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are also some barriers (Fedynich, self-paced learning from the comfort
2014; Tamm, 2019; Windiarti et al., of home. These features along with the
2019; Wedenoja 2020). Online teaching affordance to teach from anywhere
becomes challenging especially in the anytime made online teaching a global
case of the young learners as they may solution for continuing education
not have the basic technical skills like (Hasan & Khan, 2020, p. 206; Kim,
texting and sharing attachments. In 2020, p. 148). Online teaching provides
online teaching, there is a limited scope an opportunity for synchronous as
of hands-on activities and interaction well as asynchronous communication
required to engage young learners which increases student participation.
(Kim, 2020, p.148). Another limitation is Online tools are useful in giving creative
the additional requirement of parental activities to students and save time
support and supervision for online and cost of travel (Fedynich, 2014; Kim,
learning of young learners. Online 2020, p. 149). Online teaching helps
teaching put a burden on teachers, in a in reforming the methods of teaching
short span they had to understand the in line with the needs of the digital
use of digital tools, apply them and try age (Zhou et al., 2020). Using online
different teaching strategies. Alongside, platforms teachers could communicate
they had to stay in contact and ensure regularly with students and parents,
the well-being of students (König et al., provide learning content, assign work
2020). Designing online assessment and and provide requisite feedback (König
ensuring quality is another challenging et al., 2020, p. 615). Screen sharing
task for teachers (Kaup et al., 2020; during synchronous online classes
König et al., 2020; Slimi, 2020; Tamm, was appreciated by teachers (Basilaia
2019). Security and privacy concerns & Kvavadze, 2020; Kim, 2020, p. 151).
of teachers and students, difficulty in Online teaching during pandemic
teaching practical aspects are added has helped in refining the technical
challenges. Online teaching suffers due skills of teachers and students. Online
to the lack of regulation, technology learning has developed critical thinking
infrastructure, and funding (Slimi, 2020). and problem solving in students and
improved their information searching
Opportunities of Online Teaching skills. It has also highlighted the need for
upgrading the technology infrastructure
Due to the increase in the access of
touch screen smartphones and the of educational institutions and the
internet; online tools are being used need for the preparation and training
by children from a very young age of students and teachers (Slimi, 2020,
(Kim, 2020, p. 149; Edwards et al., p.47). The flexibility of time and space
2018). Leveraging upon this, online possible through online teaching
teaching was prescribed from primary appeared as its biggest strength in times
to higher education level during the of crisis and online teaching done in
COVID-19 crisis in India. Online mode of virtual classrooms by qualified teachers
learning offered features like flexibility, served as the best-suited substitute
accessibility of content, interaction, for traditional classroom teaching
(Manegre & Sabir,2020).
Indian Journal of Educational Technology 79
Volume 3, Issue 2, July 2021