Reaching the Unreached Using ICT

Reaching the Unreached Using ICT

Ravi Kumar Kola (ZPHS Shaipet, Dharmasagar; Warangal Urban, Telangana)

Narendar Reddy Kandimalla (ELTC, DIET Nalgonda, Telangana)

The COVID 19 pandemic has posed a great challenge for the teachers and students all over the world and in particular India as well. There is no possibility of face to face mode of teaching, and the only way of connecting the students is by using technology. Our state, Telangana is a small state in India. The majority of the students of our state are residing in a remote area from the district headquarters. These students belong to the underprivileged sections of society. The Digital Revolution initiated by the Government of India from 2015 made the rural people also get access to the mobile network. The decrease in the cost of mobiles also made the availability of these gadgets. To connect remotely to our students the available devices are smartphones. Keeping in view, of their family conditions and availability of electronic gadgets we thought of connecting with them both by asynchronously and synchronously. Our journey started with making familiarization of digital tools. We created WhatsApp groups and started sending the tutorials of basic concepts at the initial stages. Later, we started connecting with them using videoconferencing tools like zoom and Google meet. Our objective is not only to enhance the skills of language but also integrating the online tools for enriching their skills and thus creating a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). The consistent efforts of the teachers made the students get motivated. Since, the students were digital natives it became easy for them to get well versed with the online tools and they started using these tools for creating documents, presentations, flashcards, 2D animation videos for conversations, interviews, and dramas, mind mapping, and podcasting. This journey in teaching is different from the conventional mode. There is the autonomy of students and made them as independent learners. This VLE made them acquire 21st-century skills like creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking. There is ultimately a paradigm shift in the teaching-learning process.