Covid-19 Education Warriors: K.V. Arjun Rao; Debika Chatterji; Vardan Kabra

Covid-19 Education Warriors: K.V. Arjun Rao, principal, JBCN International, Oshiwara, Mumbai Under the leadership of principal K.V. Arjun Rao, the Cambridge International (UK) and IB (Geneva)-affiliated JBCN International School (JBCNIS), Oshiwara has designed innovative online teaching-learning solutions by leveraging ICT and digital platforms to ensure learning continuity of its students during the Covid-19 induced national lockdown. “Our teachers have stepped up to challenges of the pandemic by putting students’ interests first. Within days, they tested multiple digital platforms to upload successful online teaching-learning pedagogies. Credit must also be given to our technical and administrative teams for facilitating our smooth transition to digital education. They have been quickly fixing technical glitches and working with service providers to resolve issues immediately and effectively,” says K.V. Arjun Rao, an alum of Delhi University, IGNOU and University of St. Andrews (Scotland) with close to two decades of teaching and admin experience in the country’s top ranked (The Doon School, Dehradun, Oakridge International, Bangalore and Hyderabad) schools. Synchronous virtual learning. Synchronous live classes for secondary and IBDP students commenced on the first day of the nationwide lockdown and were gradually extended to class VI-X students. Primary learners also switched to live, synchronous classes within two weeks of the lockdown. Counseling support. The school’s Enrichment Team regularly conducts online optimism classes for students and parents. A weekly newsletter with positive affirmations and exercises is also circulated to maintain the mental health and psychological balance of students. The school’s career counseling department also publishes a monthly newsletter focusing on career relevant information for senior students. Class X learner initiatives. With cancellation of the global IGCSE exam of Cambridge International (UK), class X students are encouraged to ideate video tutorials for skills training in sports, art and design, music, fitness and knowledge for the benefit of younger learners. Virtual PTM. A record 142 online parent teacher interactions were conducted over a span of six hours. “All our stakeholders have responded to the pandemic lockdown with great resilience. Our parent community has aided the school to ensure smooth transition from school-based to home learning. Moreover, our students have shown extraordinary commitment to learning, dedication to tasks and cheerful good spirits. Through it all, we have been strongly supported by our ever-enabling board of governors. Managing the Covid-19 crisis has been a team effort!” adds Rao.   Covid-19 Education Warriors: Debika Chatterji, director-principal, JBCN International School, Borivali, Mumbai Debika Chatterji, director-principal of the CISCE (Delhi) and Cambridge International (UK)-affiliated JBCN International School (JBCNIS), Borivali, has supervised a swift transition of the school’s teachers and students to digital and online pedagogies following outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic which has forced closure of all education institutions countrywide since mid-March. “While technology integration has been instrumental in the successful switch to digital education, skillful use of multiple online teaching resources by our teachers has ensured that virtual classes don’t lack the tangibility of actual classrooms,” says Chatterji, a founding member of the One World International IB School (Singapore) with over two decades of…