Students arriving for classes on campus
Offline classes prove to be a dream for first year students who joined the college this year, while the second and third years are at peace with the new reality.
On 25 August, with the admission process duly completed, a fresh batch of students started their legacy in college by logging into their online orientation programme. The first years were quite enthusiastic about the programme as it marked their entry into college life. When asked about their preferences and views regarding offline and online classes, most of them opted for offline classes, as they did not wish to miss the campus life in college. When asked about how they felt being in college for offline classes, the first years of science departments said they loved the campus and were quite excited about staying here for the next three years. Some students from the arts departments who were attending classes online, shared their concerns about network issues, spending long hours in front of the screen, as well as taking online examinations. There was a growing concern about declining career opportunities as well at present.
While students dream of full-fledged offline classes, no one knows when a complete return to normalcy will be possible. One reason is that not all students are vaccinated, especially among first years, who belong to the age group 17 -18 years. Since vaccination for below 18 years is not yet possible in India, online/blended classes and the new normal will have to continue for a while at least. When asked about the new normal, the second and third years had mixed opinions. While most of the second years interviewed wished for offline classes, especially to socialise and enjoy campus life, the third years were quite comfortable with online classes, as most of them felt they were saving on travel time which gave them more time to study and complete assignments.
Comments