Well, I would love to share my personal experience with this online learning and blending platform. I used it during my Master’s degree back in India. When COVID-19 started, I took on a part-time job as an English tutor. Initially, classes were conducted online due to the pandemic Situation. It turned out to be a unique experience as it allowed me to provide my students with real-life Experiences by conducting mock interviews, especially when preparing them for UK embassy interviews. The online sessions gave them a genuine feeling, and they learned exceptionally very well. On weekends, I also conducted in-person classes, offering a different direction to my teaching. For me, it served as a significant advantage because it was very convenient for people living far from me. I enrolled several students and earned well. As for the disadvantages, I observed that students with a weak foundation in English, meaning those whose English basics were not clear, faced difficulty accessing the class due to a shortage of time. Additionally, some students encountered network issues due to technical errors, leading to unclear doubts at times. Like a coin with two sides, online learning and blending have both pros and cons. During my first semester online, the main challenge I faced was the lack of an in-person opportunity to do my practicum.
This is all about my experience, and since blogging is new to me, there might be some mistakes in my posts.
Hi Anchal! Thanks for your post. The pandemic was such a strange time and like you mention, presented some significant challenges but also opportunities for learning. Reading about how you were unable to do an in-person practicum reminded me of the many others in your shoes who missed out on these and other opportunities during the height of COVID (graduations, major sporting events, internships, weddings, etc.). Looking forward to reading more about your journey in ed tech!
Hi Christina, Thank you for reading my post. Yes, that period was very difficult to pass. As a zoologist student, I faced a lot of issues in my practicum and frankly speaking, my practicum skills are still somewhat lacking because of the pandemic I performed average in it.
Thank you for your post! Blogging is new to me as well – welcome! I’m curious if your tutoring sessions were one-on-one, or with groups? If groups, did you find that students actually paid attention? In Engineering, we very briefly held online sessions for a safety workshop that was usually in person. We had difficulties with students logging in, and then shutting off their camera and not participating. (Participation was mandatory….) I guess I’m fortunate in that I teach adult engineering students and professors, so access to technology usually isn’t an issue.
It was in groups, but I had conversations with every student it was really interesting, and everybody paid attention as I always tried to make my class engaging with cross-questioning. Well I prepared my students for embassy interviews so it was not typical like engineering .
Thanks for sharing your experience with online learning. When technology doesn’t work, it can be frustrating for everyone! I think it is great that you were able to work part-time as an English tutor. Online education has provided you, and many others, with great job opportunities!
Yes.. ofcourse it was frustating as sometimes students doesnot get it in a right way and they missunderstood many things…That raise question mark on Teacher teaching