Right click
THE WEEK|May 03, 2020
The lockdown has catalysed the growth of online education from a trot into a full gallop
K. SUNIL THOMAS
Right click

THE BLACKBOARD has been replaced by the LED screen, the sway of the ruler with the flicker of the cursor. “My school has launched an app through which homework and class notes are sent,” says Rishikesh Chandra Roy, a class IX student in Bihar, “I attend my classes online, even while sitting at home.”

The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown has inadvertently catalysed the steadily trotting growth of online education into a full gallop. Many K-12 schools, as well as colleges, have scrambled to move their curriculum online. The options being used include web platforms that offer course and reference material, video conferencing apps like Zoom to conduct ‘virtual classrooms’ and homework and study materials sent through WhatsApp and email.

But the precipitance of the pandemic has put many educational institutions in a spot. “Typically, it takes months, if not years, to develop an online (educational) platform,” said Pallavi, an edtech communication specialist. “For many traditional institutions, particularly those that have been slower to embrace online education, the challenge is even more formidable.”

This is where supplementary edtech platforms have sensed their opportunity. Many of them, from the domestic market leader Byju’s to the global player Coursera, promptly made access to their course material free. GradeUp, another prominent player, has launched a campaign, #PadhaiNahiRukegi (Learning Will Not Stop), while Vedantu came out with a #21daylearningchallenge, featuring messages from the likes of Hrithik Roshan and Shikhar Dhawan.

This story is from the May 03, 2020 edition of THE WEEK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the May 03, 2020 edition of THE WEEK.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE WEEKView All
WHAT IS YOUR SLEEP PATTERN?
THE WEEK India

WHAT IS YOUR SLEEP PATTERN?

YOUR SLEEP PATTERN may influence your risk of chronic diseases.

time-read
1 min  |
April 07, 2024
VISION PROBLEMS MAY BE AN EARLY SIGN OF ALZHEIMER'S
THE WEEK India

VISION PROBLEMS MAY BE AN EARLY SIGN OF ALZHEIMER'S

ACCORDING TO A US STUDY published in The Lancet Neurology, a rare eye condition known as posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) could be the first symptom of Alzheimer’s disease in 10 per cent of patients.

time-read
1 min  |
April 07, 2024
ANNUAL BREAST CANCER SCREENING BEGINNING AT 40 SAVES LIVES
THE WEEK India

ANNUAL BREAST CANCER SCREENING BEGINNING AT 40 SAVES LIVES

ANNUAL MAMMOGRAMS to screen for breast cancer beginning at age 40 and continuing to at least 79 has the highest reduction in mortality with minimal risks, according to a US study published in the journal Radiology.

time-read
1 min  |
April 07, 2024
SWEETENED DRINKS MAY INCREASE RISK OF AFib
THE WEEK India

SWEETENED DRINKS MAY INCREASE RISK OF AFib

REGULARLY CONSUMING SUGARY or artificially sweetened beverages can increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation, the most common type of heart arrhythmia or irregular heartbeat.

time-read
1 min  |
April 07, 2024
MOST EFFECTIVE EXERCISES TO TREAT DEPRESSION
THE WEEK India

MOST EFFECTIVE EXERCISES TO TREAT DEPRESSION

A STUDY PUBLISHED IN THE BMJ says walking, jogging, yoga, strength training and dancing are the most effective exercises to treat depression, especially when intense.

time-read
1 min  |
April 07, 2024
LYING TO YOUR KIDS MAY MAKE THEM LIARS
THE WEEK India

LYING TO YOUR KIDS MAY MAKE THEM LIARS

KIDS WHOSE PARENTS LIE to them are more likely to lie to their parents, even if parents tell only innocent white lies, according to a study published in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology.

time-read
1 min  |
April 07, 2024
BAD AIR DAZE
THE WEEK India

BAD AIR DAZE

AIR POLLUTION'S EFFECTS GO BEYOND THE LUNGS, IMPACTING FERTILITY AND MENTAL HEALTH, BESIDES YOUR EYES AND SKIN

time-read
10+ mins  |
April 07, 2024
Women and the big C
THE WEEK India

Women and the big C

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in India. Here, we bust common myths, and outline diagnosis, treatment and prevention strategies

time-read
10 mins  |
April 07, 2024
Make genome the norm
THE WEEK India

Make genome the norm

For India to meet its target of TB eradication by 2025, it will have to make rapid strides in using whole genome sequencing to its full potential

time-read
7 mins  |
April 07, 2024
ULTRA-PROCESSED FOOD LINKED TO 32 MAJOR HEALTH ISSUES
THE WEEK India

ULTRA-PROCESSED FOOD LINKED TO 32 MAJOR HEALTH ISSUES

Regular consumption of ultra-processed food is associated with an increased risk of 32 major health outcomes, including early death, cancer, mental health disorders, obesity, type 2 diabetes and respiratory, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases.

time-read
1 min  |
April 07, 2024