Education's future is online

“Challenges notwithstanding, as parents and teachers we must unequivocally recognize that the future is online”.

XSEED Education Saturday Series, Season One Closing Statement

I would like to thank every parent, teacher, and school leader out there for the overwhelming response to the XSEED Education Saturday Series. Over the past 8 weeks we have had tens of thousands of people attend. The interest has been unflagging. Thank you! At this moment I would like take the opportunity to share three action-thoughts for you to consider. You may want to share them with your children, spouse, or family members - perhaps over dinner today! So here it is:

 One - Recognize that the Future is Online

These past 8 weeks of the Coronavirus crisis, and our experience of the response to the Saturday Series, has clearly demonstrated that online learning cannot be ignored. We have to admit: children have learnt new things, parents have made amazing discoveries about their own children, tens of thousands of teachers have retooled themselves and improved their skills, and comfort with technology has increased. All this has happened, albeit under forcible circumstances, and society has benefitted. There are many concerns around online learning – inadequate bandwidth, excessive screen time, not enough space at home, parents’ availability, to name a few. However, we should perhaps treat them as regrettable constraints, much like the sidelines of a football field; the goal being the success of the child. And for that, online-learning, and indeed a productive online-existence, is indispensable. No point fighting, we must join it, and make the best possible use of it. (This video below may be of help to make a start)

Two - Examine quality more deeply

There has been much criticism of online learning, and a lot of it is valid, including how dull the experience can be. But as educators and parents we must recognize that almost anything can be of good quality, or not. Face to face classes too can be of poor quality, and the same is true for online or offline resource materials, or anything else for that matter! This period has opened curtain on what exactly our children are doing, learning, using. Let's use this as an opportunity to examine the quality of everything in more detail. XSEED is highly committed to quality, almost obsessed by it, and the XSEED Method is a rich way to provide a quality learning experience to your children – online or offline. While the glittering appearance of much that’s brought to our doorstep must be appreciated, a thorough scrutiny of its inner contents is essential. Only that can ensure quality learning for our children. 

Three - Spending 15 Minutes of Solo Time with Children

While these lockdowns and quarantines have heaped many inconveniences and miseries upon us, the upside has been that we have been able to spend more time with the children. Watching them closer in their classes and outside of them, learning more about their challenges at school, and also knowing more about their wonderful talents. Lets resolve to spend 15 minutes of quality solo time with our children every day - when not just casually chatting, giving tasks, scolding them, or distracted on social media ourselves. Fifteen minutes of deeply engaging on something meaningful together. I am sure you got some ideas from Session 8 and we will be sharing more on this front when we return.

Wish everyone safe days ahead and see you in Season Two!

In solidarity, Ashish