Mental stress of virtual learning: Need for change in learning methods

Vijay Garg
Contd from previous issue
They are skipping assignments, surfing the internet during classes, and simply not paying attention.
A case for playful learning
The missing ingredients? Peer interactions and a sense of belonging. Kids learn as much from their friends and environment, as they do from their teachers.
The in-person connections that they make during lunch breaks, at the playground, or after school with their classmates are a critical part of their development.
Shifting the studies to Zoom cannot replace this holistic experience of school. So while scientists work on a vaccine that will make the world a safer place again, what can the educators do to ensure children get to enjoy wholesome learning ?
We need to let go of rote learning and focus on developing deeper knowledge by gamifying concepts and role-playing different subjects.
After all, you can’t become a baker by reading cookbooks alone; you’ll need to burn a few cakes (and eat them too) to master your craft.
Similarly, when children learn by doing instead of reading, they remain deeply engaged and buzzing with curiosity. It also builds their higher-order thinking skills -which include everything from imagination, communication, and teamwork to softer personality aspects like self-awareness and sense of purpose.
Another important aspect of the play is that it brings peers together, and gives children a sense of belonging. While nothing can replace face-to-face human interactions, making learning enjoyable and playful can be a crucial link to solving the growing mental health issues faced by students.

The writer is a retired Principal, Government Girls Senior Secondary school MHR Malout Punjab