The Blended Learning Approach We Have Adopted Is Here To Stay: Krish Nangegadda, CIO, GITAM University

What are your strategies to cope with the impact of COVID-19 on the teaching-learning process?

We have moved to a blended learning approach. We combine face-to-face teaching with some amount of material delivered asynchronously. Video conferencing technology has been used extensively to mitigate some of the challenges we have faced due to the pandemic disruption. We have adopted specific methods to ensure student engagement when learning remotely.

What kind of changes were made at the policy level? 

We are incorporating more digital content from MOOCs such as Coursera and NPTEL. We have also invested heavily in training our faculty to adopt video conferencing and other technologies for a seamless experience.

Do you find GITAM prepared to fight with such a situation in the future and ensure continued learning?

No doubt, the pandemic took us by surprise. But because of the investment in training, platforms, and ongoing improvement strategies, we are now in a much better position to handle disruptions that may arise in the future.

What changes do you see coming into the learning pattern post-COVID-19? 

The blended learning approach we have adopted is here to stay. The era of the lecture from the lectern is over. Extensive use of flipped learning methodology, continuous engagement and assessments will lead to better outcomes.

Do you think online will be the default mode for education in India? Are we ready for this transformation?

As indicated earlier, the blended mode, where some of the material will be delivered in a physical classroom and some in the digital space is here to stay. We have to embrace this change and leverage it for improved experience and outcomes.