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“migration” from physical classroom the COVID-19 pandemic has been the
learning to virtual classroom learning catalyst that changed the status quo
in the blink of an eye. Educators have and pushed it into the limelight as the
been stumbling along trying to adapt new normal for all kinds of education.
themselves to the use of technology, Kerala was the first state in the country
creating easily understandable and to launch the new academic year on 1st
engaging e-content and acclimating June 2020 by setting up online learning
themselves with the experience of across all schools and colleges.
‘speaking to a screen’. Thus, for all Several studies have lauded the use
intents and purposes, this transition of online learning and its benefits
to online education in India is more of (Chen, 2010; Guadalupe, 1999). Some
a crisis response than a well-thought advantages of online teaching-learning
out, tried and tested approach. There include flexible learning, convenience
are various ways and formats in which in terms of saving time and money,
online learning can take place. Several accessing and reusing study material
institutions are offering their courses stored in an online database, reduction
“asynchronously”, meaning students of logical barriers and self-paced
decide when to access the study learning to list a few. However, the
material- video recording of a lecture efficacy of an online education will be
conducted by the teacher, assignments, different in a developed country as
notes, etc. that is provided, as per their compared to a developing country. For
personal schedules. Thus, it is a more instance, the aforementioned findings
flexible and self- paced approach to may not be applicable in the context of
learning. The more popular format that the Indian education system owing to
is being followed in most institutions is constraints such as poor connectivity,
the “synchronous” approach wherein limited resources, vast digital divide, etc.
the teacher and students are online at Higher education in India has witnessed
the same time and the lecture is being a major inflow of first-generation
conducted on a specific virtual platform learners in recent times. These students
at a predetermined date and time. It can do not have access to many resources.
be in the form of video-conferencing or If online teaching-learning continues
live streaming of lectures. In this mode to stay post the COVID-19 crisis, these
of learning, the students are actively learners who are already on the darker
engaged as they are provided with side of the digital divide may be pushed
study material during the class and can further away. Without proper support
interact with their peers and teachers they may never be able to complete
in real-time. Thus, it provides a forum their studies. This paper aims to study
for active engagement and real-time the merits and challenges of online
discourse and debate. While online learning in higher education in India
learning has been used extensively and suggest some possible remedies
over the years for vocational courses for the same.
and certificate or diploma courses,

Indian Journal of Educational Technology 107
Volume 3, Issue 2, July 2021