IIT Roorkee resumes teaching online during COVID-19 lockdown

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Technology-Roorkee has resumed classes for its students but in online mode. The COVID-19 pandemic forced educational institutions across the country to suspend classes and shut down. Currently, the country is under lockdown till April 14.

Given the uncertainty over the evolving COVID-19 situation, the institute has decided to opt for online teaching and learning by sharing the digital content with students over the internet. IIT Roorkee will even reimburse the cost of internet service for students from disadvantaged backgrounds who may not have web access at their homes.

Keeping in mind that different portions of the syllabus may be suited to different digital forms, the institute has asked the teachers to use live video, interactive live video, video files, ppt, ppt with voice or text commentary, pdf, doc, jpg mode for making the teaching as effective as possible.

Multiple options

The teachers have been given various options including private and public online learning platforms and even social media “for sharing content as well as sending messages, sharing of reference sources, lecture notes, book chapters, assignments, presentations, case studies etc, any other digital form or platform that is convenient.”

The content that is not available in digital format can be scanned or teachers can simply take photos on their mobile phones.

Ajit K. Chaturvedi, director, IIT Roorkee said: "While sharing of digital content need not necessarily be live or interactive, and hence the students will be free to go through that content at their convenience, regular interactive chat/video/email-based sessions can be organized to answer queries and clear doubts. As far as possible, live sessions shall be organized in the slot which is assigned to that course in the current semester's timetable. The pace of instruction shall be slightly slower than the pace we are used to in classroom teaching.”

Considering that all students may not have regular or high-speed access to the internet, some students may get the content after a delay of a few days or maybe weeks. This will be taken into account while finalizing the time of examination. The students who get full/partial fee waiver are eligible to avail an amount of Rs. 500 for internet expenses. This amount will be reimbursed after normal semester activity is resumed.

Also, while resuming classes in virtual mode, the institute recognizes the fact that e-learning cannot replace classroom learning.

Also read:

• COVID Lockdown: JEE and NEET in May, CBSE exams asap says MHRD
• Coronavirus: Oxford, Cambridge to do assessments online, says report

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