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synchronous sessions. on as they do not feel comfortable in
showing the surroundings they are
Teaching strategies sitting in and the idea that everyone can
see them makes them uncomfortable
As there were no standardized materials
and methods specific for online (Reed, 2020).
teaching, teachers ended up replicating
traditional teaching on online platforms. Opportunities discovered by teachers
Online teaching requires a specific Online teaching was like a ray of hope
course design and transaction methods. in such grim times as it could afford
If classroom teaching practices are used anytime-anywhere learning. This is of
while teaching online then students great use when social distancing and
do not perform well (Wedenoja, 2020). isolation is required to break the chain
Providing worksheets during online during the pandemic. A plethora of
teaching was found useful by primary online tools is available with advanced
teachers. Worksheets provided content features which are helping teachers
in a structured manner and manageable in making learning interesting and
chunks so that students can practice engaging. The ease of use, availability of
properly and teachers can easily check mobile apps, and quality user interfaces
the work and provide required feedback help teachers in sharing media files
(Martin, 2020). conveniently. Online teaching allows
teachers to decide the schedule and
Challenges faced by teachers content of teaching which is satisfying
for teachers. A similar finding can be
The challenge of lack of devices and
internet is due to the problems of equity seen in the work of Borup & Stevens
and access and stark digital divide in (2016, p11). Teachers also felt that
our country. Online teaching during they developed digital skills, problem-
pandemic has only widened the gap solving, creative and critical thinking,
between haves and have-nots. Parental and working under stress which would
support is seen missing due to the low help them professionally in the future.
economic status of the family and no/
low digital literacy of parents. Internet Conclusion
speed and network quality is a digital The present study found online teaching
infrastructure issue that can be resolved. useful in the times of pandemic. Online
Challenges of non-responsiveness of teaching has ensured continuous
the students and difficulty in hands- learning. Despite many challenges
on practice are observed as teachers teachers have worked assiduously. But,
and students were least prepared for it is evident that we are yet not prepared
this mode of education. One striking with suitable infrastructure and trained
observation was the feeling of isolation teachers to teach in a fully online mode.
in online classes. In live video classes, There is a need to develop online
teachers often find it difficult to teach a content and provision of equitable
screen of black boxes and students feel access to digital resources if we have to
more vulnerable to keep their cameras take advantage of online teaching.

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