However, it is necessary to keep the learning process going.
LARKANA: Universities remain worried about exams despite the fact that not even half of the syllabus has been completed due to the abrupt halt in education caused by the coronavirus pandemic. This shows how problematic our education system is. It was never about imparting knowledge, rather the central focus of academic institutions has always been on exams and results. Lockdowns imposed because of the spread of the virus have forced people to resort to desperate means such as online learning.
Let’s be clear, virtual learning has significantly reduced the pleasure and simulation that one gets from learning in an institutional atmosphere. The intimacy of working, sharing and collaborating cannot be replicated by online learning platforms. Learning was never just about learning rather it was a lifestyle, a mindset and a way of life. In a classroom environment, students and teachers are compelled to share their experiences, make insightful connection and create abstract ideas. All this is lost when a student is merely hearing the voice of their teacher from the comfort of their home. The lecture becomes a mere rant that a student forcefully listens to, and at times dozes off.
However, it is necessary to keep the learning process going. We have to make the best of what we have while at the same time we should try to innovate the way we learn virtually. Perhaps some thought on it can give rise to a whole new idea of communicating and learning.
Shoaib Lashari
Published in The Express Tribune, May 7th, 2020.
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