Hybrid Schooling : The emerging reality of school education

 

A year has elapsed since the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, wreaking havoc and bringing with it unprecedented disruptions. The education industry was significantly impacted due to closures of institutes, leading to an increase in the school drop-out rate from 4% to 5.5% in the last year, with over 6 million students dropping out.

Hitherto resistant to change, the education industry had to evolve overnight. Now, with Covid threatening a resurgence and school closures announced in many states, what we need is a long-term sustainable approach to education, or face the long-term implications of children not receiving adequate quality education. 

The way forward is to move into a modus operandi that combines both online and offline approaches to education i.e. Hybrid Learning. A coalescence between both and a malleable model that grants the freedom to switch between the two is essential.

With hybrid learning properly implemented, limited resources can be dispensed across more students, online content can be better leveraged, workspace can be utilized in a more flexible manner, costs can be reduced and the whole process can be made more inclusive. Difficulties found across a majority of schools in India such as dearth of infrastructure and paucity of qualified teachers can be assuaged.

In conjunction, all these factors will ensure the most critical aspect of the endeavor – the continuity of the child in the education process. 

The benefits of quick acclimatization, prior investments in technology and keeping the beneficiaries’ interest central have been experienced first-hand at Lotus Petal, where the year commenced with 644 students enrolled in the educational programs. Today, 612 (~95%) students have been successfully retained and have received uninterrupted learning. This has been encouraging for many other children too, who now seek admission at Lotus Petal.

           

 Hybrid schooling infrastructure has been operationalized. Inspite of less than  50% occupancy in every classroom due to social distancing, we have all students attending classes every day.

The reality of education has shifted from the child being physically present in school each day to holistic hybrid learning. This seems the way forward. 

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Defining curriculum without textbooks.

 

Theater, drama, theatrics often mistaken as a distraction from real life or considered as mere entertainment, has the power of expressing and accepting reality in the most potent way.

The origin of theater in ancient Greece was a way of expression by individuals, where all forms of art were used. Singing, dancing, body movements and acrobats were tailored together to explain rights, law, deep emotions, social issues, religion and rituals in an easy-to-understand way; yet the impact on the viewer was long-lasting. To be able to do this- the artist had to be aware, rehearse and feel the emotion at the deepest level. There were no books to learn or explain, yet the learning was realized at the inmost level, making changes to the artist's own personality and also created ripples across the onlookers.

Such is the power of theater.

The form has evolved in various dimensions and in some forms, is considered a frivolous form of entertainment or an opportunity for fame. But theater in the truest form rules supreme as a wonderful teacher. Thereby, rightly should acquire a prominent place in modern school learning.

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” – Aristotle 

Even in the mildest form, theater allows us to feel things with the heart. Helps become more aware and reflect on actions- both as introspection and as observance. It helps one understand the issues better and look at points of view if expressed well. When practiced as an exercise or a part of the curriculum, theater has proven to help self-esteem and confidence. As a group activity, it further promotes compassion and empathy. Even for the spectators, it acts as reflective learning to understand issues better and leaves an imprint on the mind. 

Such a powerful medium should hold a prominent place within the classrooms, where everyday learning should go beyond the theory of life but delve into the sentiment of living a whole life, where your rights and duties are in harmony with your interpersonal and emotional well-being. 

"Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I will remember. Involve me and I will understand."

It would be highly fruitful if the aspects of theater are included in everyday learning where the teacher uses various aspects of theater to improve the listening and problem-solving skills of the pupil. Working together as a team, rather than in a classroom would enhance interpersonal skills and make collaborative learning a part of a child’s personality. Since theater engages all types of learners, it includes voice modulation, role play, dialogues, enacting scenes, the learning can be more rounded and wholesome. 

The use of props and puppetry adds a fun dimension to learning that stays with the child forever. Many of the behavioral problems of children can be addressed without naming them. Many social issues and injustices can be highlighted for awareness building of growing up children. 

Theater, a play it may seem but it may help a child play life better, may make them play safer, play it right, or just play a role that is best suited for them.