follow their instructions. This could be through post-class discussions or via email/message. Ask in advance what to do in such cases. If you are facing practical difficulties of any kind (schedule, necessary equipment, ailments, or any such difficulties) talk to your teachers.
4. Health issues and safety
• Studying for a long time sitting in front of a computer screen is not the same as studying in a classroom or reading a book. Being online can be more exhausting than conducting classes or meetings directly. This is because it usually requires more attention. Therefore, adequate rest for children should be ensured. Sleep time should be adjusted accordingly.
• Eye health should also be taken care of. If a child requires glasses, make sure they use them. The screen brightness should be adjusted according to the light in the room. The computer screen should have the same brightness as that of the room light. Keep at least one hand distance between the eyes and the monitor. You can close your eyes during class breaks or take your eyes off the screen and look at some distance without focusing on any object.
• If you are studying on your own without attending online classes you will need a ten-minute break every hour.
• No need to stay there after study time. Get up and go out and do other things or get busy in games.
• Staying in the same position for long durations can cause physical discomfort. To avoid this, try to stand up for a while at intervals and take short walks.
• Care should be taken not to entangle the code wires that connect electronic devices. Especially young children are more likely to stumble when getting up and so on. Make sure that the electric wires have proper insulation. Connecting the devices should be supervised by an adult.
• After a week of study, children should be monitored for any physical/emotional difficulties. If the child is noticed with hearing/vision problems, inattention, or excessive fatigue, seek expert advice.

Take advantage of opportunities to study extracurricular subjects also, through online learning. Make use of this time to learn new hobbies, cooking, cleaning tips, handicrafts, and even safety topics. Such learning sessions can be made pleasurable with the involvement of parents. Many institutions offer such online courses as they can be taken up from anywhere in the world. In general, there are three types of online courses.

1. Courses lasting three months or more and involving only a small number of students. It can be a degree, diploma, or certificate. It generally costs more.
2. Courses lasting one week to three months. It can be a certificate or a diploma. There will be a limit on the number of participants and a fee will be required, but it won't be too high.
3. Open courses that thousands of people study at the same time, which can take anywhere from a week to four months to conclude. There won't be a certificate given as such, but things can be comprehended. You may also get a certificate for a small fee (up to Rs. 2,000).

Since such courses are available on the Internet from all over the world, it is not easy to sort out the value of these courses from the outside. So let me enlighten you with some easy tips.

1. Online courses offered by reputed universities that we have heard of popularly are the best. In general, its cost might be higher and the number of students will be less.
2. Courses offered by accredited institutions such as universities that are primarily known for conducting courses online. The Open University (http://www.open.ac.uk/), in the UK is an example of this.
3. Online courses run by associations in your profession with which you are familiar. Many such certifications are available on computers.
4. Courses hosted by reputable online institutions, but not accredited as universities (Coursera, Edx and Udacity)

Apart from these, there are thousands of online offers in the world. There is nothing wrong with courses that are freely accessible. But if there is a situation where you have to pay, it is wise to read the reviews in detail and decide on it.