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student who has enrolled for a course 2011). Interactions play a major role
can be provided with a unique login ID in developing an online learning
and password that they must use to community (Salmi, 2013). Teachers
access the platform on which online must try to engage students through
lectures are being conducted. Students meaningful activities to keep them
must be strictly warned not to share enthralled (Muthuprasad et. al, 2021).
these credentials with anyone else. Classes can be made very interactive
With most online teaching-learning by making use of online aids and
platforms constantly upgrading their resources. There are several digital
services, there are now facilities tools available online that provide
wherein teachers can lock the virtual interactive online quizzes, polls and
classroom after a certain amount of games that would help in capturing
time (similar to not allowing students to and maintaining students’ interests and
enter the classroom after the bell has attention. Activity based interaction
rung), manage the settings so only the can promote active learning (Hirumi,
host or organizer can share the screen, 2002). These steps will help to reduce
enable the waiting room feature to the transactional distance generally
prevent those who are not authorized experienced in online learning. As there
from entering the class and can remove is physical isolation in online education,
participants who are disturbing the teachers lack the physical cues to
lecture. Emotional maturity of students understand whether learners are at the
plays a pivotal role in their adjustment same pace with them. Researchers are
and responses in an online learning working on developing systems that can
environment (Matulessy et.al, 2021) detect the concentration of learners
during the class with high levels of
5. Distraction of students accuracy (Daniel, 2017). In the future
such systems will be of great use to
Online teaching should follow a
flexible pedagogy. The teaching teachers.
process should be more learner centric
(Zayapragassarazan, 2020). Teachers 6. Physical and Psychological issues
may act as mentors rather than merely In this time of uncertainty amidst
delivering lectures. Some extra effort the pandemic and the lockdowns
may be taken by teachers to keep imposed by the Government, people
students at ease and make them are facing tremendous anxiety and
comfortable for online learning. Simple stress. To maintain the mental health
things like turning on the camera and well-being of both students and
during lectures and smiling at students teachers, efforts should be made by
will give a feel of physical proximity the educational institutions to provide
to them. Social presence and a sense free counselling services for them
of community are acknowledged (Sahu, 2020). Institutions can also
as factors positively contributing to conduct sessions on Yoga, meditation
quality of learning and the motivation and activities like Zumba to keep
to learn (Haythornthwaite & Andrews, students physically and mentally active

Indian Journal of Educational Technology 115
Volume 3, Issue 2, July 2021