Page 18 - Science@UM365Dec2020

OPINIONS
We Can Still Learn to be

Better Teachers

"Can you hear me?" Article by
"Are you there?" Associate ProfessorDr Chandran Somasundram
Instituteof Biological Sciences
"Can you mute your audio?"

Sounds that have become the new norm in teaching and Second is communication. Now more than ever
learning in Covid-19 era. Let us take a step back and reflect for a communication in every sense of the word must be
moment. The time when online teaching was first mooted, way fully explored and utilised to bring maximum impact
before the pandemic. We all had a glimpse of what that would to teaching and learning. Its time to get personal. It's
be like. Remember E-learning week? The platforms were ready, time to be a teacher and a friend. It's time to keep all
but many opted not to give it a try. For those who did, the or as many communication channels open. It’s time to
transition was rather seamless. Having fully utilized the tools in understand each and every one of your students. I
Spectrum, teaching online during the pandemic was easy. But for talked to mine. I got to know where they are, how
many, the nightmare had just begun. Microsoft teams, google many devices they had, how much data they could
meet or zoom? Where do I begin? It's often said that scientists afford, who else shared the device and constantly ask if
are poor communicators. The weakness aptly masked by strict they are ok. We can sometimes forget that we are in
demeanour, lengthy slides and impersonal. When I was a student some ways privileged. It is easy to take for granted
that was the impression I generally got. Lecturers are nice people. what we have and assume everyone has access to the
When you stop to ask them questions in person during practical same things. What we take for granted is sometimes a
class, they seem very friendly and are expertly able to explain any luxury for many. Through many of my interactions
questions you throw at them on the subject. But when they start with my students, I was humbled. I had to rethink my
lecturing in a class, they become something else. These lengthy teaching strategy and offer more so no one was left
introductions are necessary to follow my three observation and behind. I realised that sometimes it takes something
experienceIwant to sharewith you all. like this to give us a wake-up call. It's not too late. We
can learn from this experience and become better
Firstly, on the platform that we choose to deliver our lecture.
teachers and strive to do more for the less privileged. As
Google meet is my choice. There is no real reason for this but to
the saying goes “When we fail to understand the
me, it seems simpler to set up and navigate through. But it does
lesson at the right time, life makes us understand the
not matter. What's important is you choose a platform and try to
samelesson at the wrong time”.
master it. You will be surprised at how much you can do with it
once you start experimenting. The scientific training in us will
help us unravel the tricks and manoeuvres that will come in
handy to keep up or stay ahead of the tech generation that we
are tasked to teach. For beginners, just type what you want into
Google and you'll find it. Like how I discovered “10 Advanced or
Hidden Features in Zoom That’ll Make Videoconferencing Great
Again’ or “How to use Zoom like a pro: 15 video chat tips and
Suddenly we wished there was a big wall calendar like
tricks to try now”. It changed my teaching experience and I'm the one we had in our home when we were growing up
sure it can for you too. If you're not careful the students will (or maybe it's just me) so it would be easier to keep
know how to use those same tricks into fooling you that they track of the passing days. Remember to keep track of
are actually there listening to your lecture when in fact, they are time so we do not miss our classes. Remember to go
somewhere else happily enjoying an extended break! So, choose out and live a bit. It may be a new norm, but we are still
your platform and spend some time mastering it because you who we are, and we need to constantly remind
will discover so many things that will make teaching an ourselves of that. The hope is COVID-19 is just passing
enjoyable endeavour and bring back some fun to both you and through and we wish it a quick journey away from all
your students. of us. Keep your sanity and stay safeeveryone.

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