Precautions during Online Study

Personally I am feeling proud for being a witness of the most awaited evolution in Indian education system. it is evolving from traditional black board teaching to gem-board teaching, but as we know that every coin has two aspects. I am very much concern about the bad effects of this online learning.  This Overnight switching from traditional classroom to computer-based learning due to corona virus pandemic, makes the teaching learning experience entirely different for all. Being regular in learning pace is good thing, but at it's initial stage, it poses certain threats to students like- health issues, tendency of given up, lack of concentration, getting bore due to lack of human connection etc. Online study presents a major risk on emotional and physical health, otherwise known as functional health which results in a trend away from active leisure pursuits and recreational sports and leading us towards a sedentary lifestyle.

I am suggesting some precautions to mitigate the negative effects of online study and give a fruitful result from online learning.

Set a better place to study: Make a dedicated study space for yourself, It must be well organised, distraction free and available every time. Sit in a proper formal set up, use study table and chair according to your height, It’s primary requirement for good study. It will also prevent from pain on your backs, shoulders, and neck muscles. A small pillow can be used at the lower back to reduce the chance of back and neck pain.

Optimum Light: Be arranging your study setup in optimum (neither too bright nor too dull) light. Students these days are only exposing their eyes to unnatural lights, depriving them of natural lights. Students spending maximum time in front of computer or mobile, also means using the eyes for near visions only which leads to less exercise of the eye muscles and can damage the vision. You should avoid extreme bright light, set minimum glare setting in your device.

Maintaining a learner appearance: Although students will be accessing classes from the comfort of their home, but dress up formally. No, this does not mean one needs to be all suited up but just maintain the wear minimum as one would in a regular class. Your school uniform will be a better option. School sport or house uniform may make you more comfortable and homey feeling.

Be punctual: Classes still put in the timetable of the category very strictly. It continues to be a study room session and punctuality is a must. Becoming a member of mid-way will likely be very distracting for other students and might not be considered too favorably by the teacher either. You can use google calendar reminder/alarm settings etc.

Knowing the online platform: Students need to know the ins and outs of the specific tool used by their teacher and take some time before hand to learn all the features. You should know how to turn off and on your camera and mic, to keep them off until it is not necessary or ask to on. You should know when you have to share your screen.

Active participation: On-line lesson must assessment the undeniable  lecturers are going out of their technique to alter to this new type of teaching. This mode of educating will best succeed if every person participates and contributes to the discussion. It's a two-way boulevard that works by being attentive and in reality finding out from the sessions, in any other case they will probably be ineffective.

Maintaining regular classroom etiquette: Students need to follow all the etiquette they would in a regular classroom like Do not eat during the class; do not write unnecessary thing in the chat box, do not talk each other during the class, Wishing your teacher etc. One more thing online classes give you more freedom, perhaps, more than you can handle. This freedom can be dangerous if you don't learn how to handle it. You should respect the teacher as you do during regular class. Remember only mode of teaching changed, your teachers are same, and they are doing something beyond their capacity. 

Something should Avoid: Avoid playing games on mobile and watching useless videos, You already ran off the data and your eye screen tolerance capacity. “Enhanced display time usage, for the most part for non-academic activities, has been chanced on to be linked with will increase in depression, anxiousness and perceived consideration issues”

Nutrition and rest: we can’t avoid the importance of it. Take balanced diet. Expose yourself in the natural light for at least some time. Exercise regularly. And take rest, turn off your electronics and do something relaxing the hour before bed, read a book, listen to music, do as you want.

If you want to know more about good diet for students, then click here to read the article.

Discipline and Self-Motivation: Self-motivation and discipline are the essential requirement for not only online study but all types of studies. As I observe many students lack of it, much to their surprise. In starting more than 90 percent my students joined the online class but after some weeks, some students fall behind and nurture the idea of giving up, as difficulties in handling a technological medium also seem insurmountable. Students want to seek out the incentive to adopt a policy the brand new instructional developments and on top of correctly equip themselves for future challenges of their schooling and careers. Only a positive attitude and discipline will help them overcome the challenges in online study, like When I will expert in this virtual learning methods then I can join so many international courses also.

Your safety matters: Use laptop instead of mobile for the bigger screen if possible. Students should wear headphones (Bluetooth headphone are great work for this purpose). It minimise distractions and disturbances and also keep our mobile little bit away from us, keep mobile away at least a foot’s distance from the eyes. Do not use mobile or laptop during charging. Charge your gazettes before join class.

If your mobile getting heat up abnormally then don’t use it.

Some words for parents:

• “We are adapting to online education out of compulsion, not out of choice". Online learning is the way forward and we need to learn how to deal with it. Parents can choose devices that have minimum glare or print out the study materials for their kids, going forward Technical issues e.g. data consumption, network speed, should be considered while sharing e-resources.
• Keep an eye on your child when they are using mobile and laptop without disturbing them.
• Create a learning environment for the child with least distractions.
• You shouldn’t be continuous move around the child.
• Charge yourself all the gazettes that are used by your child before the online session.
• Monitor the temperature of gazettes occasionally.

There is a proverb in medical profession "prevention is better than a cure", this proverb is sufficient to explain this situation. Thanks to all to read it, I hope you must acquired something good after reading this. Be safe, Stay tuned.