Dr. Sadia Raiz is an associate professor for Information Technology and Research Methods at SP Jain School of Global Management. The interview highlights her adaptability towards virtual education, her key learnings from the abrupt change in learning delivery and how she aims to empathise with her students to deliver personalised learning are discussed. Her experience is based on her teaching the subject ‘Business Disruptive Technology’ via virtual platform of Zoom and ELO at the institute.
Did the experience of virtual classes match your expectation? And why?
The experience has been outstanding. I honestly have not felt much of a difference because I believe in engaged and experiential learning. I use engagement tools and structured processes to teach my courses. Therefore, virtual classes provide the platform as well as virtual space to implement my ideas very well. Having said that, students, irrespective of being online or face to face, can be classified into two broad learning attitude types; 1) need to learn attitude (which is a positive attitude), and 2) want to be taught attitude (complaining attitude). I have observed an attitude shift trend among students during this pandemic (as more and more want to be taught now), and I don’t entirely blame them for this. It will take some time for academic institutions to realize the evolving learning needs of online students and design their curriculum, content and learning outcomes.
If you attended any online course through MOOCs, you would see online teaching has to be highly structured, time managed, followed by quick assessments at the end of small unit topics. The requirement to teach, e.g. 90 minutes a session, and the amount of content to be covered in classes, requires serious consideration. It is strenuous for the faculty and students in the virtual classes.
How did you adapt your teaching style in response to the pandemic? Also, how far was the nature of the subject conductive to teach online?
Firstly, I believe one thing we all have learnt during this time is being grateful for what we still have! The new normal is hard to adjust to, but so far, I have made progress. On a more personal note, my teaching style is based on empathy, passion, engagement and structures. It has helped me during the pandemic as I understand and connect with my students easily. I support, encourage and facilitate their learning process as a teacher, mentor, and mother. I am not comfortable with the idea of treating my students as people I don’t know or students that cannot reach out to me. As an educator, I have to continually rethink how to leverage technology and physical classroom space design to create a safe learning environment that will enhance learning outcomes.
As for the nature of the subject, theory courses, especially those heavily driven by concepts, are tricky to teach, whether taught virtually or otherwise. Likewise, subjects that involve data analytics require a mature audience who want to learn something. It is essential to redesign our courses, align them with international standards and at the same time with virtual teaching.
In your opinion, what are some of the positives of teaching online in comparison to teaching face-to-face?
I think online teaching creates more opportunity for interaction. It is easier to manage also. Students are interrupting the class proceedings, as they would typically do in a face to face class. There are distractions, but they are not apparent in a virtual class. Online learning has the benefit of allowing instructors to focus on individual interactions with students. It reinforces teaching essentials and opens new possibilities for classroom engagement and assessment. The best part is it lets your personality shine, which can be a challenge in a face-to-face class.
What advice would you provide to teachers conducting virtual classes to address their concerns?
It requires way more preparation and planning to teach in virtual classes. In face to face classes, energy is present due to real interaction and physical presence. In virtual classes, the primary source of life is the faculty. Therefore, go prepared, plan your session, communicate with your students using available channels and resources. Empathise with them, understand them, think like a student, play their songs, laugh with them and engage them.
Do not focus on the few best students in the class, and ignore the entire remaining class. Only 5% make it to the highest percentile in marks distribution– the remaining 95% are also essential. Hence, keep an eye on each one of them. They may not be your kids, but you are imparting knowledge, wisdom, and so many lifelong skills with them when you are teaching them. Furthermore, in reality, I spend less time with my kids even, and while going through chronic health condition, I wonder sometimes will I get to see them graduating from high school even? So be grateful for what little or more you have and use it as an opportunity.
What is the one learning from teaching online that you would incorporate in your teaching style henceforth? And why?
It is the same for both; however, if one thing I would rather be doing more is listening to the students and personalising their learning experiences as much as possible.
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