Virtual? Physical? Hybrid? Bring it on!

 Dear fellow teachers, confused with the above statement? No I am not a super teacher or a fabulous trainer. I am your regular science teacher.

We all have read enough about little trips and tricks about teaching techniques, resources classroom management and what not? I will tell you about what we teachers want to hear it most. Yes, you guessed it correct! “You are doing it right!” 

Again I am not here to motivate but to narrate few ordeals of mine with regards to virtual schooling that made me a better teacher and even a better human. Virtual schooling was dropped as bomb on whole teaching community. You are fairly new to ever evolving technology and this whole idea to teach virtually was scary enough to give up and hide myself somewhere until it’s all over, but pandemic was here to stay and you have to finish those lessons that were left when the lockdown was declared. Like everybody I did my crash course on virtual teaching, having the privilege of so many teaching aids provided by our school of course I had an added advantage but still that fear and confusion was still there. How will I teach science? How to do experiments? and so on. My first month of virtual teaching was as much learning process as it was for my students. Mute? Unmute? Backgrounds? Whiteboards? phew! You still need to smile because your precious little students are watching you.

Then one day while taking a class when there was a glitch while playing a video it dawned on me. I was getting frustrated as I was unable to share sound in spite of following all necessary steps. One of the students turned saviour and said “Mam, try the other way.” He explained and I followed the steps as dedicatedly as he follows mine while doing an experiment, and here it was. Success!

Finally, I learnt the mantra that Elsa was teaching all this while – “Let it go.” 

You should let go of all fears, inhibitions and doubts you have, whichever way you are taking class just remember – ‘You are a teacher and you know what is best for your students.’

So here are few tips that has helped me sail through these times and made me stronger to face any hurdles pandemic throws our way. I have named it DETERMINED.

• Do whatever you think is best for your students. You know your students best.
• Encourage yourself every day, just remember that success is a sum of small efforts.
• Talking solves most if your problems. Talk to your peers, take guidance from your superiors and never forget to ask help from students. Believe me, they can be best helping hands you can ask for and that too with a big smile. 
• Educate yourself. Learn something new whenever you can. You never know when something comes handy. My knowledge of video games acquired from eavesdropping on conversation of my daughters has helped me make references in class that leaves students in splits.
• Read not just the books but emotions too. Although I missed physical classes but I understood a great deal why some students behaved a certain way. Students were more open to teachers and shared their bits when they were stuck at home during lockdown. They wanted to talk and I lent my ear. By the way, my love of reading science fictions has helped me great deal to relate concepts of shadows, force and many other things in a funny yet interesting way.
• Meditate even if it is for few minutes. You need that ‘Me Time’ to clear your thoughts.
• Innovate the lessons every now and then. Our students need that change very often owing to their short attention spans. Once when I was teaching circuits, I simply asked students to switch off and on a circuit. The moment they realised I was talking about switch boards in their houses they were amused and laughed their hearts out that they couldn’t think about it. Such little things maintain the tempo of the class.
• Never underestimate the power of pen and paper. That day when you don’t feel like introducing a new concept (yes, it happens with everybody) go back to your favourite little notebook. Revise a topic in an innovative way. Let them write stories, draw mind maps, sketch a scenery. Students love it when they are free to express in their own way.
• Express your feelings, like your students you also need to vent out at times. Talk, write or sing. Do whatever you like when you are overwhelmed with emotions.
• Display your empathetic side, Students need it more than you realise. 

 Here we are now. Now that you know the magic mantra and are DETERMINED to be the best teacher you can be for your students, you are ready for any obstacle that may arise. Believe me you will sail through it just fine. No other award/reward will make you happier than the smile on your students face or when they say ‘we missed you’ after a vacation.

As I said earlier “Bring it on! “You will always be a teacher who knows what is best for your students no matter what is the mode of teaching. 

Remember this quote I read sometime back: – 

You are a teacher.

You don’t need a cape because you are lifted up by the amazing and inspiring kids you teach.

Manavi Awasthi

Cambridge Primary Science Facilitator

Oakridge International School, Bachupally