Schoolchildren have had to resort to online learning in the Covid-19 pandemic but as recovery begins the focus is shifting to incorporating virtual education across teaching in ways that improve the classroom.
India-based educationalist Amreesh Chandra says his biggest concern when the world emerges from the pandemic is “the deficit in knowledge, especially in these ones that are graduating from one life into the other”.
Mr Chandra set up Chandra Edu Links in 2006, which has provided education services around the world. As the pandemic took hold, it launched what is thought to be India’s first live web school.
The Online World School in India was followed by Online Learning World, which aims to complement the education of Indian pupils in the GCC through live, interactive tutoring in the form of after-school lessons.
Mr Chandra said conventional schools modelled on traditional systems failed to adapt to the crisis.
“The most important thing that happened with the pandemic was, no matter how modern a country was or how developed the country was or how underdeveloped a country was, our education system was never structured enough to handle such a pressure point,” he said.
In the first peak of the outbreak, last spring, 188 countries closed their schools, affecting 1.54 billion pupils.
“My worry from the pandemic is how would these students perform when they go into their professional lives,” he said.
There needs to be a properly thought-out plan for how these gaps will be closed, he said.
Mr Chandra believes there should be a hybrid system that incorporates some online learning – but not of the type most children have become accustomed to in the past 10 months.
“We developed a programme where we would replicate what happens offline, online. So we said we’re not going to do any video tutorials. We will not make WhatsApp groups and pass instructions. We will not send worksheets for them to fill out,” Mr Chandra said.
“What we would do is create a conveyer belt of technology that allows a live-streaming of every class that is taught and allows a child to raise his hand or her hand and ask a question as he or she would in an offline class.”
Online Learning World has since created 15 live studios for teaching. The online idea was accelerated by the frustrations of parents who couldn’t justify the school fees they were paying and the angst felt by children whose education was suffering at such a crucial time.
“Not all schools are teaching through a live-streaming facility. If a child has a question, for him to go back to his subject teacher is an ordeal for him. Classroom teaching is based on questions and answers. We wanted to capture that live.”
Online Learning World is one of the very few organisations in the UAE education sector to have received an online education trade licence from Fujairah Free Zone during the pandemic.
Moving forwards, Mr Chandra believes it will take two to three academic terms to make up for the educational losses sustained during the lockdown and says incorporating technology could help offset the negative impact of any future crises that would compel pupils to stay at home.
As he points, uncertainty still reigns over when children will be able to return to the classroom.
The most worrying issue, Mr Chandra says, is that many teachers lack sufficient technology skills and this needs to be addressed.
But he says shifting to a combination of in-class and online learning is a “no-brainer”.
“It has to be blended learning, which means it’s a combination of offline and online. We never know when there could be a sudden pandemic outburst in an institution.”
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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FIGHT CARD
Welterweight Mostafa Radi (PAL) v Tohir Zhuraev (TJK)
Catchweight 75kg Leandro Martins (BRA) v Anas Siraj Mounir (MAR)
Flyweight Corinne Laframboise (CAN) v Manon Fiorot (FRA)
Featherweight Ahmed Al Darmaki (UAE) v Bogdan Kirilenko (UZB)
Lightweight Izzedine Al Derabani (JOR) v Atabek Abdimitalipov (KYG)
Featherweight Yousef Al Housani (UAE) v Mohamed Arsharq Ali (SLA)
Catchweight 69kg Jung Han-gook (KOR) v Elias Boudegzdame (ALG)
Catchweight 71kg Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) v Jerry Kvarnstrom (FIN)
Featherweight title Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) v Alexandru Chitoran (ROU)
Lightweight title Bruno Machado (BRA) v Mike Santiago (USA)
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20IPAD%20PRO%20(12.9%22%2C%202022)
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What is tokenisation?
Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets.
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Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Brief scores:
Day 2
England: 277 & 19-0
West Indies: 154
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
ILT20%20UAE%20stars
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%20Ramez%20Gab%20Min%20El%20Akher
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WOMAN AND CHILD
Director: Saeed Roustaee
Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi
Rating: 4/5
The National in Davos
We are bringing you the inside story from the World Economic Forum's Annual Meeting in Davos, a gathering of hundreds of world leaders, top executives and billionaires.
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
MATCH INFO
Europa League final
Who: Marseille v Atletico Madrid
Where: Parc OL, Lyon, France
When: Wednesday, 10.45pm kick off (UAE)
TV: BeIN Sports
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RESULTS
2.15pm Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 (Dirt) 1,200m
Winner Shawall, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Majed Al Jahouri (trainer)
2.45pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Anna Bella Aa, Fabrice Veron, Abdelkhir Adam
3.15pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner AF Thayer, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
3.45pm Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner Taajer, Fabrice Veron, Eric Lemartinel
4.15pm The Ruler of Sharjah Cup – Prestige (PA) Dh250,000 (D) 1,700m
Winner Jawaal, Jim Crowley, Majed Al Jahouri
4.45pm Handicap (TB) Dh40,000 (D) 2,000m
Winner Maqaadeer, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson
The five pillars of Islam
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S
Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900
Engine: 937cc
Transmission: Six-speed gearbox
Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm
Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
