How can I start an online education business in lockdown?

During social distancing and ‘stay home’ order, nobody is spared. Starting from small business to the Olympic Games, all are shuttered. In this situation, only not-out batsmen are increasing numbers of ‘Webinars’ and online ‘learning.’.

Numbers of other universities and online platforms started sharing academic resources. It appears that there is no dearth of such online resources of academic value. Anyhow, the difference between classroom teaching and online teaching is real. Does it pose a big challenge to teachers or seem to be an opportunity?

Academic institutes gradually initiated online meetings and classes in March and started coping-up with the situation. But many teachers were less conversant or had apathy towards online teaching through e-learning software.

Opportunity for teachers to diversify

Nevertheless, the situation appeared as an opportunity for students (to consume) and for teachers (to diversify). The most relieving advantage the online mode offers is its super flexibility on timing and delivery.

A typical online course needs contents preparation and modern educational technology to attach the content with students. For example, all IITs have such educational technology infrastructure to run online courses. Alternatively, any teacher also can use personalized tools and techniques. Surely, converting offline courses may require additional effort to form it online.

With that, teachers are now on the driver’s seat and delivering online lectures. The advantage and opportunity of the web course now felt by the masses.

Transfer of knowledge through online classes

The bottom line of the success of online courses is the engagement of students. The knowledge transfer is more natural to deliver in online mode. The knowledge transfer of skills through online mode is case dependent. For example, conducting a design studio in a web mode might be very challenging. Conducting a lab-based experiment may not be feasible. I feel skill-based courses also can be addressed.

A few crucial matters for excelling in a DLM are-

1) Concern

2) Communication

3) Consideration

4) Consistency

I call it the rule of four C’s. Among those, communication is like lifeblood. Multiple communication modes like creating email groups, informing via Whatsapp/Telegram app, using web-based live video conferencing platforms, and also teaching webs like udemy clone are in use.

Simply recording lectures ahead of the camera reception and sharing is additionally seen. Lecturers should enjoy their suitable methods and media for excelling in online teaching.

The future of online teaching should not be reactive to the situation. Instead, it's a possible model for a resource crunched country like India and a private tool for self-development. Intelligent teachers should realize and preach that.