Transition to Virtual Learning: Challenges and Way Forward!

A person’s growth is, to a certain extent conditioned by the environment that the person lives in. It is also conditioned by the kind of fight that person has with the environment.
– K. G. Subramanyan, ‘The magic of making’

Since the month of January 2020, we have seen drastic shifts in many areas of our daily life due to the pandemic wherein several alternative plans of resilience and acclimatization emerged. In the wake of such an unprecedented event, the methodology of my academic practice was transformed entirely and the approach to pedagogy and education shifted to an experimental as well as explorative dynamic. Whatever happened in real studio spaces shifted to virtual classrooms, computer screens, and isolated rooms. Google meet, zoom, and concept board-formed our gathering spaces. As a collective team effort, students and teachers ensured that the teaching-learning process is unhindered while adapting to suit this new technology that became an integral part of our daily lives. Regardless, we were aware that the experience of knowledge-sharing in real spaces is irreplaceable without dispute.

The pandemic persuaded us to realize how real human interactions influence students better, even more than that of any academic bubble. At the end of January, the foundation batch of the design department reached the campus to recommence face-to-face classes. After their quarantine, collectively, we conceived a plan to curate an exhibition with the semester’s online learning outcomes. Needless to say, every member of the batch contributed immensely with their creative, physical, and imaginative spirit into making it happen in a very short time frame. From planning to execution, printing to framing, selection to composition, and procurements to space design, the students explored the diverse layers of curation. It was an intense learning and knowledge-sharing experience, and I must also say, a beautiful beginning to their academic journey in an active learning environment. It was also a collective fight against this challenging time where our learning experiences are affected by the pandemic, yet we strive to survive and grow despite the hurdles we must confront in the process.

As KG Subramanyan’s quote rightly states; our growth is often conditioned by our environment, a term that may have several manifestations. In this pandemic, we have witnessed the expansion of the meaning of environment; be it real and virtual environments, academic and non-academic environments, professional and personal environment, social and cultural environment, and numerous others of which still in the process of expansion. What we as social beings must comprehend is the fight we are and must have with our individualistic environments, for the betterment of ourselves as well as society. A humanitarian, collaborative, creative, and critical perspective to education can add strength to the battle with these challenging times. I hope the students and faculty can engage in many more meaningful collaborative and creative projects to grow together with a holistic perception.