COVID-19 is deadly. It spreads easily and has confined the entire world in a lockdown. Lockdowns are necessary to break the chain of propagation of the virus. All the businesses, industries are shutdown.
Even the education sector has not been spared during the pandemic. During these difficult times, the sector needs alternate ways to provide its core function of educating students. The players in this industry have been very stable in India. Unlike other countries, where education is evolving with time, the education sector in India is unmoved by the progress in the rest of the world. Education is still understood as rote learning and memorising. The Indian education system should focus on practical and research-based learning.
Since going outside is not an option, we have to take schools to the students now. Many families have phones, tablets in their homes. The Internet is also cheap in India, thanks to the national telecom industry war. This has proved to be advantageous for educators. Online classes and workshops can be arranged through online platforms. It can be provided free of cost or be used to earn revenue too. All subjects and activities can continue.
To-do List For Students During COVID-19 Lockdown
Education has taken a hit and life of the young population has been affected due to this. They were supposed to play outside, join summer classes and visit their friends, but with the lockdown in place, everything has stopped. It is difficult to be confined within a house for a child during this period. If this scenario continues, students and adults will start developing different sets of mental problems, if either of the two is not engaged properly. This lockdown may last for another month or two and will have serious side-effects on your mental health if you don’t take care of yourself.
I have penned down a list of important things students can follow during this time.
- Get up early and follow a routine: Students will feel that since there is no school, there’s no need to get up early in the morning. But no! They should get up early in the morning.
- Exercise and meditate for a healthy body and a healthy mind: Yes, this is an age-old mantra that is and always will be relevant. It is even more relevant at this time. So, every morning, wake up early and don’t stay on the bed. The bed is to be used only for sleeping. Avoid using the bed at any other time of the day. Exercise and meditate every day. This helps you stay focused.
- Eat food at regular intervals: Eat healthy food at fixed and regular intervals. Don’t stay hungry at that time. Taking care of the body is the best thing to do at this time.
- Make a study station for yourself: Since staying on the bed is not an option, students can make an arrangement where they can sit for studying, reading and learning. Surround yourself with books and read them.
- Read, learn and revise: Join online classes regularly. Read books related to your subjects. Also, students now have the time to read more books than ever and gain knowledge.
- Develop a skill/art form you like: It’s the perfect time to develop a skill. If one loves to play keyboard, guitar, tabla, etc., learn it now. Want to learn painting or dancing? Then this is the right time. If you want to learn a foreign language, then do it now. Watch online content and learn from it. Some of the content will also be free. Students can subscribe to courses they like the most.
- Play: Since going outside is not an option, students can enjoy playing and making things.
- Involve: Children can involve themselves in making small projects from materials available at home. Students can play online games as well, but that should be limited.
- Interact: Students can call their friends and cousins, interact with them regularly about ideas, and then progress on their new skill sets.
- Don’t idle away time: Students have to be engaged all the time. They can do anything they like to do or develop. Remember that time is a gift.