Online classes have helped us cope with challenging change in India’s education system, says Chairman

Technology is the solution to the current crisis and the need of the hour that not only enables students to continue studying but empowers them with futuristic skills by equipping them with Digital Technology and know-how. In conversation with Shiksha.com, D K Mohan, the Chairman of Cambridge Group of Institutions shares in detail the initiatives of the institution and how the organisation has been successful in helping protect their workforce and students by empowering them with the right support system, LIVE Online Classes, Technology and Wellness Programmes during testing times like these. 

Here is the edited excerpt of the conversation:

Q: How has today’s scenario of lockdown and global pandemic impacted your education system?

A: As they say, “Every Problem has a Solution and a Silver Lining.”. Given the current alarming situation worldwide caused by the Pandemic Novel Coronavirus - Covid-19 and the lockdown, we decided to take education to the next level; by bringing classes to students in the most unique way possible. Even though we are unable to conduct physical classes on campus, we have carefully designed our Digital Learning and classes in such a way that we tap in students’ curiosity and attentiveness. Our online programme features LIVE classes

Every day between 10 am-2:30 pm, sessions are hosted by Teaching Experts, HODs and Faculty Members with course work designed and led by the same faculty who teach on campus. 

Faculty conduct these online classes using the Socratic method, a teaching style in which professors encourage discussion and debate to help students reach their own conclusions and truly engage with the material. Holding courses live via webcam allows students and faculty to participate in this rich conversation, bringing the best of the traditional college classroom to an online experience. 

Q: What are some of the interesting initiatives your institute has taken to make it easy for your students and also contribute to eradication of this pandemic?

A: Cambridge Group of Institutions has always strived for innovation and inventive ideas consistently breaking new ground in every initiative undertaken. We pride in being one among the first few organisations to conceptualise and start online classes for our students as early as March 2020, during the initial stage of the Coronavirus outbreak and lockdown. And, we have taken up several initiatives and built on this by creating a Wellness programme with a team of health experts who conduct regular webinars sharing knowledge on the Coronavirus crisis, health tips on being safe and fighting the spread of the virus. Our focus as a responsible institution has been to empower our faculty, staff and students with information and set up helplines to support and safeguard them during a global crisis. And our aim is to not just flatten the curve of the virus but the physical and mental wellbeing of the entire workforce at Cambridge Group of Institutions, their families and that of the student community. 

Doing good and working towards serving people is one of our priorities as part of Cambridge Institute of Technology, Bengaluru's CSR initiative amidst Karnataka Lockdown. Our attempt is to support and bring hope among those who need this the most, by distributing food every day in and around our campus. The food is hygienically cooked and packed by our good samaritans from our campus canteen and distributed. 

Every effort and every contribution counts when the whole world is grappling with the Coronavirus Outbreak issue. Our Staff, Faculty, Teaching and Non-Teaching Faculty members from all departments of Cambridge Group of Institutions came together and donated a portion of their salaries to Chief Minister's Relief fund, as part of the CSR activity and Crisis Management Forum at Cambridge Institute of Technology. 

Q: How is the institute planning to conduct exams, evaluate and declare result online?

A: Our faculty members have initiated tailor-made online quizzes, assignments and tests that are managed, reviewed and graded in realtime. Every task is evaluated online by facetime and through online one-on-one interactions with students who most need help and assistance in understanding the syllabus. Students earn grades for their 100 per cent attendance along with worksheets and reporting formats that constantly engage them. And, in addition to this, the HODs and the faculty members have regular feedback sessions to help better the online teaching and training process, only to make it more userfriendly to students. Our teaching methodology is unique and we make sure to adapt to newer methods to conduct seamless online classes. Being Digital and growing on the digital platform has always been our top priority and we pride in utilising the digital space and technology to educate our students. 

Q: How are students responding to new initiatives?

A: Response to all our initiatives during this period by our students has been truly overwhelming. Most new experiments face preconceived notions and apprehensions on whether it may be successful or not, but students have extended unconditional support in making this a success. We believe that this is a perfect example of how education has no boundaries when enthusiastic students make it possible to learn.  

Q: What impact will it have on students’ interpersonal, team management skills?

A: Technology and Digital Learning enables students to continue studying, empowers them with futuristic skills by equipping them with Digital Technology and know-how. Some of the soft skills that students are learning are by being an active listener, time commitment, time management, attentiveness, self-motivation and strong reading and writing skills. These not only help them interact effectively and harmoniously with teachers and fellow students, but also train them to face the business world in their careers ahead. 

Q: What are the best practices that the college is adopting to ensure seamless online learning?

A: No doubt, the Coronavirus lockdown has accelerated the adoption of digital technology. And we thought this is the right time to deploy online tools and use the latest technology and digital platforms to improve the quality of education by making it user-friendly. Some of the Highlights of Cambridge Online Classes are: 

• Well moderated over 1,500 uninterrupted meetings and classes conducted till date 
• HD Audio and Video quality online classes that are all-device compatible
• 100 per cent attendance of over 3,500 students from our Engineering and MBA Programme with integrated worksheets and grade sheets
• Immersive course work with assignment and course material shared online
• Interactive learning with real-time QandA sessions with experts 
• Seamless digital technology that enables completion of portions on time  
• Remote accessibility with zero distance barrier  

Q: How will today’s situation revolutionise online learning in India and abroad?

A: Our current efforts are towards creating a paradigm shift in India’s education system. Clearly, today’s Covid-19 situation and the subsequent lockdown has in a way enabled all of us to push boundaries and explore newer ways to ensure that services are being delivered, and in this case teaching and completing the syllabus on time has been our utmost priority so our students do not suffer and aren’t burdened by pending portions and piling up of assignments and projects. The transition from physical classes to online classes as a collaborative effort from our teaching and non-teaching faculty has been easy, as the majority of our staff were accustomed to working on smartphones, tablets and laptops. The only difference is that teaching now is being done through Work from Home, which as a culture has been well accepted by the faculty who have adapted to it brilliantly while students have accepted it surprisingly well, by being even more attentive and responsive to these online classes. 

The future looks bright for students who are pushing boundaries themselves to learn, enabling our hard-working teaching experts to teach, support and train students in honing their skills. Digital Learning and Online Classes are here to stay.