Online Education comprises of all processes of education in general. Teachers and learners focus more on teaching and learning through different modes which encompasses online teaching learning. It would be better to understand the difference between online teaching and online learning. It may be perceived from teachers’ side and learners’ side. While analysing these one could understand that there are certain challenges faced by both.

Challenges:

1. In terms of feasibility of the line or network- the network coverage or strength.

2. In terms of gadgets- either desktop/laptop/smart phone.

3. In terms of socio-economic background.

4. In terms of teaching and learning ability specifically online.

5. In terms of policy

Each challenges have its own importance, especially in this pandemic time as every teaching learning depends on online mode. The online mode itself perceived in different ways. This perception difference covers the synchronous and synchronous mode. Majority feel it as transferring learning resources to learners and make them learn or engage them in live sessions.

The network related issues are not in the hands of the teachers and learners. The available network issues are really become the challenge to connect the teachers and learners. Within this, teachers and learners are exploring different avenues to connect together. The variation in the network strength disrupts the connection between them. They have to rely upon stable network to realign their preparation and contact sessions.

Gadget related issues are prevalent. Most of the time students may have to depend their mobile phone which they are using or their parents, which also hinders them in active participation of the teaching learning process. Though we have BYOD (Bring Your Own Devices) is well accepted, but their compatibility and adequacy to access the online teaching learning is another challenge.

Socio-economic background creates the challenge to access the online sessions of teaching learning. Even the family background and environment is blocking the interaction mode of teaching learning. Most of the time they rely upon the offline mode to involve in the teaching learning process.

In terms of teaching and learning ability of the teachers and learners are the other important issue that each teacher and learner face today. Any one of us mostly not trained to handle the online mode of teaching and learning. Even the well experienced teachers who has got expertise in face to face teaching learning face challenge for shifting to the new mode of teaching learning. The structuring of the teaching learning is the major challenge. While sharing the number of teaching learning resources, learners are over loaded with the resources and they may not be able to sequence their learning or develop a learning plan. Structuring the learning resources and design the learning path for the learners is crucial here. Even when learners become self-browsers they may not be able to sequence or organize the resources synchronised with the syllabus flow. Conceiving the instructional design ideas may help the teachers to prepare for teaching learning through online. Availability of appropriate and adequate learning resources customized by the teachers is another concern that learners are raising. Teachers as designers of these kind of customised or localised learning resources is another challenge.

Engaged screen time for both teachers and learners opening up health issues and stagnated effect for both of them. The conditioning of both teachers and learners related to teaching-learning and assessment is another concern, which need to be addressed. The skill set of teachers to design teaching learning and even assessment and learners’ preparedness to take online assignments and assessment are other concerns.

How do we design our instruction?

Instructional design is the heart and soul of the online teaching learning. Though there may be arguments that teaching learning is not mere instruction, the ideas of instructional design help a lot in planning and sequencing the teaching learning tasks.

There are different models available in terms of instructional design. The most common and familiar one is ADDIE model. This constitute the phases Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation.

· Analysis

This include analysis of the learner, content, contexts, tasks. In terms of learner analysis, the minimum level of performance of the learners, the cognitive level and socio-economic background, their experience level are important. Most of the time, teachers know about the target group and their levels of performance. The content that would be transacted need a thorough analysis. Analysis in terms of nature of the content, type of data or information that helps the learner to progress in the learning process are important when it comes to an online/web based platform. Generally teachers share the resources in terms of texts, images, audio, video, animation, simulation or applets. The sources and pedagogic values of these resources also need to be analysed. Once a teacher completes the analysis of the content, it is important to provide comprehensive resources as possible rather creating an information overload. The tasks that can be taken up by the target learners need detailed analysis, they should be well instructed about the nature of tasks and even it would be better to share the expectations in each tasks. The context in which the content is presented also need to be decided.

· Design

In this phase the teacher needs to design about the learning resources wither those which are readily available or need to be developed. The skill of using technology tools plays a vital role in developing varieties of learning resources even in multiple platforms and sharing the links. The learning outcome need be designed in a SMART way following the outcome based framework. Specificity of the learning outcomes helps in developing the learning experiences adequate and appropriate. Once the learning outcomes are designed the teacher can think of the learning experiences that are appropriate to the platform that is going to be used. Then the teacher needs to design about the assessment, which make use of the potential of the technology tools.

· Development

In the development phase the teacher needs to develop the learning experiences that is appropriate with the pedagogic values. The learning experiences in an online platform need to be well articulated in order to achieve the designed learning outcomes. Assessment strategies selection and development of different types of assessment also can happen in this phase. The teacher can develop a learning plan based on the inputs collected during the analysis phase such that the learners will be equipped to develop their learning schedule in an appropriate sequence. Development of assessment rubric also important in this phase. Sharing the expectations on the assessment tasks can act as an intrinsic motivation for the learner.

· Implementation

Implementation means trying out the developed content and strategies either with the subject expert or with the learners. For example while adding a reading material in terms of a link, the link need to be validated and make sure that the material is available for the stipulated time. Because many of the websites may be updating their content frequently. This avoids the complaints from the learner that the material or the link is not available by the learners. A kind of validation can be done by circulating for the try out. Even the time line that needed to be followed to complete the learning plan is also important.

· Evaluation

In this phase based on the inputs collected during the try out the sequence of materials provided, assessment tasks developed and the flow of the lesson could be evaluated and make necessary modifications.

Once follow this phases, the lesson for online could be ready to share with the learners. The engagement of learners depends up on the robustness of the design of learning and learning plan. Mixing up of resources and assessment could be followed. There can be assessment tools for self-check and showcase their learning progress.

How do we integrate Technology Tools?

Meaningful integration of the technology tools is important for an online delivery of teaching learning. The content mastery and pedagogic mastery of the teacher helps to select the most appropriate technology tools which are valid with the content and pedagogy can be selected. Easily accessible and interactive tools would be better to be selected created by the teacher using different platform readily available.

The technology tools need to be mapped with the content and pedagogy such that it would be easy to achieve the learning outcomes. The learners’ technology skills and digital literacy need to be taken care while selecting the apt technology tools. The technology tools should maximise the learning rather it disrupts.

How can we deliver online teaching learning?

Delivery of the teaching learning is important in any online mode. The best suggestion would be appropriate blend of live sessions and offline mode. Thus it necessitates the need for a platform. The most suggestible platform would be a learning management system where the usage could be tracked. Teachers can select MOODLE kind of platforms which helps to deliver organized learning resources and engaging activities. It also helps the teacher to track the learning progress providing appropriate conditions for each tasks. Even teachers can select the tools to design and develop the sequential content which could be used even offline, as an alternative for the network and data related issues. For example Microsoft one note would be a suggestion for those who are using Microsoft products. There are certain tools which help the teacher to develop the sequential content in HTML like exe from exelearning.net.

How do we make sure the learner’s engagement?

This is a challenging part in any online teaching learning. Making sure the active participation and engagement of the learners could be achieved through appropriate blend of technology tools. Selecting a comprehensive platforms to share the resources by mixing up of varieties of tools would be necessary to make sure of the engagement of the learners.